Apollo Camera Equipment

Apollo astronauts carried a number of different cameras, some of which had changeable lenses for different focal lengths. The resolution, which are given in arc-seconds (1/3600 degree), is dependent on the camera's focal length, the film used, and to some extent, the contrast of the scene photographed. The resolutions in the Apollo documentations were originally given in lines/mm on the original film -  a "line" being the size of the smallest resolvable feature on the film.


Mapping Camera

This camera had only one focal length and used one type of film.

Image area on film: 115mm X 115mm

Focal length: 76mm

Field of view: 74 X 74 degrees

Film: 3400 (B&W). Resolution: 12 arc seconds

Resolution: 90 lines/mm = 26 arc seconds (at a 1000:1 contrast ratio)


Hasselblad 70mm Camera

The camera was mounted in a bracket at one of the Command Module's side windows

Image area on film: 52mm on each side for the film types listed below;

Focus: 2.5 meters to infinity;

80mm Focal Length Lens

250mm Focal Length Lens

500mm Focal Length