Hasselblad darkslide usage

[mghis]

Hello all!

I have a 503cx with an A12 magazine. Since I have read that the darkslide, with prolonged usage, can slowly damage the light trap, I was wondering if I could load and retrieve the film without using it. I would keep the camera cocked and load and retrieve the film while the magazine is attached to the camera. I would detach only the film holder inside the magazine.

Is this possible? I have not tried it yet because I fear damaging the camera. I faithfully await for your advice.

Thank you very much and please forgive me for my bad English: I am not a native speaker.

 

[Barry S]

Using the dark slide is fine. I wouldn't worry about damaging the light trap. If the dark slide ever gets damaged it can easily be replaced. If you're careful when you insert the darkslide (straight, not at an angle) the light traps will last a long time.

 

[tal bedrack]

light trap maintenance in the Hasselblad is very easy and can be done home with no hassle at all.

 

[cjbecker]

But yes you can do it all with out the use of the dark slide.

 

[heterolysis]

You can change your film without removing the back. You don't need the darkslide---I often just leave mine at home if I'm out for the day.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I use the dark slide when I am not taking photographs or I want to change film type mid roll. It is cheap and easy to change light traps. No worry.

 

[cliveh]

There is nothing wrong with the hasselblad darkslide and you should make use of it.

 

[mghis]

Thank you all for your useful advices!

 

[Xmas]

you can load a film any time you want without a dark slide.

it is desirable you do it in subdued light at least back to Sun to keep film inshade.

 

[Tom Richard]

Actually i believe the light trap will decay anyway and so forth it is recommended to change it once a year regardless of usage. You can get them cheap off ebay or order factory replacments and it really is very easy to change them.

 

[bdial]

Once a year seems a little often, One of my backs has not had the trap replaced since i've owned it, and that is going on 5 or 6 years now.

I found that the cost of buying them directly from Hasselblad was about the same as the ones I saw for sale on the bay (and less than some I saw). I called them up, (Hasselblad USA), gave the person my cc# and two days later two kits were in my mailbox.
YMMV though.

As for keep the slide in, or not, I've read that keeping the slide in keeps the seal compressed and eventually leads to light leaks. FWIW, I only have the slide in when I have a reason to remove the back. As noted, there is no issue with loading without the slide in place. The only reason to put the slide in is to either remove the back or as a way to lock the shutter to keep it from tripping accidentally.

 

[Tom Richard]

If i´m not mistaken the "once a year" deal was recommended from Hasselblad but then again this was back in the day when photographers did not do any servicing themselves and more photographers had more money to spend. I use a strip of electrical tape over the slot a period before i change mine. Shoestring budget