I bought what seemingly is a mint 905swc body that is only 6 years old. While I have no idea the history of this camera it is like brand new, not a scratch on it except for the chrome trim. The chrome trim and I mean nearly every inch of it is covered in what looking like fine scratches giving the finish a dull look, and there is pitting and some sections with the chrome peeled off exposing what looks to be copper or brass underneath. What could have caused this and how badly can it continue to deteriorate?
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Strange corrosion on 905 body
- Thread starter razerx
- Start date
polypal
Active Member
Camera shells are known to pass quality control although some should have been rejected due to polishing and or plating problems.
The other reason could be this camera was exposed to chemicals or even a touch of seawater.
Both can have a disastrous effect on the chrome plating of the shell.
Only solution: have the shell replaced.
This is not a low cost operation though.
The other reason could be this camera was exposed to chemicals or even a touch of seawater.
Both can have a disastrous effect on the chrome plating of the shell.
Only solution: have the shell replaced.
This is not a low cost operation though.
It is a bit sad that many Hasselblads are effected by this, not only the very early ones but also more recent bodies. What you describe is the most extreme case I have heard of for a nearly new camera. I would kindly approach Hasselblad and see how much they still care about customer satisfaction. After all this problem is well known.
(Reminds me of Landrovers where often the aluminium doors corrode within a few years because of inadequate galvanic isolation to steel parts.)
(Reminds me also of Leica R4 and R4s cameras where the zinc top cover corroded unter the paint. My father spent a lot of hard earned money for that R4s...)
(Reminds me of my more than 50 year old Praktisix which looks like new.)
Ulrik
(Reminds me of Landrovers where often the aluminium doors corrode within a few years because of inadequate galvanic isolation to steel parts.)
(Reminds me also of Leica R4 and R4s cameras where the zinc top cover corroded unter the paint. My father spent a lot of hard earned money for that R4s...)
(Reminds me of my more than 50 year old Praktisix which looks like new.)
Ulrik
polypal
Active Member
Please note it is not always Hasselblad that is the cause for these poor shells.
A good friend bought a used 201F camera with a similar poor looking shell.
The camera was less than three years old.
He asked the Hasselblad service center for an exchange shell to be fitted because this kind of corrosion was not a normal thing.
Hasselblad informed him this camera was listed as an insurance write off due to bathing in seawater........
A good friend bought a used 201F camera with a similar poor looking shell.
The camera was less than three years old.
He asked the Hasselblad service center for an exchange shell to be fitted because this kind of corrosion was not a normal thing.
Hasselblad informed him this camera was listed as an insurance write off due to bathing in seawater........
Ouch, I guess in this case the corroded shell would have been the smallest of the problems.
Ulrik
polypal
Active Member
Amazingly enough the camera showed no negative signs of this unhappy dive in seawater.
No doubt it was completely taken apart and rebuilt from scratch.
Paul
I took the 905 to Shriro (the owner of Hasselblad brand?) and they will send the camera off to Sweden to replace the shell. It is not an easy camera to find and otherwise it is like new so I can only hope the quotation won't be too horrible. Now I have extra appreciation for my 1956 SWA and how new it still looks!