Hasselblad CFi lens flash synch repair

Michael Mutmansky · Feb 22, 2023

Folks,

I have a 150mm CFi lens that has a broken/missing plastic flash synch cover/lock mechanism. I was wondering if this is a replaceable part these days, and what it would cost to have the work done? If yes, recommendations on a person to do this? I presume it will be relatively easy, but if it requires tearing the barrrel down, I maybe should wait until it is time for a CLA to do the work.

Thanks,

---Michael

Michael Mutmansky · Feb 22, 2023

There is a discussion from 2021 regarding this problem...

Hasselblad lens PC Flash Socket

The PC flash socket on 3 of my Hasselblad lenses has fallen off. Surface area is very small to try and glue them. Is there a "right" way to re-attach them. If someone has dealt successfully with this issue, I'd appreciate hearing from you. Maybe it's best to just leave them off?

www.photrio.com

The OP indicates that this part isn't available, but I don't know if that is definitive or not. In his case, he had them so he could put them back on with epoxy, but I don't have it for my lens...

I wonder if this is a reason to avoid the CFi/e lenses compared to the CF versions (in addition to higher cost).

mshchem · Feb 22, 2023

If it's a 150 might be easier to get another.

mshchem · Feb 22, 2023

Kodachromeguy said:
But then what should he do with the other 150? Throw it in the trash? What happens to the inventory of classic film bodies and lenses if every potential repair becomes "Why repair, I'll just buy another instead?"

Give it to a person who is good at fixing things

Michael Mutmansky · Feb 22, 2023

Without the part, there is no "fixing things" to this. You would have to fabricate a small plastic piece to replace the broken/missing part and it also involves a second part (a metal and plastic clamp that holds the sync cord in place), so it will require more than just making a piece to more or less cover the location of the original ones.

WIthout it in place, there are two/three holes in the barrel that may reach into the inner workings of the lens, so it is a possible source of dust/grit getting into the lens. This (and protection for the PC sync contacts) is the reason I felt that maybe I should get it repaired.

Of the four CFi and CB lenses I own, two of them have this problem (loose or missing plastic covers). I just looked at the one that is loose and it is clearly a case of Hasselblad not designing the product well. The plastic has three tabs on it that stick through the barrel and there is a tooth on each tab that then snaps it into place and holds it there. But the plastic is very small and over time, seemingly a little brittle, so the tabs can be broken off and the plastic will fall off. If Hasselbald had used tabs and adhesive, this probably wouldn't be an issue. Now, for people who do have the problem (but still have the cover pieces) they must glue them on and they don't have the benefit of the tabs at all... It's not a good situation.

mshchem · Feb 22, 2023

Sirius Glass is very satisfied with Samy's Camera in Pasadena. Maybe give them a call. Might be a solution. These lenses are optically amazing. 150mm lenses are abundant, I suspect that there's a solution.

Sirius Glass · Feb 22, 2023

mshchem said:
Sirius Glass is very satisfied with Samy's Camera in Pasadena. Maybe give them a call. Might be a solution. These lenses are optically amazing. 150mm lenses are abundant, I suspect that there's a solution.

Also call KEH. The worst that happens is that someone say no.

rulnacco · Feb 23, 2023

If none of the other places above have it, try David Odess:

http://www.david-odess.com

He is a very experienced Hasselblad tech--used to work for Hasselblad USA--and has an extensive collection of spare parts. Good guy, too.

Michael Mutmansky · Feb 23, 2023

I'll report back. I had a conversation with Hasselblad USA repairs directly about it and they are going to get back to me with some info.

GLS · Feb 24, 2023

I had this happen to my CFi 100mm Planar lens.

I had it repaired (and fully serviced at the same time) at Classic V in the UK. They replaced the broken cover, then to prevent the same happening again in the future filled the inside of the cover with UV-curing aircraft grade epoxy (invisible externally), then tapped a screw into it from inside the lens barrel. Rock solid since.

Michael Mutmansky · Feb 24, 2023

GLS said:
I had this happen to my CFi 100mm Planar lens.

I had it repaired (and fully serviced at the same time) at Classic V in the UK. They replaced the broken cover, then to prevent the same happening again in the future filled the inside of the cover with UV-curing aircraft grade epoxy (invisible externally), then tapped a screw into it from inside the lens barrel. Rock solid since.

That sounds like a good approach to solving the design flaw issue with the little plastic tabs... Does the clamping mechanism still function or does that eliminate the clamp jaw?

How long ago did this occur and did they need to replace the part (was your plastic piece and the clamp jaw missing)?

GLS · Feb 24, 2023

Michael Mutmansky said:
That sounds like a good approach to solving the design flaw issue with the little plastic tabs... Does the clamping mechanism still function or does that eliminate the clamp jaw?

How long ago did this occur and did they need to replace the part (was your plastic piece and the clamp jaw missing)?

Yes the clamp is still fully functional.

To clarify: I originally bought the lens as supposedly NOS from a dealer in Austria. On receipt everything looked tickety boo. It was only later that the sync port housing broke when I was gripping it to remove the lens; the little feet which slot into the lens barrel had snapped off. It looked like it had happened before at some point and been superglued back together.

Anyway, the little bits of snapped off feet were rattling around inside the lens barrel somewhere, so the whole thing needed to be disassembled to retrieve them (this is why I went for the full service at the same time). The tech had a NOS replacement cover so just fitted that and modified the assembly as I described. I can't see that thing ever coming loose again.

The repair was done about four years ago now. I'm not sure if they're still in business as the website no longer seems to be working

Michael Mutmansky · Feb 24, 2023

I just received an email from Hasselblad USA that they do not have the parts needed to do repairs on this, so I suspect that they are not to be found anywhere unless a repair person stockpiled the parts before Hasselblad depleted inventory.

I dont really care about the PC sync clamping aspect of this (but it would be nice) but I do care about the open holes that are a pathway into the barrel.

This is actually something that could probably easily be replicated reasonably with a small plastic CNC machine that is high precision and uses plastic of suitable qualities (all of which I know nothing about). Easy to do, without the metal clamp jaw aspect of this. Make a small cap with tabs more or less, and then epoxy it into place. As long as the old tab pieces aren't in the lens barrel, you won't have to do any disassembly to make it work.

Hasselblad CFi lens flash synch repair

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