4th roll with a Hasselblad - thoughts.

[HiHoSilver]

The mirror foam in both my bodies were toast. The slight difference in mirror angle gave focus error I couldn't adjust for - all shots were soft. The actual body service was cheap ($90). Since the service, if its soft - I'm the reason.
On prisms & trinketry - My old eyes need all the finder brightness I can get, so a prism only reduces the brightness. Any bounce off another mirror reduces the light. I went w/ the chimney magnifying finder to side-step the loss of light. But nothing launched my satisfaction w/ the blad like getting that body serviced.

 

[LMNOP]

The mirror foam in both my bodies were toast. The slight difference in mirror angle gave focus error I couldn't adjust for - all shots were soft. The actual body service was cheap ($90). Since the service, if its soft - I'm the reason.

How can I check for this? I assume mailing this back to KEH for service would be the best thing to do.

 

[HiHoSilver]

Bill Maxwell (of the focusing screens) had me take a Q-tip and apply slight pressure to the corners of the mirror. It should have a tiny amount of flex/give - the foam compressing. As it was, the arms holding the mirror would flex before any movement from compressed foam would be seen. I got the bodies back before the Maxwell screen arrived. Both bodies were done with focus error. The screen added 2 stops of brightness to the finder as the repair tech said it would. Its a pleasure now.

 

[LMNOP]

This might be one of the sharpest yet, handheld, at least f8, possibly 11.

 

[LMNOP]

Full res version, zoomed in to 90%

 

[TooManyShots]

I am starting to see some sharper results with the Hassy, but my controlled sharpness test at home was kind of soft... I shot this at 2.8 - I believe around 1/15th with a cable release, just sitting the camera on a flat stable desk. The Canon logo appeared to be as sharp as possible when I shot it. Maybe I should be inspecting the mirror pads? Otherwise, I am falling in love with this camera. I fear the GAS coming back as I look to prisms, other lenses, etc.

Looks like the focus is on the "C" and everything else slightly behind it. Not as bad as it looks. You can slightly compensate it by making a mental note. Just focus a bit at the front more. For the foam issue??? I have a 553 elx and it has no foam under the mirror. If the mirror is resting on foams with the 500cm, yeah, the foam can deteriorate and changing the distance between the mirror and the focusing screen. Again, it is not as bad here.

 

[ruilourosa]

I am reading this and wondering if the film is being properly charged... i have 3 hasselblads and never had that kind of softness problem!!! just when i bought my first one and did not passed the film leader under that little L bridge in the film insert...

 

[LMNOP]

Bill Maxwell (of the focusing screens) had me take a Q-tip and apply slight pressure to the corners of the mirror. It should have a tiny amount of flex/give - the foam compressing. As it was, the arms holding the mirror would flex before any movement from compressed foam would be seen. I got the bodies back before the Maxwell screen arrived. Both bodies were done with focus error. The screen added 2 stops of brightness to the finder as the repair tech said it would. Its a pleasure now.

To this point - if I understand correctly, there is no flex. In fact, I don't believe there is any foam on the resting arms below the mirror, IF that is where the foam should be, I must have found the problem. These pictures show the arms when the mirror is up. Should these little rests have foam?

 

[megzdad81]

What is the "little L-bridge"?

 

[LMNOP]

To this point - if I understand correctly, there is no flex. In fact, I don't believe there is any foam on the resting arms below the mirror, IF that is where the foam should be, I must have found the problem. These pictures show the arms when the mirror is up. Should these little rests have foam?

Can anyone tell if this foam is worn down?

 

[TooManyShots]

I don't think it has any foams at all. My 553 elx has none.

 

[Sirius Glass]

How can I check for this? I assume mailing this back to KEH for service would be the best thing to do.

Yes, since it is under warranty.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I am reading this and wondering if the film is being properly charged... i have 3 hasselblads and never had that kind of softness problem!!! just when i bought my first one and did not passed the film leader under that little L bridge in the film insert...

Are you talking about the lip that holds down the edge of the film?

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Can anyone tell if this foam is worn down?

On my 500C/M and my 501C there is no foam on the little tabs upon which the mirror rests. I didn't look at my 553ELX, but someone already said foam wasn't there either. Perhaps, when APUGuser19 mentioned foam, he was referring to the older 500C.

Are you talking about the lip that holds down the edge of the film?

As for the "lip", I believe the poster was referring to the narrow shiny steel clamp that holds the film against the pressure plate when the insert is removed. When the insert-lock is turned (i.e. when you place the insert inside the magazine housing and lock it in place), that clamp releases pressure on the film so that it can move freely while winding.

 

[gopher]

focusing the Hasselblad

I have owned a Hasselblad 500 ELX, eye level prism and 60mm CF, 100mm C T" and 120 macro planar CF lens. Despite using the latest microprism finder I find it extremely difficult to focus with the 100mm lens indoors, so much so that I purchased a Mamiya 711. I have never had an out of focus shot with the rangefinder mechanism and I can understand why Leica has been so popular. I also had the opportunity to attend Photokina 2012 and shoot a roll with the Rollei Hy6 mod 2 and the autofocus ability was so very accurate and a pleasure to use.... all 12 shots were needle sharp even though all were shot indoors near the Rollei stand. I truly feel that it is unfortunate that when Hasselblad finally developed autofocus they choose to use the 6x4.5 format instead of 6x6 for the early digital-film versions of the H series cameras. Even though Rollei has had some solvency problems lately I think that the Hy6 is far and away the finest 6x6 camera available today and should be seriously considered by those who can afford it.

 

[gopher]

focusing the Hasselblad

Re: Rollei Hy6 mod 2... I forgot to add that this camera also has a focus confirmation function in the viewfinder if used with non-autofocus Rollei lenses.

 

[LMNOP]

Well - I am still shooting the Hassy since its the holiday weekend. I may mail it back but I would like to see more negatives. This could be a perfectly healthy camera and I am failing to deliver sharp results.