Hasselblad Maintenance

RalphLambrecht · Nov 24, 2025

I made it part of my routine to exercise the shutters of my Hasselblad lenses once or twice a year, a few times at several speeds, keeping the lubricants from freezing up. That is quite a job every time, and I'm not looking forward to it. But this time, I found a way to make it easier. I mount the Hasselblad bellows on the table, attach each lens to it, and use it as a replacement f a Hasselblad body. Now, I can use the bellows to cock the shutter, release the shutter with a cabel release, and move on to the next lens without having to mount each lens to a body or having to remove the back's insert whenever the frame counter reaches the end. I also reduces the risk of dropping the lens. Just don't forget to cock the lens before detaching it from the bellows. thought I'd share.

mshchem · Nov 25, 2025

Good tip

4season · Nov 25, 2025

I am lazy, and where practical, I've switched to dry- and semi-dry lubricants which don't seem to need "exercising".

RalphLambrecht · Nov 25, 2025

4season said:
I am lazy, and where practical, I've switched to dry- and semi-dry lubricants which don't seem to need "exercising".

please share the brands you're using.

Sirius Glass · Nov 25, 2025

RalphLambrecht said:
I made it part of my routine to exercise the shutters of my Hasselblad lenses once or twice a year, a few times at several speeds, keeping the lubricants from freezing up. That is quite a job every time, and I'm not looking forward to it. But this time, I found a way to make it easier. I mount the Hasselblad bellows on the table, attach each lens to it, and use it as a replacement f a Hasselblad body. Now, I can use the bellows to cock the shutter, release the shutter with a cabel release, and move on to the next lens without having to mount each lens to a body or having to remove the back's insert whenever the frame counter reaches the end. I also reduces the risk of dropping the lens. Just don't forget to cock the lens before detaching it from the bellows. thought I'd share.

My Hasselblad repair man strongly recommends for Hasselblad and any other film camera: Every three months, remove the film back, and fire each lens at the largest f/stop number and 1 second ten to fifteen times.

4season · Nov 25, 2025

RalphLambrecht said:
please share the brands you're using.

One such concoction is a dilute wash of Molykote G-N paste dissolved in a solvent such as naptha, which I've used with excellent results in speed escapements. Even if the grease dries out, the molybdenum, graphite and lithium provide lubrication. I immerse the complete escapement into the solution, cycle it a number of times, then gently pat it dry. To the unaided eye, the assembly appears clean and dry.

For higher-wear, metal-on-metal areas such as Hasselblad film transport or shutter-cocking mechanism, I might use pure Molykote G-N, or, if a smoother feel is desired, I might also add a small amount of clear polyethylene grease, but not so much that excess lubricant oozes everywhere.

In general, I minimize use of greases in which a lighter oil tends to separate from the base material.

Saganich · Nov 25, 2025

Uggggg, I try to exercise mine every 3 months but it's more like every 9-12 months...more exercise than I get...when I take it out it seem like a pet and i think maybe there's a hassy wheel I can just put it on.

Sirius Glass · Nov 26, 2025

Sirius Glass said:
My Hasselblad repair man strongly recommends for Hasselblad and any other film camera: Every three months, remove the film back, and fire each lens at the largest f/stop number and 1 second ten to fifteen times.

Saganich said:
Uggggg, I try to exercise mine every 3 months but it's more like every 9-12 months...more exercise than I get...when I take it out it seem like a pet and i think maybe there's a hassy wheel I can just put it on.

Just set up you cell phone calendar to remind you to exercise your camera every three months forever. I set my calendar to remind me March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 every year. That way I do not slip into not exercising my camera and lenses enough.

RalphLambrecht · Nov 29, 2025

Sirius Glass said:
Just set up you cell phone calendar to remind you to exercise your camera every three months forever. I set my calendar to remind me March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 every year. That way I do not slip into not exercising my camera and lenses enough.

Someone should invent an 'exerciser. a device into which you can mount a lens, press a button, and all shutter speeds are exercised for a set amount of times; probably not cheap, but this whole thing is a rich man's problem anyway.

Sirius Glass · Dec 1, 2025

RalphLambrecht said:
Someone should invent an 'exerciser. a device into which you can mount a lens, press a button, and all shutter speeds are exercised for a set amount of times; probably not cheap, but this whole thing is a rich man's problem anyway.

Also on that list:

Self cleaning glass - windows, mirrors, glasses [water and eye]
Self cleaning bathrooms including sinks, showers, bathtubs, toilets and floors
Self cleaning kitchens including self emptying dishwashers that puts all its contents in the proper location and self cleaning sinks and floors.
Self cleaning bedrooms including changing sheets as needed.

MarkS · Dec 1, 2025

I like Sirius' ideas. It's worth noting that there are 'exerciser' devices for collectors of Rolex and other expensive 'self-winding' watches, which generally sit in cases or drawers rather than on the collectors' wrists.
During the several decades where I used Hasselblads on the job, we "exercised" them by regularly photographing with them on assignment. Those cameras were still working when that job left me in 2010- who knows where they might be now.

mshchem · Dec 1, 2025

Sirius Glass said:
Also on that list:

Self cleaning glass - windows, mirrors, glasses [water and eye]

Self cleaning bathrooms including sinks, showers, bathtubs, toilets and floors

Self cleaning kitchens including self emptying dishwashers that puts all its contents in the proper location and self cleaning sinks and floors.

Self cleaning bedrooms including changing sheets as needed.

I have self cleaning. If I want it clean, I myself have to clean it

oxcanary · Dec 2, 2025

What about self operating cameras that take better pictures than you do!

RezaLoghme · Dec 2, 2025

MarkS said:
I like Sirius' ideas. It's worth noting that there are 'exerciser' devices for collectors of Rolex and other expensive 'self-winding' watches, which generally sit in cases or drawers rather than on the collectors' wrists.
During the several decades where I used Hasselblads on the job, we "exercised" them by regularly photographing with them on assignment. Those cameras were still working when that job left me in 2010- who knows where they might be now.

That is a good idea.
A pity if great cameras such as Hasselblad are not being used.

JerseyDoug · Dec 2, 2025

oxcanary said:
What about self operating cameras that take better pictures than you do!

We already have that. It's called AI

Sirius Glass · Dec 2, 2025

Sirius Glass said:
Also on that list:

Self cleaning glass - windows, mirrors, glasses [water and eye]

Self cleaning bathrooms including sinks, showers, bathtubs, toilets and floors

Self cleaning kitchens including self emptying dishwashers that puts all its contents in the proper location and self cleaning sinks and floors.

Self cleaning bedrooms including changing sheets as needed.

mshchem said:
I have self cleaning. If I want it clean, I myself have to clean it

Are you volunteering to do the house cleaning for me?

c.d.ewen · Dec 2, 2025

Hey, you two: get a room....ba

Charley

RalphLambrecht · Dec 2, 2025

RalphLambrecht said:
Someone should invent an 'exerciser. a device into which you can mount a lens, press a button, and all shutter speeds are exercised for a set amount of times; probably not cheap, but this whole thing is a rich man's problem anyway.

RalphLambrecht · Dec 2, 2025

I've now streamlined my Hasselblad maintenance cycle to the following:
Since I have three bodies, I will mount the following focal lengths to them: 50, 80, and 150 (often referred to as the 'holy trio). They are also the focal lengths I reach for the most anyway. I will keep these bodies close and accessible and exercise them 3-4 times a year. The other lenses go into long-term storage and get exercised once a year. This way, I should have a reliable basic kit and a streamlined but secure maintenance cycle.

RezaLoghme · Dec 7, 2025

RalphLambrecht said:
I've now streamlined my Hasselblad maintenance cycle to the following:
Since I have three bodies, I will mount the following focal lengths to them: 50, 80, and 150 (often referred to as the 'holy trio). They are also the focal lengths I reach for the most anyway. I will keep these bodies close and accessible and exercise them 3-4 times a year. The other lenses go into long-term storage and get exercised once a year. This way, I should have a reliable basic kit and a streamlined but secure maintenance cycle.

"Long term storage"`? How often do you use your Hasselblad kit(s)?

RalphLambrecht · Dec 7, 2025

RezaLoghme said:
"Long term storage"`? How often do you use your Hasselblad kit(s)?

bout one roll a month each

RezaLoghme · Dec 8, 2025

RalphLambrecht said:
bout one roll a month each

Isnt that enough exercising then?

RalphLambrecht · Dec 8, 2025

RezaLoghme said:
Isnt that enough exercising then?

one would think but some lenses see far less use. I'm thinking of 40 and 250mm.

Sirius Glass · Dec 9, 2025

RalphLambrecht said:
one would think but some lenses see far less use. I'm thinking of 40 and 250mm.

I generally do not take portraits so the 150mm lens is my least used lens. Even the SWC gets more use than the 150mm lens.

RalphLambrecht · Dec 10, 2025

Sirius Glass said:
I generally do not take portraits so the 150mm lens is my least used lens. Even the SWC gets more use than the 150mm lens.

My best and most-used portrait lens is the 180mm, but the 150 mm is more forgiving and better suits my models.

Hasselblad Maintenance

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