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IR Filter Clean or Replace

J

jivago

New Member
Any advice is appreciated.

After bringing out of storage my 501 C with CFV back, I ran some test shots. There was clearly something major wrong. To cut a long story short after removing the digital back, I noticed what looked like stains or residue patterns on the outside of the IR filter. These resembled patterns of biological growth I have seen under the microscope or dried fluid patterns.

The camera has been very carefully stored and protected. I can't think how any fluid could have go in and there are no signs at all on the casing of any ingress of fluid.

E wipes will not touch the contamination.

I do anticipate that the IR filter is going to have to be replaced.

Does anyone know if this is possible?

What does it cost?

Does anyone know if the IR filter is a tight seal over the sensor? - I am now concerned that if any fluid has got in some how, then it could get behind the filter and damage the sensor itself! The sensor seems to be working fine and I get great photographs of the inside of the contamination.

Any advice view appreciated.

jivago
 
Welcome here at hasselbladinfo forum.


The problem seems to come from cleaning fluid used by the maker of the CCD.
The only solution is to replace the IR filter.

As far as I remember Hasselblad charges 200-300 euro for that job.

Nothing you could have done to prevent this from happening.

Sorry to inform you about this bad news.

Paul
 
Paul - Thanks. However I can't recall ever using cleaning fluid (I have never owned any). The only agents used have been E wipes.

On coser examination, the contamination resembles the patterns you can see when water dries on glass or metal in the sun

jivago
 
It is not you but the maker of the CCD, probably Kodak, who used a detergent containing biological residu to clean the IR filter.
 
IR Filter clean or Replace?

Hi Paul Thanks again - But it has never been returned to Kodac or Hasselblad for cleaning and the unit was fine until after I brought it out from storage. Are you saying that this is an artefact from production?

Are you aware of this happening to other users>?

Regards jivago
 
Paul Thanks - I guess the fluid must have contained some nutrient to allow bugs to grow on it?

I guess it is not a big job to replace the IR filter?

Could the same happen to my H3D sensor? - Stored under the same conditions but no such problem (thankfully).

jivago
 
An other cause for such problems could be a too high humidity in the place where the back was or is stored .
Normal humidity for living rooms is 40-60% . Anything above that could cause problems like the described one or even fungus .
I use little silicon gel bags in all places where I store photographic gear .
 
Storage in an environment with low humidity is essential to avoid the growth of fungus and the unwanted side effects caused by cleaning fluids used during production.

As far as I remember Hasselblad charges 200-300 euro to replace the IR filter.
 
ZEISS requests storage of 60-30% humidity and warm (best 40 degrees centigrade) to avoid fungus growth for their lenses; very similar I would guess.
 
Well Haselblad UK have been very helpful and informative - As one would expect for cameras at this level- But very helpful!! :)
 
The people in Elstree give the customer and his camera the royal treatment at a decent price.
I am glad this kind of service is still available for Hasselblad users.
 
IR Filter etc - Superb Service

The service was truly superb! - I was not treated "as a number" - Old fashioned customer care par excellence!
 
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