Hasselblad "V" notches in Polaroid images.

aciel78 · Aug 29, 2016

Hello,
I am aware of the 2 "V" notches at the left side of the frame of images shot with a hasselblad 500 with roll film, but is it possible to have the same notches show on a polaroid image shot with the hasselblad? I've tried to find a polaroid back for the hasselblad that shows this but cannot find one. I've also seen square polaroid images on the web with the above mentioned notches and can't for the life of me find out how this is done, other than digitally adding the notches to the images which I doubt would be the case. Hopefully someone can chime in.

klop · Aug 29, 2016

aciel78 said:
Hello,
I am aware of the 2 "V" notches at the left side of the frame of images shot with a hasselblad 500 with roll film, but is it possible to have the same notches show on a polaroid image shot with the hasselblad? I've tried to find a polaroid back for the hasselblad that shows this but cannot find one. I've also seen square polaroid images on the web with the above mentioned notches and can't for the life of me find out how this is done, other than digitally adding the notches to the images which I doubt would be the case. Hopefully someone can chime in.

I know that certain cameras have notches put on the frame edge to identify a particular camera for evidence purposes to relate a particular camera to a particular negative. Years ago my Dad worked for a major manufacturer that had issues with the EPA as far as emissions pollution. He was ordered by a federal judge in court to use a particular camera and mark the negatives by creating notches along the edge of the frame in the camera back. After a certain amount of time, taking pictures every so many seconds, 6 or 8 consecutive hours a day for a couple months he had to present the negatives and camera backs in federal court.

aciel78 · Aug 30, 2016

klop said:
I know that certain cameras have notches put on the frame edge to identify a particular camera for evidence purposes to relate a particular camera to a particular negative. Years ago my Dad worked for a major manufacturer that had issues with the EPA as far as emissions pollution. He was ordered by a federal judge in court to use a particular camera and mark the negatives by creating notches along the edge of the frame in the camera back. After a certain amount of time, taking pictures every so many seconds, 6 or 8 consecutive hours a day for a couple months he had to present the negatives and camera backs in federal court.

Thanks for that Klop! The images I've been seeing are from a photographer whom I doubt would create the notches deliberately as they sure look like they are hasselblad "notches". To protect the anonynity of the artist. I can send you a pm of the image if you like. I just don't want to post the image here "willy nilly" without permission. Thanks again.

Sgore · Aug 30, 2016

I am far from being an expert, but my understanding is similar to that of Klop, in that photographers with multiple backs would often file notches in their backs so that they could identify the back if a problem cropped up. Without having the notches, there is no way to identify which back has a light leak, or isn't spacing properly, etc..

aciel78 · Aug 30, 2016

Sgore said:
I am far from being an expert, but my understanding is similar to that of Klop, in that photographers with multiple backs would often file notches in their backs so that they could identify the back if a problem cropped up. Without having the notches, there is no way to identify which back has a light leak, or isn't spacing properly, etc..

Thank you too Sgore and I very much understand your reply, but as I mentioned before, I highly doubt the photographer filed the notches in. As they look like they were already there as far as hasselblads go. Thanks again.

John Koehrer · Aug 30, 2016

There're a few interweb answers out there including:
Identifies the camera as a Hassenblat
photographer put 'em in there to identify the back.
The "V" stands for Victor, as in Hassenblat

**The one I believe to be correct is to identify whether a transparency is being view correctly on a lightbox.

Eric Rose · Aug 30, 2016

I notched my Bronica S2A backs so AD's would think the negs came from a blad. Too funny. I finally was able to afford a blad and started to notch them on the other side to identify backs.

I don't think the notches were originally put there to show which way to view transparencies.

Bill Burk · Aug 31, 2016

While not related to the Hasselblad, I used to shoot in 1978 with a Kodak 35 that had three notches in the film gate.

I picked up a Pentax ES-II sometime that same year, and it helps remind me which camera was used for what.

Tonight, while looking for some negatives from 1979, I was looking through my negatives from the year before and saw some of those old notches. I knew immediately what it meant.

Sometimes you need some tiny piece of evidence to help reassemble past events. Other evidence that's really helping me tonight is a notebook that I wrote exposures in, and I included the lens focal length and f/stop. (I had two different 35mm lenses for the ES-II and it's clear to me in 1979 it was the cheaper f/3.5).

It's also clear the shots I found lens info for weren't done on the fixed-lens Kodak 35 haaaaaa.

jchabalk · Aug 31, 2016

Here's a method of identifying a back that's a little heavier handed than the ones bought up so far.

I bought some used equipment about 10 years ago and this back came along for the ride. I sent it back but am glad i made this scan.

A dremel, a piece of acetate, and some tape, and you can have one yourself:

aciel78 · Aug 31, 2016

WOW alot of great responses here! And I really appreciate everyone's efforts so thanks all for this. While not undermining everyones answers I will post a link FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES ONLY instead of an actual image.

http://www.fotojatka.cz/2009/?AUTOŘI:Michael_Ackerman

The image im referring to is the fourth image on the top of the page of the couple titled: Sophie and Alexander, 2000. It is clearly a polaroid picture with the hasselblad notches evident. And I recall the photographer mentioning the image as a polaroid. I am a HUGE Michael Ackerman fan btw. Again, this post is with all intents and purposes as reference only, is there a hasselblad polaroid back that has borders with the notches like this? Comparing these borders to other 6x6 negative pictures taken with for ex: a hasselblad 501cm series, it's clearly a Hasselblad. I hope this clears up any confusion in the question. Also, asking the artist directly is out of the question, I do not have his contact and he disinterested in speaking of the technical details of his work. Lastly, to anyone reading this, if this is infrigement in any way, please let me know and I will gladly delete it.

Eric Rose · Aug 31, 2016

Are you even sure these are film or polaroid images? Might be digi images made to look like film or film scanned and then a blad border added in PS. I just listened to a youtube video interviewing Ackerman and he said as of 2015 he was shooting film. So I would lean towards the scan + PS workflow.

ic-racer · Aug 31, 2016

You will likely have to take the glass out to file the notch. I'd probably not do it.

AgX · Aug 31, 2016

What glass?

aciel78 · Sep 1, 2016

Is there a way to close or delete this thread? Admins please delete. thank you all for your input.

David A. Goldfarb · Sep 1, 2016

If there is nothing offensive or illegal in an otherwise productive thread, we don't usually delete them, just because the original poster is finished. A discussion thread belongs to the community, and others are welcome to read and discuss the topic in any existing thread. There is no expectation of further participation, if you've got the answer you were looking for.

AgX · Sep 1, 2016

And my question still remains unanswered...

winger · Sep 1, 2016

AgX said:
And my question still remains unanswered...

The Polaroid holder I have for my Hasselblad has glass over the image area (it's behind the dark slide). I don't know if that's true for all Polaroid holders for Hasselblads, I have the PolaCombi 80/100.

canuhead · Sep 1, 2016

It's not just the V notches that hint at Hasselblad but the corner cutouts as well. My guess is that he may distress his negs in some manner to get the look in this particular photo. If you really want to find out, contact him through his agency (Vu).

aciel78 · Sep 2, 2016

David A. Goldfarb said:
If there is nothing offensive or illegal in an otherwise productive thread, we don't usually delete them, just because the original poster is finished. A discussion thread belongs to the community, and others are welcome to read and discuss the topic in any existing thread. There is no expectation of further participation, if you've got the answer you were looking for.

Fair enough. Thanks.

mweintraub · Sep 2, 2016

AgX said:
And my question still remains unanswered...

I have one for sale, I'll see if i have photos of the glass.

RalphLambrecht · Sep 2, 2016

aciel78 said:
Hello,
I am aware of the 2 "V" notches at the left side of the frame of images shot with a hasselblad 500 with roll film, but is it possible to have the same notches show on a polaroid image shot with the hasselblad? I've tried to find a polaroid back for the hasselblad that shows this but cannot find one. I've also seen square polaroid images on the web with the above mentioned notches and can't for the life of me find out how this is done, other than digitally adding the notches to the images which I doubt would be the case. Hopefully someone can chime in.

I added notches to my 4x5 holders identifying the holder so, I know which holder has the issue if I see one

canuhead · Sep 2, 2016

RalphLambrecht said:
I added notches to my 4x5 holders identifying the holder so, I know which holder has the issue if I see one

Likewise for 4x5 and 8x10. I tried to set up a numbering system using V, U, etc to create sequential numbering, similar to roman numeral system.

Sirius Glass · Sep 3, 2016

RalphLambrecht said:
I added notches to my 4x5 holders identifying the holder so, I know which holder has the issue if I see one

A good idea that I should have done on my film backs a long time ago.

ic-racer · Sep 3, 2016

If the difference in focal plane between negative film and the pack film is small, you don't need a "Light Pipe" fiberoptic device. A regular refractive glass of appropriate refractive index can be used to shift the focus by placing the glass in front of the film plane. This is distinctly different from the fiber-optic "Light Pipe" which is placed behind the film plane.

This refractive glass technique was used on the Rolleiflex 3003 Polaroid backs and some of the Hasselblad Polaroid backs.

Hasselblad "V" notches in Polaroid images.

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