Hasselblad is a fine, reliable workhorse professional camera. The 6x6 format, despite recent attempts by other camera makers, primarily, Mamiya which aggressively portraying 6x7 being the ideal format, the 6x6 status, principally are German makers' formats, the Rollei for instance, is still sticking to 6x6 and both offering 4x5 as alternative answer to 6x7.The 6x6 has its own charm, artistry and long established heritage among die hard fine art and professional photographers, coupled with their renowned world class German optics (the Carl Zeiss T* lenses, the Schneider Lenses) are the few main key factors for its status in the medium format.
1994 - 1988 || 1989 - 1994 || 1995 - 1997
In 1984, a Malaysian photographer, Mr Herman Liew was involved with an assignment that required rapid sequential firing of shuttle release. The available bodies in Hasselblad line offering the desirable feature are two, FCM2000 and the ELM, and none are available for the all mechanical bodies of 500Cs.
After the assignment, Mr Liew brought this subject out during a local photographic forum, why Hasselblad has no "solution" for this particular segment in its huge inventory of camera accessories ?
A letter was send to Hasselblad sometime in mid 1984 and suggesting a proposal that a winder should be made available. Hasselblad answered that, after evaluating the mechanical structures of their respective models, the 2000FCM was decided as being the target for a modified version and acknowledged that 500C was more complicated in producing a winder for it.
The yearly production for the 500CM was around 10,000 units during that time.
With the vital statistic available, Mr Herman Liew, with some mechanical background, started to have his concept on the drawing board, and with his limited personal financial resources and free time, started to build a winder prototype for the 500C.
The prototype model took him two years to construct. During the time, he has been kept on notifying Hasselblad about the progress of his work. In 1986, Hasselblad replied saying, though impressed by his effort and determination, Hasselblad has no intention to consider a winder to be made, even with external source.
The letter didn't put off the flames of Mr Herman Liew and saw that as an encouraging fact that - Hasselblad has no plan at all for a winder for its flagship model ! And that means, his model will be the only one available in the market.
The first prototype was eventually produced, handmade, of course in 1987. A letter was send to Hasselblad and Gothenburg replied with the request of sending the prototype for evaluation.
A patent for the detachable motor winder was awarded in 19th day of April 1988 in the US (no.4738524).
With the security of the patent, Mr Herman Liew started to secure some financial assistant from some friends and the next few years, a small production of a dedicated Motor Winders for the 500C started to roll out from its production line.
1994 - 1988 || 1989 - 1994 || 1995 - 1997
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