Hassy 500cm - Does this look like film back light leak?

chioque · Mar 30, 2009

I just bought a Hasselblad 500Cm a couple days ago, and this is my first test roll with the camera. However, I had this in most of the negatives, eg. in the attached image.

Is this a tell-tale sign of a light leak in the A12 magazine? Sorry, if this is a common question as I'm very new to the V series Hassy.

Andrew Moxom · Mar 30, 2009

It is indeed a light leak. Order some Hasselblad OEM parts off of Ebay and do it yourself for only $25. It takes 10 minutes tops

jordanstarr · Mar 30, 2009

I'll second what Andrew just said.

chioque · Mar 30, 2009

Thanks, will do order one ASAP. Just one more thing, the light leak is prominent on the left side. However, there are also negatives that show the leak appearing on the right hand side. Is this the normal light leak or something worse?

Example is attached, where the leak appears on the right instead of the left.

Andrew Moxom · Mar 30, 2009

Light leaks on the opposite side to where the darkslide comes in could be something else, but my guess is that once light gets in, it can be reflected around. That said, your last image does not show the typical Left hand side flare either. I'd still change the light trap as an insurance policy. If you still get problems, then there must be another hole somewhere where it's getting in. Is there a way to show us a scan of the whole film area including the film rebates?? How old is the back also?

chioque · Mar 30, 2009

Sorry this is the scan from the lab and my V700 scanner is on its way. So I can't really show the whole negative until at least for a couple of days. Anyhow, I have already ordered the light seals from ebay and since it's coming from the US, it will take at least a week to reach here in Malaysia. For good measure, I have also ordered another A12 magazine from KEH.

BTW, from the serial number of the A12, it seems it was made in 1975, and the camera body was made in 1986.

Sirius Glass · Mar 30, 2009

Yes, it is a light leak. Your back needs new seals. You can order them from a number of places including David Odessa or you can get them installed locally [but you have to lets us know where your are].

Steve

Q.G. · Mar 30, 2009

Sirius Glass said:
You can order them from a number of places including David Odessa or you can get them installed locally [but you have to lets us know where your are].

"I have already ordered the light seals"

"It will take at least a week to reach here in Malaysia."

glaiben · Mar 30, 2009

Is there any significant movement of the back on the body? That might also cause a light leak - see also (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

DannL · Mar 30, 2009

Flip your images upside down to determine where the leaks might reside in your camera. This is the orientation of the image at the film plane as viewed from the back of your camera. The light marks for the fire hydrant picture are on the side of the camera opposite where you insert your darkside. The light marks on the play ground image are above and below the darkside insertion area. Unless the play ground image was somehow inverted prior to being presented to us, you must have light leaks on both sides of the camera back. Interesting indeed.

Should I hazard a guess, the film backing paper was probably loose on the spool at some point. Most likely, that the film was loaded/unloaded in bright light and that the film was allowed to become loose on the spool prior to inserting/removing the film insert.

chioque · Mar 31, 2009

Thanks for the advice, will do the checking later today after office. The back doesn't move around and it fits snugly to the body.

On the suggestion by DannL that the film may be loose on its spool, this may actually happened as well. As this is my very first time loading a roll of film on the Hassy back, a thousand things may go wrong and I can't discard that possibility.

normsgonewild · Apr 15, 2009

burger tray light seals

Went to the local super market, bought some really nice beef burgers in a black plastic tray. Went home cut up plastic tray and made a copy of Hasselblad light seal. Found a suitable piece of foam strip cut to size, completed fitting new diy seal. Ate burgers, nice! 9 months on, light seal still nice and tight on dark slide, no light leaks.

Anscojohn · Apr 15, 2009

normsgonewild said:
Went to the local super market, bought some really nice beef burgers in a black plastic tray. Went home cut up plastic tray and made a copy of Hasselblad light seal. Found a suitable piece of foam strip cut to size, completed fitting new diy seal. Ate burgers, nice! 9 months on, light seal still nice and tight on dark slide, no light leaks.

*****
And you risked your Hassy getting mad cow disease!!?? You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din.

Charles Webb · Apr 17, 2009

I personally do not think the fogging here reached the film through the DS light trap! This effect is easily caused by "fumble fingers" when loading or unloading.
It would be much easier diagnose if you had posted the negative strips them selves.

Charlie...............................................

GraemeMitchell · Apr 19, 2009

I'll be interested to hear if you solve these leaks. It's that second picture you posted with the leak on the bottom right that interests me. I had something similar recently, happening in the exact same place consistently, but leaks also occurred towards the center of the bottom of the frame. I'll attach a sample of a close crop. Oddly, there was on a few frames a dark line too running along the bottom of the frame (you can barely see it in this attachment).

The first thing I did when I saw it was go outside and test the 4 backs I used. Shot rolls with the lens cap on in strong sun. Two displayed classic leaking when the slide was taken in and out in open sun. But I was not able to recreate the bleeding on the bottom of the frame. Huh, right? Anyway, I'm replacing foam on them to be sure.

Then shoot keeping track of rolls to backs. So if occurs again, to see if I can catch the bad back.

Anyway, let me know if you come up with any solution.

chioque · Apr 19, 2009

Sorry, for not replying to the questions earlier.

Charlie, is right when he said that the leaks could be from my fumbling when loading the film. The second and third test rolls from the back are perfect and show no signs at all of light leaking through. So far so good.

Since the new light seals I ordered have arrived I proceeded to have the seals changed. Anyway, I already sold this kit to a friend last week and informd him of the light leaks in mt first test roll, but the subsequent rolls are fine and I have already changed the light seal myself, just in case.

I sold the 500cm as I managed to get a relatively good deal on a like new 503cw set. The new kit has a minty 503cw body, wlf, 80mm cfe lens, 2 A12 back, 150mm CF lens. All come with boxes and manual. This 503cw set costs me about usd2300. The seller said he was the original owner (with receipt as proof) for about a year+ only and has shot about 20 rolls only.

fschifano · Apr 21, 2009

chioque said:
As this is my very first time loading a roll of film on the Hassy back, a thousand things may go wrong and I can't discard that possibility.

Well, there you go. Loading a Hasselblad film magazine for the first time can be an, shall we say, interesting undertaking. There are lots of ways to screw up. After a couple of tries it gets to be automatic, like driving a standard shift car. I'm betting money that you had some difficulty.

Sirius Glass · Apr 21, 2009

How to load a Hasselblad film back:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op6hDyMmkqA

Steve

Q.G. · Apr 21, 2009

Nice film.

But what not (!) to do, however, is pull the film until the start mark appears.
Just pull enough to fit the tab into the take up spool.

What you also do not (!) want to do is flap the film about after locking the guide clip.
The guide clip is not meant to hold the film. Just to pull it down a bit, so it doesn't snag when you put the insert into the magazine.

So do not (!) follow that part of the instruction, but do it right instead:
- after sliding the leader underneath the guide clip, pull enough of the leader to fit the tab to the take up spool,
- turn the take up spool until the start mark appears opposite the triangle, pulling the film through as you go,
- turn the magazine's lock key to engage the guide clip, and drop the insert into the shell

and go on from there.

This guy does that part better (but note the "Oops! It's kinda loose."!).
But he doesn't have a clue about the function of the guide clip, and hence forgets to lock it down before putting the insert into the shell.

fschifano · Apr 22, 2009

Want to know how to properly load a Hasselblad back? Go here. If you find it useful, send the guy the couple of bucks he asks for the service of having all these manuals on line and available 24x7. From the looks of it, half the folks putting these videos out there have not ever read the darned manual.

Q.G. · Apr 22, 2009

You can also find manuals here, and not be asked a couple of bucks.

chioque · Apr 22, 2009

Thanks for the pointers guys... I think it was beginner's error on my part. As I said before, the 2nd and 3rd rolls from the back were fine even before I installed the new seals. And so far I have taken more than 10 rolls with the same back without much problems. But thanks for the reminders on what to look out for. Appreciate it.

Hassy 500cm - Does this look like film back light leak?

chioque

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