Hasselblad SWC with crooked viewfinder, fix?

[Pasto]

My SWC has a crooked viewfinder. Not by much but enough to bug me every time I pick it up! I'm wondering if this is an easy fix or I should have it looked at by an expert? It seems easy enough to remove the screws that appear to hold the cold shoe in place from above...While I'm at it, I'm considering removing the black spacer between the cold shoe and the body. This to accommodate the increased height of the viewfinder with a flash bracket. Comments from those that have tried either or both would be welcome....I attached pictures...Thanks.

 

[Sirius Glass]

How you removed the viewfinder and remounted it so see if that corrects the problem?

 

[Pasto]

Yes, and it does not correct the issue. There appears to be a small twist in the cold shoe of the viewfinder, but a larger twist in the cold shoe adapter of the body. I attached more pictures...

 

[campy51]

Are the holes under the cold shoe drilled properly? If they are ok then you could try to get a different cold shoe.

 

[Pasto]

Thanks, I'm not sure what you mean by drilled properly? Do you think it's a defect in the cold shoe? I'm wondering if the cold shoe could be straightened by loosening and readjusting...

 

[campy51]

See if the holes are not lined up under the cold shoe.

 

[Sirius Glass]

A camera repair man could make quick work of this in one pass while it may take you many.

 

[Pasto]

Yes the holes appear to be lined up. I'll take your advice and bring it in for service. Can you confirm that the black spacer between cold shoe and body, and between tripod mount and body, are there to accommodate the polaroid back and serve no other functional purpose? If yes, I'll assume they could be safely removed...

 

[Pasto]

Just heard back from my camera repair person, he's off for the summer! Lucky guy, I'll have to wait....

 

[Sirius Glass]

Just heard back from my camera repair person, he's off for the summer! Lucky guy, I'll have to wait....

Choices

1. Find another camera repair place.
2. Send it to Hasselblad in Burbank, while the shipping cost will be high you will have your camera to use all summer.
3. Send it to KEH in Atlanta Georgia, while the shipping cost will be high you will have your camera to use all summer.

 

[Pasto]

Thanks for the info and advice.

 

[mshchem]

That's really weird. If everything is lined up, I hope you are not dealing with a twisted metal viewfinder??

Experience in dealing with these cameras would be a must. IMHO

 

[Pasto]

I have the newer version plastic viewfinder. However, you're right I'll have it looked at by an expert...

 

[Axelwik]

Begs the question: was it dropped?

 

[Pasto]

Not from my hands, and there is no sign anywhere else of it having fallen. I would expect some damage or mark on the viewfinder at the least...and the twist doesn't really affect framing all that much either. It just bothers me to see it crooked

 

[Axelwik]

Not from my hands, and there is no sign anywhere else of it having fallen. I would expect some damage or mark on the viewfinder at the least...and the twist doesn't really affect framing all that much either. It just bothers me to see it crooked

I doubt that Hasselblad would have let something like that leave the factory. Something must have happened. Anyway, Might simply be a matter of loosening some screws and straightening it. Or it could be a little more complicated. Best to look at a parts diagram to see if there are hidden nuts that will spin, vs. being threaded.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I doubt that Hasselblad would have let something like that leave the factory. Something must have happened. Anyway, Might simply be a matter of loosening some screws and straightening it. Or it could be a little more complicated. Best to look at a parts diagram to see if there are hidden nuts that will spin, vs. being threaded.

Even so, being approximately correct is not good enough. It needs to be aligned correctly.

 

[Axelwik]

Even so, being approximately correct is not good enough. It needs to be aligned correctly.

Sure. Put a ground glass on the back and tighten the screws when they match.

 

[Pasto]

The 903 service manual show the cold shoe held in place by 2 machine screws. The screws are in different positions than on the swc/m cold shoe, so am not sure. Does anyone have access to swc/m service manual?