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Hassleblad Distagon 60/5.6 Lens Hood stuck . . Help!

John Galt

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I recently acquired a Carl Zeiss Distagon 60mm f5.6 C lens in a Hasselblad auction lot of equipment. Turns out this particular lens is quite rare. It is in excellent condition and functions flawlessly. However, the lens hood (Hasselblad) is stuck on the lens. I am pretty strong but I cannot budge it. For all I know it has been on the lens since 1959, the year the lens was made. The lens shows very little wear.

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Any suggestions from the experts here on how to get this hood unscrewed?

Thanks!


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1st attempt I would get a rubber strap wrench Dead Link Removed and place it at the rear of the hood and give it a go. If the lens barrel wants to unscrew a second strap wrench on the lens barrel turning the opposite direction will help. Uneven pressure makes filters and hoods hard to remove.
2nd attempt I would get some Penetrating Oil https://www.amazon.com/LIQUID-WRENC...d=1497039423&sr=8-12&keywords=penetrating+oil and put a light amount around the filter to lens mating area as shown in your picture # 2 and let it sit for several hours to a day.

Other possibilities are heat the oven to 250°F (or its lowest setting) then turn it off when it reaches temperature, put the lens in the center of the oven, close the door, and leave it for 15 to 30 minutes, remove and allow to cool to touch (it will be hot to the touch) and try to unscrew while warm.
Put it in a saleable plastic bag, put it in the freezer for an hour or two, remove and allow to warm to touch then try to unscrew it.

Even pressure while trying to unscrew it is essential.
 
Some lens hoods must be pushed toward the camera body before they can be rotated.
This is a safety feature so they don't come loose of their own volition.

Don't know if that's true of yours or not, but it's worth a try.

- Leigh
 
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As mentioned you could use a rubber strap, but given the age and value of the lens I would leave the lens hood on.
 
That hood is simply threaded, I have a similar rig, though not as pretty.
I pretty much agree with Sirius in that if it's not essential that the hood come off you may be better off leaving it as it is. Find cap that fits the hood and be happy.

FWIW, the most effective penetrating oil i've used for getting stuck threaded stuff apart is a 50/50 mixture of acetone and automotive automatic transmission fluid. I've never used it in a camera part though, and I'm not sure that I would, as acetone is a pretty aggressive solvent. But you'd probably be ok with one or two drops, which is about all you'd want to use of any penetrating oil product anyway.
 
The lens cover uses the bayonet fittings inside the lens cylinder so it will fit inside the hood. I keep some of my lenses with the hood on and the lens cap on. They do not interfere with each other.
 
On the C version of the 60, there is no bayonet, I think the threads are series 63. In checking mine (an f/3.5), a 90mm push on cap fits the front of the hood nicely.

 
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Nice Lens !!!

try a few drops of lighter fluid, on the thread and a big rubber band on the hood for extra grip.

As this is a expensive lens maybe try the nearest camera repair shop they may know what works

Johnkpap
 
I have a few plastic filter wrenches that I bought at BH for taking stuck filters off. They cost like $5 or close to that. They work great
 
Or a rubber used for opening jars.
But I'd use a strap wrench. At the base of the hood. if it won't turn at one position move it part way around the diameter
and try again.
 
I want to thank everyone for their suggestions, all were great. I did get the lens hood off . . . I decided to start with the least aggressive measure . . Lighter Fluid . . . as suggested by Johnkpap before moving to the next.

Lighter Fluid did the trick!! Tried a couple drops earlier today, no luck. Just tried lighter fluid again . . this time I flooded the joint where the hood meets the lens all around the perimeter . . came right off with moderate force. Very happy because I like to use a yellow filter for landscape shots in B&W.

Thanks!!
 
Hooray !

I love it when a plan comes together.

- Leigh
 
Hey the advice one gets here is worth the effort of signing up or maybe becoming a subscriber.
 
shutterfinger said:
Lighter fluid, what a f______g insult.
Click to expand...
shutterfinger . . love the name . . . I'll buy you an Ice Cream cone if it makes you feel better.

Actually, yours were excellent suggestions and I thank you for them. I gotta admit though, putting my lens in the oven was outside of my comfort zone . . . but, being a retired Engineer (it's a curse) I recognize the merit of that particular solution. My take on it was to get an aerosol can of compressed air, turn it upside down and spray the hell out of the lens hood till it was at absolute zero . . . then after it shrunk a millimeter or two it would come right off.

But . . . . Lighter Fluid saved me from that course of action

Peace, out \ /
 
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