Hasselblad 500c Repairs 2026. Need Repair/Service KEH ? Someone who is ready and willing.

mshchem · 2026-04-06T13:11:54-0400

I was gifted a nice late (1970) Hasselblad 500c, it was used by an enthusiast, it's been setting for at least 30 years. Camera is cocked but won't fire. I don't think it's broken, maybe just really gummed up.

Who can repair this, don't need the best person in the world, just a fully functioning repair shop who is used to working on this sort of thing.

Ideas?

koraks · 2026-04-06T13:32:01-0400

Repair shops in and out of business

This is where we can maintain a list of camera repair shops. The idea behind this is that it's an ever-updated list of repair shops where anyone can post the name and public contact information of camera repair shops. Relevant information to post includes, for instance: * Name of the shop and...

www.photrio.com

Anything of interest here perhaps?

AnselMortensen · 2026-04-06T14:12:40-0400

mshchem said:
I was gifted a nice late (1970) Hasselblad 500c, it was used by an enthusiast, it's been setting for at least 30 years. Camera is cocked but won't fire. I don't think it's broken, maybe just really gummed up.

Who can repair this, don't need the best person in the world, just a fully functioning repair shop who is used to working on this sort of thing.

Ideas?

If it is cocked, try removing the lens and back, and see if the body fires without the lens....that should tell you which piece of the puzzle isn't working...that way you don't have more repairs done than you want.

Also, check to make sure the shutter button lock isn't on, or the dark slide isn't in...(ask me how I know )

A nice gift, lucky you!

mshchem · 2026-04-06T14:47:29-0400

AnselMortensen said:
If it is cocked, try removing the lens and back, and see if the body fires without the lens....that should tell you which piece of the puzzle isn't working...that way you don't have more repairs done than you want.

Also, check to make sure the shutter button lock isn't on, or the dark slide isn't in...(ask me how I know )

A nice gift, lucky you!

Yep, I've tried all this. I have other Hasselblads, everything works except this body. The 3 lenses work fine which is surprising considering.
I'm thinking about contacting KEH. They are used to seeing this. I had a guy but he closed up. If I was in the EU it would be easier.

Don_ih · 2026-04-06T15:05:32-0400

I had mine fixed by @Light Capture - he did a great job. You may not want to send your camera out of the country, though.

Alexander6x6 · 2026-04-06T15:21:01-0400

I was told by Hasselblad service in Germany that the 500 series is the only camera that can be repaired nowadays.

mshchem · 2026-04-06T17:11:47-0400

I sent it FedEx to KEH. It is probably an easy fix for someone who knows what they are doing. I kinda feel that I owe it to the camera. It's been through some interesting times. Not sure it's ever been more "interesting" than today . War and moonshots

Pieter12 · 2026-04-06T17:16:56-0400

Alexander6x6 said:
I was told by Hasselblad service in Germany that the 500 series is the only camera that can be repaired nowadays.

Hasselblad USA no longer services the 500 or any of its lenses due to parts availability.

mshchem · 2026-04-06T17:19:59-0400

Pieter12 said:
Hasselblad USA no longer services the 500 or any of its lenses due to parts availability.

Yeah they are taking care of professionals. They are really pushing the digital camera right now

RalphLambrecht · 2026-04-06T17:31:56-0400

mshchem said:
I was gifted a nice late (1970) Hasselblad 500c, it was used by an enthusiast, it's been setting for at least 30 years. Camera is cocked but won't fire. I don't think it's broken, maybe just really gummed up.

Who can repair this, don't need the best person in the world, just a fully functioning repair shop who is used to working on this sort of thing.

Ideas?

You can likely fix it yourself. This frequently happens when an uncocked lens is mounted to a cocked camera body or visa versa. Both have to be in the same state when trying to mount the lens. Anyway. you can purchase a so-called Hasselblad tool, take the back off, reach into the body from the back and fix the situation; it has nothing to do with gummed-up shutters, and no CLA is required. You'll find several instructions on the web about this procedure. I have done it several times on my own. Good luck to you

mshchem · 2026-04-06T17:34:25-0400

RalphLambrecht said:
You can likely fix it yourself. This frequently happens when an uncocked lens is mounted to a cocked camera body or visa versa. Both have to be in the same state when trying to mount the lens. Anyway. you can purchase a so-called Hasselblad tool, take the back off, reach into the body from the back and fix the situation; it has nothing to do with gummed-up shutters, and no CLA is required. You'll find several instructions on the web about this procedure. I have done it several times on my own. Good luck to you

I know all about the tool. I even opened up the camera, tried a bit of solvent. This is beyond the common.

RalphLambrecht · 2026-04-06T17:35:48-0400

mshchem said:
Yeah they are taking care of professionals. They are really pushing the digital camera right now

You'll have more luck contacting Carl Zeiss directly. They even worked on an unfortunate ebay urchase for me(fastened lose glas elements and aligned it all on an optical bench for mere $50) But that was Zeiss in Germany!

mshchem · 2026-04-06T20:17:10-0400

RalphLambrecht said:
You'll have more luck contacting Carl Zeiss directly. They even worked on an unfortunate ebay urchase for me(fastened lose glas elements and aligned it all on an optical bench for mere $50) But that was Zeiss in Germany!

Zeiss is still in Germany. The real Zeiss

mshchem · 2026-04-06T20:37:51-0400

Not that there's anything wrong with Cosina made glass.

Hasselblad 500c Repairs 2026. Need Repair/Service KEH ? Someone who is ready and willing.

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency