Hasselblad Focusing Screen Swap

[illumiquest]

I've searched around a bit for this and haven't come up with a good answer so here goes:

I have an old 500c with a screwed in focusing screen. This screen appears to be a Beatie or AcuteMatte and is in great shape. The camera is beat to all hell and not one I'm going to use much.

I also have a 500C/M which has the standard ground glass with the black cross hairs. Under that there's a fresnel.

I'd like to swap the brighter screen into the 500c/m but wondering how to do that without affecting focus. The original ground glass in the 500c/m is 1.5mm thick and the bright screen from the 500c with the glass protective cover that comes with is 2mm thick total. This would seem to knock the focus off by .5mm unless I'm getting something wrong.

So questions:

From my understanding the metal retainer around the focusing screen (the two part aluminum thing that snaps together) is a precise height, the distance from the bottom of this retainer to the bottom side of the focusing screen is non adjustable unless I shim to push the focusing screen down further in the retainer?

problem is that the newer screen with glass protector is thicker meaning I'd have to push it further up by .5mm which would mean that I'd have to adjust the posts in the camera body. Not something I'm capable of doing.

Is there a way to do this?

 

[John Galt]

Give David Odess a call. I had a similar situation, he talked me out of it.

 

[harlequin]

I remember taking my 500c to repair in Culver City CA to the Hasselblad facility, they showed me the jig used to properly install and adjust focusing screen
on my camera, amazing tolerance control. I wouldn't attempt to swap same screen, let alone across different family. c/CM/2oofc family. With these items available cheap on used market
(I see many Beattie screens at camera shows) why mess with it. I suspect also that the mirror is different on newer camera to prevent vignetting on longer lenses.

If I were in your shoes, sell the old body and added focus features.
Keep your eyes open for Acute Matte screen or Calumet Brite Screen which I remember using...
I remember the tech telling me at Hasselblad in late 1980s, once you remove 4 screws and frame......"you are on your own"......

The best of Luck to you, but I am betting the interchangability is a NO GO.
John Galt has offered sage advice on this matter also.

Harlequin.