Hasselblad 110mm F2, aperture stuck

rawhead · Oct 22, 2013

I think I may have heard of this problem, but recently my 110mm F2 Planar stopped stopping down... till recently, I could only go from F2 to F2.8.. today, I couldn't even go to F2.8. While I bought this lens to shoot it at F2, I'd still love to be able to do landscape photography with it now and then.

So I'd like to repair it, and I'm guessing it will require professional work (HasselbladBron I guess). The question I have is, anybody have experience with this problem and know how much it would cost to repair it? Any place cheaper than HasselbladBron?

Not that I'd think twice about repairing it (I won't, regardless of cost), but I just spent $650 repairing my 903SWC at HB and if it's going to cost a lot, I'm going to want to wait a month or two before I ship it out.

Thanks!

P.S. I did not drop or bump the lens; it's not impact damage. I believe I heard somewhere that it's an issue with a worn bushing somewhere...

cowanw · Oct 22, 2013

Yes, I had that very problem. There is a white plastic ring inside which split such that it could expand a bit and binded (sic). It was a simple fix but did require disassembly and the actual replacement of the gasket.

rawhead · Oct 22, 2013

cowanw said:
Yes, I had that very problem. There is a white plastic ring inside which split such that it could expand a bit and binded (sic). It was a simple fix but did require disassembly and the actual replacement of the gasket.

Ah, cool, I'm comfortable disassembling the lens; so I guess I just need to order the part? Do you happen to have written down the part number?

itsdoable · Oct 22, 2013

Could also be oil on the blades. I have 3 F lens and they all have / had sticky aperture blades due to oil (and it is a common issue with CF and older C lenses to.

Careful taking the front group off, the bezel on Zeiss lenses are typically really tight, it's easy to scratch / damage it taking it off.

rawhead · Oct 22, 2013

itsdoable said:
Could also be oil on the blades. I have 3 F lens and they all have / had sticky aperture blades due to oil (and it is a common issue with CF and older C lenses to.

It feels a lot... *stiffer*, for the lack of a better word, than oil on the blades. The aperture ring is physically, unturnable. Thanks for the advice

cowanw · Oct 23, 2013

rawhead said:
Ah, cool, I'm comfortable disassembling the lens; so I guess I just need to order the part? Do you happen to have written down the part number?

Alas no.

vysk · Oct 23, 2013

I just checked my lens, whew, it is good.

I had to call Hasselblad USA for a part, and was assisted by a lady who was very very helpful and capable in looking up parts.

And they were good in ordering and sending it out promptly.

...Vick

Mark Feldstein · Oct 23, 2013

Unless you really know what you're doing and have all the tools necessary to do this plus the parts and know what to look for with other potentially worn parts in the same lens, I'd defer to someone who really has all that stuff and the experience. Like a factory trained Hasselblad Tech (rather than Blad/Bron.

Since you're in Boston, I'd just drop the dime and take it to David Odess in Randolph, MA. His prices are really fair, especially for a CLA with minor parts, he guarantees his work which is excellent and he's a good guy. Check him out.
http://www.david-odess.com/index.html He's only been at this for about 37-38 years. I think that'd keep you and your 110 really happy.
Mark

rawhead · Oct 23, 2013

Mark Feldstein said:
Since you're in Boston, I'd just drop the dime and take it to David Odess in Randolph, MA. His prices are really fair, especially for a CLA with minor parts, he guarantees his work which is excellent and he's a good guy. Check him out.
http://www.david-odess.com/index.html He's only been at this for about 37-38 years. I think that'd keep you and your 110 really happy.
Mark

Thanks for the info; unfortunately, he doesn't service "F" lenses

rawhead · Oct 23, 2013

vysk said:
I just checked my lens, whew, it is good.

I had to call Hasselblad USA for a part, and was assisted by a lady who was very very helpful and capable in looking up parts.

And they were good in ordering and sending it out promptly.

...Vick

How difficult was the disassembly/reassembly? Does it entail taking out optical elements? Are there springs, ball-bearings, etc, that require extra careful handling?

Thanks!

Douglas Fairbank · Oct 24, 2013

It's not a difficult lens to take apart but fitting the ring (if it needs one) is not at all easy, it is made undersized for an interference fit and the factory have a special tool to fit it although it can also be fitted without if you are clever and careful. The 110mm lens also has a unusual (maybe unique) twin blade set design and care is needed to get the configuration correct. The stiffness of the aperture ring has nothing to do with the blades, there is no direct link. Under the aperture ring there is a ball bearing just waiting for it's freedom, get ready to catch it, it is 1mm in diameter.
Dead Link Removed

rawhead · Oct 24, 2013

Douglas Fairbank said:
It's not a difficult lens to take apart but fitting the ring (if it needs one) is not at all easy, it is made undersized for an interference fit and the factory have a special tool to fit it although it can also be fitted without if you are clever and careful. The 110mm lens also has a unusual (maybe unique) twin blade set design and care is needed to get the configuration correct. The stiffness of the aperture ring has nothing to do with the blades, there is no direct link. Under the aperture ring there is a ball bearing just waiting for it's freedom, get ready to catch it, it is 1mm in diameter.
Dead Link Removed

Thanks Douglas, first I need to find if I can get the part; nobody's replying me from Hasselblad USA

rawhead · Nov 25, 2013

I sent the lens to HasselbladBron, and they're claiming they don't have anyone in NJ that can repair it so they need to send the lens to Sweden. Apparently, if they send it there, they will repair the lens without even quoting me if the repair cost is less than $550. Which means they could just charge me $550 and I'd have to pay it if I want my lens back. That sounds pretty ridiculous, when I bought the lens for like $1100...

Now I'm at a loss; should I try to pursue DIY fix (I am handy, I just need to find this mysterious part), or trust that Sweden won't charge me an arm and a leg for what sounds like a $150 labor & $5 parts repair job?

cowanw · Nov 25, 2013

Or send it to Camtech in Hamilton Ontario

rawhead · Nov 25, 2013

cowanw said:
Or send it to Camtech in Hamilton Ontario

Thanks, I've sent them an Email asking if they'd be able to do it

Chris Lange · Nov 25, 2013

Worse comes to worse, Nippon Photo Clinic in NYC can also do the job no problem. They'll fix things others won't.

I had them turn a jammed up 80mm/2.8C into a like-new lens.

rawhead · Nov 25, 2013

Chris Lange said:
Worse comes to worse, Nippon Photo Clinic in NYC can also do the job no problem. They'll fix things others won't.

I had them turn a jammed up 80mm/2.8C into a like-new lens.

Why is it "worse comes to worst"? Do they also charge astronomical prices? Cuz if they're reasonable, I'd send it to them right away, after all they sound like the closest people to me (Boston, MA).

rawhead · Nov 25, 2013

Ah, I'll just give them a shot, a brief search got me to a lot of praise for Nippon. Thanks for the tip.

Chris Lange · Nov 25, 2013

They're awesome, I've only used them or Dave Odess for my Hasselblad gear, and all my non hasselblad stuff goes to Nippon when it needs work. They might charge a little more than others, but I've always found them to be very reasonable, still, given the quality of their work.

They handled all of my dad's repair work after Forscher closed Professional Camera, and he had them working on cameras all the time.

Mark Feldstein · Nov 25, 2013

Dave Odess charges $25 for an estimate that he'll credit back to the repair work if you proceed with that. That's less than postage to Sweden, I think. AND he charges $195 labor on a lens. IMO, you'd be, shall I say, rather nuts to send this to Blad in Sweden. I think this probably requires somewhat of a risk/benefit analysis. Are you feeling really lucky? Taking it apart is easy. Finding the problem, fixing it and then correctly reassembling it so everything works on that lens could be problematic.

And whether you're handy or lucky or whether you stayed at a Holiday Inn the night before attempting this (or all 3) I think it bears noting again:

"Unless you really know what you're doing and have all the tools necessary to do this plus the parts and know what to look for with other potentially worn parts in the same lens, I'd defer to someone who really has all that stuff and the experience. Like a factory trained Hasselblad Tech (rather than Blad/Bron.

Since you're in Boston, I'd just drop the dime and take it to David Odess in Randolph, MA. His prices are really fair, especially for a CLA with minor parts, he guarantees his work which is excellent and he's a good guy. Check him out.
http://www.david-odess.com/index.html He's only been at this for about 37-38 years. I think that'd keep you and your 110 really happy."
Mark
(Not related in any way to David Odess :>))

rawhead · Nov 25, 2013

Mark Feldstein said:
Since you're in Boston, I'd just drop the dime and take it to David Odess in Randolph, MA. His prices are really fair, especially for a CLA with minor parts, he guarantees his work which is excellent and he's a good guy. Check him out.
http://www.david-odess.com/index.html He's only been at this for about 37-38 years. I think that'd keep you and your 110 really happy."
Mark
(Not related in any way to David Odess :>))

I've already contacted him; he doesn't work on "F" lenses, unfortunately.

Chris Lange · Nov 25, 2013

yes... hence Nippon.

RJ Arts · Oct 16, 2020

rawhead said:
I've already contacted him; he doesn't work on "F" lenses, unfortunately.

I came across your thread about the stuck aperture. How did you resolve your stuck 110 F2?

Hasselblad 110mm F2, aperture stuck

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