On this same day fifty years ago, astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins were traveling through outer space towards the Moon. They would land on Earth’s satellite one day after: July 20, 1969. 


The tools with which they recorded their great endeavor were the best technologies of that time. Among them there were two very special still cameras, one was the Hasseblad HDC, assembled from a commercial 500EL model for the historical purpose by the Swedish company to endure intense temperatures, vibration, and lack of gravity; the second one was the Hasselblad HEC, fitted with a Zeiss Planar 80mm ƒ/2,8 lens which was used to shoot pictures from inside the Eagle lunar module.
The Zeiss Biogon 60mm ƒ/5,6 lens mounted on the HDC was such a fine and sharp lens that after the Moon landing Hasselblad decided to turn it into a commercial product. The shots taken with both cameras in space (check the gallery above) offered both precious scientific insights, and an incredible perspective on humanity’s most sensational journey.

To honor 50 years since their first camera landed on the Moon, Hasselblad released a special edition of the new 907X camera body and CFV II 50C digital back that the company announced in June. The two product come in an unusual all-black color and the Special Edition CFV II 50C sports a small commemorative text plate that reads “on the Moon since 1969”. They’re sold in a kit, so that all you need to have a fully functional digital Hasselblad is a series X lens to mount on it. 

The new kit is an interesting digital throwback to the Hasselblad cameras of a bygone era, thanks to the tilt screen of the CFV II 50C digital back that lets the photographer shoot from waist-level by assessing the scene from above, in a typical “old Hassy” V series fashion. The CFV II 50C digital back will also be available as a standalone digital back, as it’s compatible with most V System Cameras made from 1957 and onwards. 

As of today there are still 12 Hasselblad cameras on the Moon, left behind by the astronauts of many Apollo missions to lessen their weight on their journey back to Earth. With so many countries and private companies renewing their commitment to space exploration maybe a few additional Hasselblads will be able to leave Earth for good on another exciting space trip. Maybe to Mars, this time around.