Hasselblad 500EL DATA
The Hasselblad 500EL DATA is a motorised 6x6 medium-format film camera based on the 500EL platform, fitted with a Reseau plate whose engraved cross-hairs (réseau crosses) are exposed onto each frame for photogrammetric measurement. It was produced for technical, scientific and documentation use rather than general photography, and examples with NASA or space-programme provenance are a separate class of collectible.
At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the 500EL DATA have spread across an extraordinary range — from around £1,000 for a plain body up to roughly £550,000 for an example with space-flight provenance, with intermediate results around £14,500 and £20,000 for documented but earth-bound bodies. That makes the median saleroom result meaningless as a single figure in today's market; value is driven almost entirely by documented history rather than cosmetic condition, and what a 500EL DATA is worth or sells for depends on whether the paperwork ties it to a specific mission or programme.
Sales History
Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| Nov 2020 | EUR 1,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 37 (Lot AI_37_38954) Title: Hasselblad 500EL/M Data Recorder Camera
Description:
Special aerial reconnaissance camera, modified to imprint fligt data on the film, body no.RV1319175, with A70 magazine no.TR303735, viewfinder replaced with with the data printing device, incl. chrome Sonnar 5.6/250mm no.5613457, made for Lockheed by Epsilon Labs Estimate: EUR 2,000 - EUR 2,400 |
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| Jun 2015 | EUR 20,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 27 (Lot AI_27_31622) Title: Hasselblad EL Data Camera (HEDC)
Description:
Extremely rare original Lunar Hasselblad produced for the NASA Apollo moon missions. In total about 50 camera were made, 13 of these were left on the moon during Apollo 11-17 missions. The Hasselblad serial number is TRE 12121, the NASA number 1014. It comes with the original reseau plate. The lens is a very rare black Planar 3.5/100mm no.2585912 (NASA type 33100041, NASA S/N 1014), the lens is focused on infinity. With film magazine 70/200 (P/N SEB 33300082-202 S/N 006 no. TU 400054) - the historic camera and lens in very fine and absolute original condition. It comes with the story of the camera by its last owner, the former managing director of Hasselblad Engineering AB. Estimate: EUR 40,000 - EUR 50,000 |
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| Mar 2014 | EUR 550,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 25 (Lot AI_25_30070) Title: Hasselblad 500 'HEDC' NASA 'Jim Irwin'
Description:
After presenting and auctioning the most rare and most valuable cameras of mother earth for many years, we proudly present a camera which was used on the moon surface AND also came back. Jim Irwin took exactly 299 pictures with this Hasselblad 500 'EL DATA CAMERA HEDC' during his 3 days stay on the lunar surface and 96 more on the way to the moon and back again. The mission was the first not to land in a lunar mare, instead landing near Hadley rile, documenting an area of the Mare Imbrium called Palus Putredinus. The crew explored the area using the first lunar rover, which allowed them to travel much further from the Lunar Module. Often quoted, NASA called Apollo 15 the most successful manned flight ever achieved. The offered camera no.1038 was one of 14 - 15 cameras used on the moon surface during the APOLLO missions 11-17. (nos.1002, 1003, 1016, 1020, 1023, 1026, 1027, 1028, 1031,1032, 1033, 1036, 1038, 1039) This Hasselblad used on the 4th NASA mission between July 26th to August 7th, 1971 made it`s way back to earth finally landing at the Westlicht auction house. About 12 cameras were left on the moon, as the astronauts only took the film magazines back home in order to take lunar rocks in the equivalent of the weight of the cameras. This historical camera comes with an extensive documentation and photographs taken by Jim Irwin, assembled by its former owner Alain Lazzarini, author of the book 'Hasselblad and the Moon' Technical details: Hasselblad 500 'EL DATA CAMERA HEDC' from the first generation NASA motor-driven cameras for the Lunar missions, silver painted, with reseau plate with matching body number '38' to imprint on taken images, a special NASA Biogon 3.5/60mm no.5198329 with black/chrome anodized finish with control tabs designed for use with space gloves, silver 70mm 200-exposure magazine no.UI310739, the body engraved: NASA no.P/N SEF 33100040-301 - S/N 1038, body no. TEE 14200 magazine engraved 'P/N SEF 33101018-301 S/N 1003 HASSELBLAD REFLEX CAMERA FILM MAGAZINE'. The camera was purchased by the vendor at RR Auction in November 2012 with attached film magazine no. P/N 33101018-301, S/N 1039, as well as a Carl Zeiss 80 mm lens. Accompanied by a letter of authenticity from NASA Aerial, Instrumentation and Motion Picture photographer Dick Williamson: “I have examined the 70 mm Hasselblad camera… This equipment was made by Hasselblad exclusively for NASA’s use on the Apollo lunar program. I feel certain that this camera flew in the Apollo command service module during one or more lunar flights…" Estimate: EUR 150,000 - EUR 200,000 |
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| Nov 2006 | EUR 14,500 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 10 (Lot AI_10_15180) Title: Hasselblad EL 'DATA CAMERA'
Description:
this camera has been specially developed for NASA (NASA number: P/N SEB 33100040- S/N1046), silver-chrome finished EL DATA with Reseau-plate in front of the focal plane, with matching NASA Planar 2.8/80mm no.4488999, magazine 70mm (NASA number: P/N SEF 33101018-301 S/N 1012), a total of max. 50 units of this camera were produced for NASA Estimate: EUR 25,000 - EUR 30,000 |
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