Hasselblad 500CM Shutter wont fire , please help.

nestons

Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2024
Messages
8
Location
Vancouver
Format
Medium Format
Hi Folks, I need some help
I recently got the Hasselblad 500 CM with A12 Back.
I have advanced the body and lens and clocked * it too.

The back has the film inserted, however, the half moon on the left side of the back still shows 70% RED 30% orange, despite the film in it.
On the right of the back, it shows WHITE (even on the body) and it shows (FRAME (1) )..and it won't let me wound further, since it's already frame (1) and hasn't been shot.

I take off the dark slide and click the shutter, and nothing happens. the shutter's button goes in all the way and doesn't affect the mirror or the shutter.
However if I take the back off and then try clicking the shutter button it works perfectly fine and then I can clock the body and reshoot. no problem,

But, when the back is attached, nothing works.
WAtched all videos possible, doing everything right but no luck, tried google too and still no luck,

Please help
Many thanks,
Neston
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
53,174
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
Welcome to Photrio.
We have replaced your duplicate post (in the other Hasselblad thread) with a link to this thread instead.
Best of luck in your search for a solution.
 

popdoc

Subscriber
Joined
Jul 14, 2015
Messages
25
Location
Virginia
Format
Large Format
Put the dark slide back in
Take off the back
Cycle/turn the big knob on the body till it stops
Press shutter button
If shutter fires you are all good
Then….
Wind it again and make sure you can 1. see through the finder and, 2. make sure your film back has a full solid white indicator circle to match the camera body’s white indicator circle.

If it seems that the camera body mechanism is “stuck”, watch one of the many YouTube videos of how to carefully use a smallish flathead screwdriver to “reset” the mechanism and be back in the game.

I carry one of these specialized screwdrivers with me whenever I’m out in the cold with one of my ‘blads…


https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/995353-REG
 

jk0592

Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2011
Messages
107
Location
Canada
Format
Medium Format
If you take off the back, and fire the camera, you should see a short metal "arm" coming out of the body, on the bottom right hand side. This metal arm reaches in the back. If it is blocked before completing its travel (as when the dark slide is inserted), the shutter button should be blocked. So either this metal arm is faulty (camera body), or your back is faulty and needs a CLA.
 
OP
OP

nestons

Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2024
Messages
8
Location
Vancouver
Format
Medium Format

No luck really,
I have tried taking the back off, and then the shutter fires and it's all good.
Until I put the A12 back on. It just won't fire, (yes I did advance the body ).
I can see through the focusing screen, can see what's in front of the lens and the film back has a solid white matching the body too.
I can try the reset with the screwdriver but do you have a video link that I could refer to. to understand and check. Please. thank you, appreciate all the help.
 
OP
OP

nestons

Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2024
Messages
8
Location
Vancouver
Format
Medium Format

Hi,
Thank you for helping but still no luck,
I tried to remove the back and when I fire, yes I see that metal arm coming out, (which ideally goes into the back ) so that is working fine.
and the back, I see when I remove the slide, the metal piece in that hole. moves back to ideally let the metal piece from the body come through.
So I can confirm nothing is blocking or stuck but still trying to figure out why it is not shooting.
 

Steven Lee

Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2022
Messages
1,431
Location
USA
Format
Medium Format
nestons said:
the shutter's button goes in all the way and doesn't affect the mirror or the shutter.
Click to expand...
This line is the most telling in your description. I am not a Hasselblad tech, but I am fairly certain that under no circumstances this is possible. All camera interlocks would prevent the shutter button from going all the way in without firing.

I believe your camera needs service.
 

RalphLambrecht

Subscriber
Joined
Sep 19, 2003
Messages
14,658
Location
K,Germany
Format
Medium Format

This issue of body jams is a user problem but still makes the Hasselblad V system unreliable and fickle. I'm going to abandon the system because of it! Tired of this cocking mechanism and its constant issues.
 

Arthurwg

Member
Joined
Dec 16, 2005
Messages
2,707
Location
Taos NM
Format
Medium Format
For some, the shear pleasure of using a Hasselblad justifies the effort necessary keep them working.
 

Kino

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 20, 2006
Messages
7,772
Location
Orange, Virginia
Format
Multi Format
nestons said:
The back has the film inserted, however, the half moon on the left side of the back still shows 70% RED 30% orange, despite the film in it.
Click to expand...

This red/orange means the magazine is showing the film has been shot and needs to be advanced.

Are you absolutely sure you loaded the magazine properly? Everyone can make mistakes; try reviewing this video:


Otherwise, your magazine may be defective.

Another good source on Hasselblad magazines is:

The Hasselblad V-System master guide: film magazines, instant and sheet film backs

Part one of this collection covered an in-depth overview of the Hasselblad V-System. This section of the guide covers roll film, instant and sheet film backs (designated by Hasselblad as "magazines").
emulsive.org

Just for general knowledge...
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,399
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
Welcome to Photrio

I have had the same problem. The back needs service. It probably is because some dirt or debris needs to be cleaned out and adjustments need to be made.
 

campy51

Subscriber
Joined
Oct 16, 2014
Messages
1,215
Location
Boston area USA
Format
Multi Format
If you are convinced that the back is the problem then I would take the side cover off on the handle side and do nothing but flush everything with an electrical contact spray and put cover back on and try it. I think you might find a video on how to take the side off somewhere. If that fixes it you can take the side off again and sparingly oil different levers and whatever looks like oil will help. Don't use WD-40, uses a sewing machine oil. Do this only if you plan on buying a new back anyway.
 

chuckroast

Subscriber
Joined
Jun 2, 2023
Messages
2,408
Location
All Over The Place
Format
Multi Format

I do not recommend the use of electrical contact spray. Some of these have formulations that do evil things to plastics. Also, spraying complex photographic mechanisms is typically not a great idea because it spreads the sprayed material all over the place indiscriminately.

A better choice is to to carefully clean the affected area more surgically with naptha (lighter fluid). I use pipe cleaners or low loft industrial q-tips for this.
 

chuckroast

Subscriber
Joined
Jun 2, 2023
Messages
2,408
Location
All Over The Place
Format
Multi Format

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,399
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format

I agree that electrical contact spray is a very poor choice. Use a surgical approach with pipe cleaners or industrial Q-Tips.
 

campy51

Subscriber
Joined
Oct 16, 2014
Messages
1,215
Location
Boston area USA
Format
Multi Format
The contact cleaner I use leaves no residue and is safe on plastic. I use it often when fixing copiers which are plastic, electrical and mechanical. I can spray hard to reach roller bushings. I use this to clean shutters and blades without having to disassemble them other than the top rings. A few drops of sewing machine oil in targeted areas has worked out great for me. I do take the elements out.
This is what I buy for my business at about $6.50 a can. This has saved me so much time troubleshooting and sometimes that's all I had to do to fix a copier or printer.
 

Attachments

  • R6II0272.JPG
    170.2 KB · Views: 41

bdial

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 2, 2005
Messages
7,470
Location
North East U.S.
Format
Multi Format
There is a lever/spring that the dark slide presses on, which is what keeps the camera from firing with the slide in place.
It may have slipped out of place or perhaps even broken. To access, you can open the back the same way as you do when changing the light seal.
I would check that before resorting to more invasive procedures. The indicator for how much film is left isn’t terribly important, and it’s not coupled with anything else, so it isn’t a good indicator of function, aside from being one hint that the back may be tired and could use a full CLA.
 

Kino

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 20, 2006
Messages
7,772
Location
Orange, Virginia
Format
Multi Format
It will be interesting if the OP ever decides to return...
 
OP
OP

nestons

Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2024
Messages
8
Location
Vancouver
Format
Medium Format
Hi folks,

Thank you for all the input and suggestions.
update: So yesterday, I ended up taking the camera to one of the camera repair stores here. and right there, he ended up removing my A12 back and putting it with his 500 cm body and it worked fine, then I tried his back on mine and it worked fine again. but when I try his back on mine, it doesn't work.
So I have given it for inspection and hoping they get back to me sooner.

I shall keep youll posted when and if they get to know about this and share it with youll. Thank you .
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,399
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format

You have my attention, understanding and sympathy, but you will get though this and be much happier.
 

Kino

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 20, 2006
Messages
7,772
Location
Orange, Virginia
Format
Multi Format
nestons said:

I shall keep youll posted when and if they get to know about this and share it with youll. Thank you .
Click to expand...

Thanks for returning and updating us. The value of these boards is the accumulated knowledge that occurs when a user relates their experience to the whole user base.
 
OP
OP

nestons

Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2024
Messages
8
Location
Vancouver
Format
Medium Format
Additional question :
If this camera shop fails to diagnose the problem, is there a place in Canada or US (I know David O , isnt anymore with us) or anywhere in the world that is reliable, reputed and could fix the problem or CLA the Lens, body , back for a reasonable price, if yes what could the price be roughly?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…