Issue with new Hasselblad 201F

[calico]

On a positive note re Hasselblad/Bron in NJ......the technician who fixed my 110/2 the first time sent a really nice note with the lens when it was returned. I think he was the person who retired when Bron bought Hasselblad (and why lens had to go to Sweden when broke again).

 

[mitrajoon]

I'll bet that's it. I was able to make an appointment and go to Hasselblad HQ to talk directly with the tech (Dennis). He is the only certified 200 series tech in the USA. He only works part time. A terrific guy. The ability to get parts and service on these cameras is getting more and more limited. The good news is when mine stops working it'll look great mounted as industrial art.

 

[calico]

I'll bet that's it. I was able to make an appointment and go to Hasselblad HQ to talk directly with the tech (Dennis). He is the only certified 200 series tech in the USA. He only works part time. A terrific guy. The ability to get parts and service on these cameras is getting more and more limited. The good news is when mine stops working it'll look great mounted as industrial art.

Haha, industrial art indeed.

Dennis must be who worked on my 201F in early 2019.

I wonder what the situation is in Sweden re repairs on these old cameras, if there are more technicians there who can still work on them. As I mentioned, my lens was sent there for repair. But that was 5 years ago.

 

[calico]

They say there:

200 series
- Camera body; shutters cannot be repaired.
- Rear mirror light seal (upper), part no longer available.

I wonder if they're saying they can't work on the bodies at all, or if that should be a colon instead of semi-colon after "camera body," and they just meant to say shutters cannot be repaired (not other parts of body).

I emailed Hasselblad/Bron. The woman I used to communicate with isn't there anymore, but a new person (Paul Claesson) said they DO still service 200 series cameras. They just do not have replacement shutters, so cannot replace those.

 

[Light Capture]

Hi Light Capture. Thanks so much for these additional possibilities.

I can do some of the things you suggest, such as switching battery drawer with the one in my other 201F. I will also put in a different new battery, in case the one I put in had drained while in package.

I will say, though, that I shot three rolls with the new camera -- where I did not change the back during the shooting of the rolls -- and there were no problems at all. No overexposed frames or any other problem. Also, all my exposure tests (shooting at almost all possible shutter speeds) turned out fine -- exposures were correct.

The two overexposed frames in the two rolls mentioned above were at point of changing film back. One of the overexposed frames was FIRST shot after an old back (with photos taken on my other 201F) was put on new camera. The other was LAST shot taken on new camera before I moved the new back to old camera. So, unless there is some weird coincidence happening, it seems the problem is related to back changes.

However, the first shot overexposure would fit with the battery issue you mentioned.....

I'm going to just keep the camera because they are so hard to find. Maybe I will be okay if I don't change backs mid-roll. Meanwhile, I will continue to try to figure out what happened and do things you suggest to test.

Thank you so much for your help.

I know someone who sent two 200 series bodies two months ago in for service to Hasselblad in NJ.

Both came back repaired and CLA'd. Can't remember what was the exact issue with them.

You're correct, first image you posted has nothing to do with the camera. Looking at the rebate, it's sideways. Most likely an issue with the light seal.
Front plate on magazine is thin and if dark slide is inserted at an angle combined with wear on the light seal on the plate (opposite of the mylar light seal on the magazine body) it's possible to get something like this.
The front plate will flex out in these cases possibly allowing light to enter.
Light leak seems equal on top and bottom of the image and outside of the image. It's next to impossible to get uniform leak like that from any leaks in the body.

All of my bodies are missing the mirror felt. I didn't see any light leaks due to that.
It could be tested by starting long exposure with camera in B mode. I wouldn't trust lens cap to block all of the light coming from the front. Best would be mounting lens on and placing aluminum cooking foil underneath the lens cap to block the light 100%.
1 minute, 10 minute, 1 hour exposures. Maybe longer. There is probably not much impact if it takes longer than 1 hour to show something.

 

[calico]

I know someone who sent two 200 series bodies two months ago in for service to Hasselblad in NJ.

Both came back repaired and CLA'd. Can't remember what was the exact issue with them.

You're correct, first image you posted has nothing to do with the camera. Looking at the rebate, it's sideways. Most likely an issue with the light seal.
Front plate on magazine is thin and if dark slide is inserted at an angle combined with wear on the light seal on the plate (opposite of the mylar light seal on the magazine body) it's possible to get something like this.
The front plate will flex out in these cases possibly allowing light to enter.
Light leak seems equal on top and bottom of the image and outside of the image. It's next to impossible to get uniform leak like that from any leaks in the body.

All of my bodies are missing the mirror felt. I didn't see any light leaks due to that.
It could be tested by starting long exposure with camera in B mode. I wouldn't trust lens cap to block all of the light coming from the front. Best would be mounting lens on and placing aluminum cooking foil underneath the lens cap to block the light 100%.
1 minute, 10 minute, 1 hour exposures. Maybe longer. There is probably not much impact if it takes longer than 1 hour to show something.

Thank you for this additional information.

I'm glad people are saying I don't have to replace that seal in my 202FA. What a shame the camera has been sitting in a cabinet, unused, these past 5 years as I resisted the repair bill

Best regards.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I emailed Hasselblad/Bron. The woman I used to communicate with isn't there anymore, but a new person (Paul Claesson) said they DO still service 200 series cameras. They just do not have replacement shutters, so cannot replace those.

I guess I cannot stick my finger in the focal plane shutter any more.

 

[calico]

I guess I cannot stick my finger in the focal plane shutter any more.

Haha!

 

[itsdoable]

I guess I cannot stick my finger in the focal plane shutter any more.

You probably can on the 200's.

I remember one of the demonstrations I saw when the 205TTC was introduced, the the rep pushed his finger into the cloth shutter derailing it from the film gate. He then wound the camera, and the shutter wound back into the rails just fine. It was to assure people that were concerned about the 2000's titamium shutter (which actually could do the same thing, but only a few times).

 

[GarageBoy]

Will Hasselblad NJ repair 2000 series cameras if I didn't pike my finger through the shutter? The slow speeds are wonky on my dad's 2000 fc/m

The stuff I deal with to use Zeiss lenses on film... (Between Hasselblad 200/2000 series cameras, the unreliable contax/rolleiflex 35mm cameras - what's the point of having the nicest lenses if none of the bodies work reliably ?)

 

[calico]

Will Hasselblad NJ repair 2000 series cameras if I didn't pike my finger through the shutter? The slow speeds are wonky on my dad's 2000 fc/m

The stuff I deal with to use Zeiss lenses on film... (Between Hasselblad 200/2000 series cameras, the unreliable contax/rolleiflex 35mm cameras - what's the point of having the nicest lenses if none of the bodies work reliably ?)

Yes, they will. See my post from Oct. 23 above.

Agree, it's getting harder to keep film cameras in working order these days.....