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Problem putting on film back

F

flashbulbman

Member
Just received my 500 CM in the mail from Ebay. Like every piece of Hasselblad equipment (two lenses, a 500 elm, a film back, and prism fnder) I bought this month, this camera too, has a defect. I tried 3 differnent backs on the camera and none would close flush with the body. I could not get them on. I think one of the 2 hook pins on the bottom of the camera is misaligned. I played with it for a few minutes and was able to get the magazine flush to close, but I had to push the magazine button to the left to close it on. I will just keep it on all the time and take out the insert to load the film. I noticed on the film dark slide that the handle on the slide is not the same distance on both sides. It can be put into the magazine in two ways. One way, the handle on the slide is closer to the body when inserted, the other way, it is closer to the magazine if you inserted the other way. I also noted two indentations on the slide. Indents are up on one side and groved downward on the opposite side, so there must be a correct way of putting the dark slide in? Or does it matter?
 
Anyone else have this problem where a film back will not close flush with the back and it remains about a milimeter or two from closing at the top? What do you think caused it. It is not the backs since 3 of mine do not work on it?
 
Cocking the camera has no influence on fitting the back.

What about the film plane when the back is mounted at a distance from the body?
With this 500 CM it will be impossible to make sharp images.


Vic.
 
Vic, The back does close flush to the body once you play with it for a minute or two. You have to get it just right for it to close. Once closed and flush to the body, do you still think it will not take sharp pictures? I will shoot a roll this weekend. I think one of the two sets of hooks (two on the top and two on the bottom of the body) that engage the back are out of alighment.
 
flashbulbman said:
Vic, The back does close flush to the body once you play with it for a minute or two. You have to get it just right for it to close. Once closed and flush to the body, do you still think it will not take sharp pictures? I will shoot a roll this weekend. I think one of the two sets of hooks (two on the top and two on the bottom of the body) that engage the back are out of alighment.
Click to expand...

Backs should snap-click in place, there should not be any need to figgle with it for minutes!?

Wilko
 
Like Wilko said the back should fit instantly.

I have seen cameras where the bottom and top hooks were loose or so badly aligned that the photographer had to push the back with his belly towards the camera for tight fit.

Please note the film plane in a back is aligned with 0.05 mm tolerance to get sharp images.

Your 500 CM body is probably of the early generation having two seperate bottom hooks.
These hooks are made of brass and can be misaligned quite easily.

Later 500CM bodies have a stainless steel bottom plate which incorporates the hooks.
That version is stronger and does not misalign easily.


Vic.
 
Flip the Film Holder Key back and forth. In one direction the magazine will close, then flip the Film Holder Key back and proceed to wind the film.

Steve
 
Vic, I had my camera repair man look at the back of the camera. He said the two top hooks, not the bottom two at the base, are slightly elevated just a hair. If I push gently up a bit, I can get the back to go down very snuggly. He said to just leave the back on and reload by taking the insert only out of the camera. Or he can put a little equal and very gentle pressure on the hooks to push them down a hair.
 
IMHO get your money back!!!!! You should not have to fiddle with things!!!
Why did you buy the CM anyway? The ELM should've been the only camera you would've needed unless you want a SWC/M. I wouldn't want a motorized body and a non motorized body. Too complicated. You should keep things simple when it comes to buying Hasselblad equipment. My 1983 vintage ELM will be all the camera I'll ever need until I save for the 903 or 905 SWC.

A motor provides many advantages the non motorized bodies cannot provide.
 
I love the motorized ELM in the studio. It is too heavy when I do hand held shoots of events that are happening live in front of me. I always like two cameras in the same system. One backs up the other. The ELM has a 12 exposure back and 45 degree finder. It will be always used on my tripod. I use it for formal portraiture (see my album). The 500 CM is used hand held in the field, with a 90 degree finder, a 24 exposure back and my 200 watt seconds Stroboflash which I just had converted to a rechargable battery pack. It is much lighter to carry in your hands all day than the ELM. I am used to heavy cameras in the field, hand held. I did weddings for 37 years with my Speed Graphics and flashbulbs. I love the smell of flashbulbs in the morning.
 
The repairman I use is not a friend, just the only guy around who likes to charge like hell. His minimum charge is $35. He was actually up front this time with me and said I could do it myself (which I did last night) but simply putting gentle pressure downward on the hooks. Suggested that I use a pencil with an eraser. Using the eraser end, I pushed, ever so gently, numerous times, trying the back after each push. A few minutes later, the back went on with no problems. I saved $35.
 
The top hook is easily bent, it is made of rather soft sheet metal.
I use a pair of flat nosed pliers to correct the alignment if necessary.

Vic.
 
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