Apollo 11 Hasselblad Camera Celebrates Those Literally Left On The Moon

Back on July 20, 1969, when the Eagle landed on our moon, it was a Hasselblad camera that was chosen to take photographs. Now that we're here 50 years later, Hasselblad isn't about to let that fact be forgotten. As such, they've delivered all the important facts on their participation with the mission, including a full gear readout for the cameras used on each major photograph. ALSO there's a newly-minted special edition moon landing camera ready to roll for consumers this week.

Upon landing the Eagle during the moon landing mission, Apollo 11, the team selected a silver Hasselblad Data Camera (HDC) with Réseau plate, fitted with a Zeiss Biogon 60mm ƒ/5.6 lens to photograph the surface. This camera was attached to Neil Armstrong's space suit. A black Hasselblad Electric Camera (HEC) with a Zeiss Planar 80mm ƒ/2,8 lens was used to photograph images from within the Eagle lunar module.

The HDC was amongst several pieces of hardware left on the moon's surface. After removing film magazines from the camera body, the body and the lens were left on the surface so that the mission could make sure as possible their take off and safe return to the surface of the Earth.

UPDATE: The second camera and lens were also left behind, putting the number of cameras with lenses left on the surface of the moon at two. By the time Apollo 17 left the surface, there'd be twelve camera bodies on the surface of the moon. They're still up there now, as far as we're aware.

A third black Hasselblad Electric Camera (HEC) was used on the Command Module Columbia in lunar orbit during this same mission. That camera, handled by astronaut Michael Collins, was safely returned to the Earth's surface.

Each of the photos included in this article (save those of the cameras) were captured during the Apollo 11 mission on our Earth's moon.

This week Hasselblad released a 907X Special Edition in concert with the 50th anniversary of humanity's first successful human landing on the moon. This special edition includes a 907X camera body and CFV II 50C digital back, both in "matte black, just as the HEC that made it back to Earth."

Because Hasselblad cameras were used in the Apollo 11 mission on the moons surface, and (in a sort of cheeky way) because Hasselblad cameras have likely sat on the surface of the moon ever since, the following message is included on the new special edition camera: "On the Moon Since 1969."

FUN FACT: The font used on the panel with this text is reminiscent of the FUTURA used on the original Apollo 11 plaque left on the moon during this mission.

This new special edition camera can be had for approximately (MSRP) €6500 / $7499 / £5825 excl. VA. More information on the release of this special edition camera will be revealed soon. Technical specifications for this camera (as they arrive) can be found at Hasselblad and here on SlashGear when the actual final launch is near!