The other day, while out shooting, a gentleman approached me. He introduced himself as a professional photographer who had been using Hasselblad cameras his entire life. But there was one problem, he had never seen the Hasselblad I was holding.

Curious, he asked about it, so I proudly showed him my Hasselblad HV, also known as the Hasselblad Victor. As we chatted, I walked him through its history. That conversation made me realize just how few photographers know about this rare and fascinating camera. So, I figured I’d write a quick blog post to share its story with you.

The Story Behind the Hasselblad HV

Years ago, when I was working for Hasselblad, the company decided to collaborate with Sony, rebranding a few of their cameras under the Hasselblad name. Most of these were consumer level Sony point-and-shoot models, but the HV was something special.

This camera was based on the Sony A99, a well-regarded 24MP DSLR that came paired with a Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24mm–70mm lens. Hasselblad took this already excellent platform and added their signature luxury touch. The top of the camera was replaced with a titanium plate featuring the iconic Hasselblad branding, giving it a striking two-tone design.

A Pricey Experiment

To be fair, the entire project was a commercial flop, spectacularly so. The Hasselblad branded versions of Sony’s cameras were dramatically more expensive than their originals. While the Sony A99 with the Zeiss lens retailed for about $1,800, the Hasselblad HV with the exact same setup was priced at an eye-watering $8,000! Not surprisingly, few people were willing to pay that premium, and the HV quickly became a rare collector’s item. Despite the project’s failure, the HV remains an excellent camera, one that I still use today. And because so few were sold, they’re as rare as hen’s teeth

A Unique Piece of Photography History

When I left Hasselblad, the company didn’t ask for my sample unit back. Lucky me! That’s how I became the proud owner of this fascinating conversation starter, a camera that always intrigues photographers who come across it.

Do you have any rare or unusual cameras in your collection?  I’d love to hear your stories about unique photographic equipment! And as always, if you ever need advice on professional photography gear or drones, feel free to reach out.

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