Hasselblad V system light seal replacement

[misshaped_grain]

I am looking for a guide to replace light seals on my Hasselblad 500 C/M camera BODY. I have found many accounts of replacement for the magazines, but none on the body itself.

To be more precise, I would like to change the seals that are found below the focusing screen, which seems to simultaneously act as a cushion for the camera's mirror, as well as blocking light from the direction of the focusing viewfinder/focusing screen.

To better diagnose the issue for any more experienced users here, I initially found my photos to be rather low in contrast, as well as some noticeable (Not significant by any means, but noticeable regardless) differences in exposure towards BOTH edges of the frame, hence, I discovered that when I shine a flashlight down my viewfinder with the shutter held down, there is a significant amount of light seeping past the mirror's edges.

I'm a very new user here... Please forgive me if I am doing anything incorrectly in my posts!

 

[Sirius Glass]

I am looking for a guide to replace light seals on my Hasselblad 500 C/M camera BODY. I have found many accounts of replacement for the magazines, but none on the body itself.

To be more precise, I would like to change the seals that are found below the focusing screen, which seems to simultaneously act as a cushion for the camera's mirror, as well as blocking light from the direction of the focusing viewfinder/focusing screen.

To better diagnose the issue for any more experienced users here, I initially found my photos to be rather low in contrast, as well as some noticeable (Not significant by any means, but noticeable regardless) differences in exposure towards BOTH edges of the frame, hence, I discovered that when I shine a flashlight down my viewfinder with the shutter held down, there is a significant amount of light seeping past the mirror's edges.

I'm a very new user here... Please forgive me if I am doing anything incorrectly in my posts!

Welcome to Photrio!

I do not have experience replacing the mirror cushions or other internal parts although I have replaced light seals in the film backs.

 

[itsdoable]

I have not seen any instructions on replacing the mirror damping foam, but I've done it on many Hasselblads - it's pretty strait forward. Scrape out the old foam using a plastic pick (metal works, just be careful) - usually the old foam is more like goo. Clean with alcohol. Cut some quality open cell black/grey foam to fit, and replace.

Helps to take the hood and screen out first.

If it has not been done, the mirror foam (in the mirror cassette, under the mirror) may also need replacing. If it's also gone to goo, you will have trouble with critical focusing. This replacement is more difficult, as you have to remove the mirror from the cassette, which requires bending metal tabs.

 

[4season]

I am looking for a guide to replace light seals on my Hasselblad 500 C/M camera BODY. I have found many accounts of replacement for the magazines, but none on the body itself.

There's a very good reason why you aren't finding a how-to guide: There's quite a bit of disassembly involved, and by the time the mirror foam has deteriorated, likely so too have the foam pads beneath the mirror. Proper overhaul of a 500-series camera body is pretty labor-intensive: 99.9% labor, and 0.1% parts.

 

[Saganich]

There's a very good reason why you aren't finding a how-to guide: There's quite a bit of disassembly involved, and by the time the mirror foam has deteriorated, likely so too have the foam pads beneath the mirror. Proper overhaul of a 500-series camera body is pretty labor-intensive: 99.9% labor, and 0.1% parts.

Yup, cost me like 5-6 bills to have Hassleblad NJ overhaul mine like12 years ago. I bought a 500 with 80 lens for around $400 and wondered for 6 months why nothing was in focus, so I sent it in to NJ. They replaced all the seals, foam, mainspring, and shimmed the back. It's a pleasure to use, when I use it.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Yup, cost me like 5-6 bills to have Hassleblad NJ overhaul mine like12 years ago. I bought a 500 with 80 lens for around $400 and wondered for 6 months why nothing was in focus, so I sent it in to NJ. They replaced all the seals, foam, mainspring, and shimmed the back. It's a pleasure to use, when I use it.

Hasselblad has moved to Burbank California. Do not send it to New Jersey.