Hasselblad Film Load Error, help needed

Robland · Oct 25, 2008

Something went horribly wrong on my 1st roll through my new blad. I followed (or so I think) the instructions, reading the words and examining the illustrations. I did go beyond the "12" in an attempt to get 13.

During shooting the numbers were progressing, the red crescent was advancing (mag door latch, it's a E12 back). At rewind the crank was very hard to turn, I could feel something happening.

Removing the mag from the back was difficult, done without damage to the hardware, but the film was lost. Any advice?

The film was not wound back onto the original spool but between the spool and the corner of the housing of the back. The center of the picture, it was all jammed into the corner. Inexpensive Lucky film.

eli griggs · Oct 25, 2008

You don't rewind a 'Blad' back, at least IIRC, it's been 20 plus years since I've used one. The film is transported in the course of shooting to the take-up spool and that's what you remove from the back. As a matter of fact I can't think of any 120/127 camera that you rewind a shot roll on.

Looking at the pic you posted, I'd say if your back isn't ruined by forcing the film backwards through it, you've gotten off easy. Do it again and your karma will keep you in a bad place for a long, long time...

Cheers

canuhead · Oct 25, 2008

Eli is correct,, there is no rewinding of the film. With 120, film is advanced through leaving an empty spool where the fresh one was put in.

After the last shot, the crank that was used to advance the film to the first shot is used to move the remaining paper backing to the takeup spool.

The now empty spool gets moved over to become the takeup spool.Hope this makes sense.

Robland · Oct 26, 2008

OK, that is more logical than what I posted, I just assumed it was rewinding, like 35mm, but the extra paper at the end makes sense. I followed the instructions, did not "rewind" but advanced the mag crank to the take-up spool, by design no rewind is possible. Same result, all mashed into the corner, had to be happenning with body "crank". I must have loaded incorrectly, but it looked like the illustration.

bdial · Oct 26, 2008

Did you load an exposed roll, or one that had already been through the camera? One end (near frame 1) is taped to the paper, the other end is free. If you run a roll of film that has already gone through the camera once the free end of the film will separate from the paper and jam in the camera.

Andy38 · Oct 26, 2008

Perhaps the film came unglued from the paper...

It's possible with bad made rollfilms .

canuhead · Oct 26, 2008

Just to make sure you're loading correctly, you do see the lineup arrow on the paper backing when you first load the roll right ? This lines up with the arrow on the hassy back. Also make sure the backing goes UNDER the small film guide/lip thing that runs between the spools. It'll be on one edge.

Robland · Oct 26, 2008

I think Andy38 has the explanation, "unglued from paper, cheap film". All it would take is the leading edge to start to peal away and the entire roll would follow. I never thought to look for the "paper", upon opening the back and removing the mag I find the black paper properly rolled up onto the take up spool, reviewed the instruction illustration and the direction is correct. The film was refrigerated, removed for 1 hour, next roll I'll allow time for it to come to room temp. (canuhead: I probalby was over that tab, another error I will correct, thanks)

canuhead · Oct 26, 2008

was the film on the takeup spool as well or did it end up crunched and munched and not on the spool ? frustrating yes but easier to solve than film processing problems

takef586 · Oct 26, 2008

Yes, the key is to load the film and advance it to align the arrow with the dot, making sure, that the black paper facing the lens has been put UNDER the little metal lip on one side. Then you just advance the film completely after the 12th frame and open the back to extract it.

Robland · Oct 26, 2008

canuhead said:
was the film on the takeup spool as well or did it end up crunched and munched and not on the spool ? frustrating yes but easier to solve than film processing problems

Paper was on the take-up spool, proper. Film was mashed between the wound paper and the back. I have examined the paper, and David G informed me of the "arrows" when loading into the mag before placing into the back, then advance to "1" in the window with the mag crank. I used minimum paper upon loading, assumed I would expose film to light. I see I had plenty of paper to do both.

skahde · Oct 26, 2008

It's not you: Lucky roll film is notorious for unglueing from the backing paper.

best

Stefan

Hawkeye · Oct 26, 2008

Roland, I'd suggest you get a copy of the book, The Hasselblad Manual - A Comprehensive Guide to the System, by Ernst Wildi. You can get one delivered for about $10 at abe.com. Has about everything you would need to know about using your Hasselblad.

canuhead · Oct 26, 2008

guess you'll be staying away from lucky film from now on eh time to put a roll of kodak, fuji or ilford in just for peace of mind I guess. keep the faith Robland !

Hasselblad Film Load Error, help needed

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