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Hasselblad 501CM mirror locked up - Help?

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durr3

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I purchased a very nice 501CM with the mirror locked up and the lens will not mount. Is there an easy fix for this or should I send it in and wait 6 weeks?

Thanks for any advice.....and Happy Holidays

J
 
Wind the camera. If there is a back on the camera, and it shows a white dot near the frame counter, remove it, then wind.

Manual is available here; www.hasselbladhistorical.eu

Note that Hasselblads don't have "instant return" mirrors like typical 35mm cameras. When you release the shutter the mirror stays up until the camera is wound. The body must be wound, and the lens cocked before mounting a lens.
 
First I would tip the shutter button. Does it fire? The mirror was pre-released then. Does it nothing? Check if the dark slide is in the magazine and if so, pull it out. Try again to fire. If it still does not fire, try to wind it. If this does not work something may be seriously wrong...
 
OK, I have tried all of your great ideas, but no luck. Where should I send it for repairs?

Thanks for all the advice!

J
 
Welcome to APUG
 
Do you have an instruction manual? The 501CM has a pre-release (mirror lock up) function which allows you to exercise part of the exposure sequence and then release the shutter later with a cable release to minimize vibrations. The button is located just beneath the film advance knob. If the camera has been pre-released but hasn't completed the cycle, everything will be locked up. You can't advance film or mount a lens. You'll have to figure out a way to complete the cycle, then you can perform the necessary preparations to the body and lens to allow them to be re-coupled. Have you tried using a cable release or tripping the shutter button to finish the cycle?

It is difficult to analyze the problem not having the camera in hand but it does sound like the camera is in the middle of an exposure cycle initiated by the pre-release button and has not completed its cycle.

Good Luck!!

PS. There are troubleshooting hints in the last pages of the manual.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Was the camera presented as being in working condition?

If you're in the U.S. David Odess is one of the more popular Hasselblad specialists, out west there is a good Hasselblad specialist at Samy's camera in L.A.
 
Leave the lens off, and remove the back. Try winding on and firing the camera unit. Not sure if there is a shutter lock on it, but check for that.
 
bdial said:
Was the camera presented as being in working condition?

If you're in the U.S. David Odess is one of the more popular Hasselblad specialists, out west there is a good Hasselblad specialist at Samy's camera in L.A.
Click to expand...

Samys Camera
See Mike the Hasselblad repairman on the fourth floor
431 S. Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Telephone: 323-938-2420
 
I would like a bit more information - perhaps it will provide a clue. At the moment I can't tell if it's a case of unmounting an uncocked body/lens or some sort of pre-release state.

First, remove the film magazine completely to simplify things.

Q1: Are the rear baffles open or closed? If open, that would suggest a pre-release state. If closed, that would suggest an uncocked body.

Next, press the shutter release.

Q2: Does the release press in or not move at all?


Next, Try to wind the body.

Q3: Does the wind lever move? If so, that should cook the body and bring the mirror down.


Next, push up on the pre-release lever.

Q4: Does that open the rear baffles? If so, you may be able to press the shutter release?


Finally...

Q5: looking at the bottom of the lens mount on the body, at the round end of the cocking shaft which contacts the lens, does the "blade" of the shaft point at the red dot or not? If it points to the red dot, the body is cocked.


Knowing the answers to these will at least give us an idea of what state your camera body is in. Don't despair, I've been using Hasselblads for over 20 years and have never had a single jam or other issue.
 
Theo Sulphate said:
I would like a bit more information - perhaps it will provide a clue. At the moment I can't tell if it's a case of unmounting an uncocked body/lens or some sort of pre-release state.

First, remove the film magazine completely to simplify things.

Q1: Are the rear baffles open or closed? If open, that would suggest a pre-release state. If closed, that would suggest an uncocked body. open

Next, press the shutter release. nothing

Q2: Does the release press in or not move at all? it presses in


Next, Try to wind the body. cannot wind

Q3: Does the wind lever move? noIf so, that should cook the body and bring the mirror down.


Next, push up on the pre-release lever. appears to be up

Q4: Does that open the rear baffles? nope If so, you may be able to press the shutter release?


Finally...

Q5: looking at the bottom of the lens mount on the body, at the round end of the cocking shaft which contacts the lens, does the "blade" of the shaft point at the red dot or not? it does notIf it points to the red dot, the body is cocked. I have maually cocked the body and the lens....and the lens will not mount on the body.


Knowing the answers to these will at least give us an idea of what state your camera body is in. Don't despair, I've been using Hasselblads for over 20 years and have never had a single jam or other issue.
Click to expand...

Please let me know if I told you what you needed. thanks
 
durr3 said:
Please let me know if I told you what you needed. thanks
Click to expand...

Yes, from your answers I agree with the previous poster that your camera is stuck in a pre-release state. Unfortunately, this is something I am not familiar with repairing.

Just out of curiosity, I googled "Hasselblad stuck in pre-release" and found mixed results in terms of solving it by oneself. The one successful result was in this thread:

http://photo.net/medium-format-photography-forum/00Wt9e

basically suggesting to gently use a tool to wiggle the cocking shaft. That person had a mounted lens, so he had to access the shaft from the rear. However, you mention that you cocked it manually already, so I personally don't think there's anything left to try.

Thinking about this some more - the fact that the release presses in and nothing happens, nor does a cable release work, I think the problem is in the actual tripping action, not an issue with cocking or other mechanisms being locked up.

I would say get it serviced and then you'll have a known good reliable camera.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Since you say the pre-release looks like it's stuck in its up position, it might be the cause. Maybe there is some packing material or other foreign "stuff" locking it. It might work to try jiggling it either by hand or a small screw driver to see if it will return.
Otherwise, a trip to the camera doctor is probably in order. Turning the cocking shaft as in the link might work too, but I'd probably not want to risk it.
In addition to the other repair places, Zack's camera in Providence RI is good too, and he's an APUG sponsor.
(assuming you're in North America).
 
canuhead said:
Is the shutter release set to O or T ?
Click to expand...

That switch doesn't exist on the newer 501 series; neither does the body-cocked indicator.
 
Theo Sulphate said:
Yes, from your answers I agree with the previous poster that your camera is stuck in a pre-release state. I would say get it serviced and then you'll have a known good reliable camera.
Click to expand...

Only time I've had 500 C/M's jam was when using the pre-release button. Consequently, I don't use that "feature". Time for a service. L
 
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