Magazine slide handling (Hasselblad)

Alan9940 · Aug 23, 2020

I've shot a 500C/M for 30+ years and my general handling of the magazine slide is to remove it for the first exposure, then replace it at end-of-role; unless I'm changing the back for another, of course. Therefore, I remove/replace the slide ONE TIME for the entire roll. However, I've watched several Hasselblad shooters on YouTube and all of 'em remove/replace the slide after each exposure. Why? Is it to ensure no possibility of a light leak between exposures? Just curious what you other Hasselblads shooters do...

gorbas · Aug 23, 2020

No need to return dark slide until you need to replace entire magazine. Sometimes I do not return dark slide for number of rolls. Just load fresh film to already attached magazine. Aftermarket Slide keeper holder is great way to keep dark slide in flat shape. There is one vendor on Ebay for it and I just saw 3D printed version.

cjbecker · Aug 23, 2020

When i'm shooting with my 500cm, I take it out until i'm done using the camera for a while be it a few hours or days. I dont have a DS holder on my mags, So it just goes in my pocket or bag.

Ariston · Aug 23, 2020

I put the slide back in to save it from getting bent. I am likely to sit on it, or bend it in the bag, if left out.

MattKing · Aug 23, 2020

I had a particular slot in my RB67 bag that the dark slide nestled into - comfortable, protected, and always at hand when needed.

Kodachromeguy · Aug 23, 2020

This is a great question. I usually put the slide back in but do not have a good reason because I only have one back. My A12 is the type 4 with a holder for the dark slide. Time to rethink my field procedure.

etn · Aug 23, 2020

The magazine slide in place prevents the trigger to be inadvertently depressed.

Imagine the following horror scenario: you put your perfectly wound Hassy in your bag, walk a mile, take it out, want to change the lens and boom... the camera has tripped without you knowing about it and you jam (or worse, damage) it.

Arthurwg · Aug 23, 2020

All my backs now have the slide holder and I leave it there for the duration. But I always cover the slot with a strip of black masking tape just to be sure there are no light leaks. This works perfectly and is an easy precaution.

itsdoable · Aug 23, 2020

As <etn> said, the dark slide is also the shutter lock.

The "Hasselblad Way" was to wind the camera after every shot. That way you can change lenses and view. The dark slide prevented the shutter from tripping if you knocked the button. It was also ready to change the back for a different film if the moment required it.

And it was also a good place to store it on the classic backs.

I tend to shoot a lot slower now, and with one film type, so I leave the dark slide out. If you do not wind the film, then the shutter will not accidentally trip - and even if it is wound, a little care prevents an accidental release.

Ai Print · Aug 24, 2020

Arthurwg said:
All my backs now have the slide holder and I leave it there for the duration. But I always cover the slot with a strip of black masking tape just to be sure there are no light leaks. This works perfectly and is an easy precaution.

I have twelve A12 backs and all of them are version III without the holder because I find them too bulky in hiking packs and I like the dark slides out of the elements when I am working in precipitation. But, I have strips of black gaffers tape on all of them for the reasons you describe, why take the chance, right?

I also agree that they act as a safety when put in the back to prevent accidental exposures from happening.

etn · Aug 24, 2020

It is also recommended to store unused backs with the dark slide out, to prevent compression of the light seal's foam:
https://www.photrio.com/forum/threa...ark-slide-fact-fiction-or-urban-legend.43953/

guangong · Aug 24, 2020

While shooting I put slide in my shirts breast pocket and only replace if I move on. I have a back with slide holder and, like AiPrint, also find it a little bulky. Besides its amazing build quality, I have always enjoyed iHasselblad clean design and comfortable handling. I started out with the dreaded 1000F. Hasselblad was wise to keep original external size and shape with 500C. Only a couple years ago did I begin to replace my original backs for 1000F with A12 versions.

bdial · Aug 24, 2020

For me, the slide for whatever back is installed generally lives somewhere in the camera bag, it’s only in the back if i need to switch.
i’ve never owned a back with an integrated slide holder, or one of the aftermarket holders, but i agree they could be handy.
having the shutter trip accidentally in a bag has never been a problem for me, but mileage varies.

etn · Aug 24, 2020

bdial said:
For me, the slide for whatever back is installed generally lives somewhere in the camera bag, it’s only in the back if i need to switch.
i’ve never owned a back with an integrated slide holder, or one of the aftermarket holders, but i agree they could be handy.
having the shutter trip accidentally in a bag has never been a problem for me, but mileage varies.

In my case, the shutter never accidentally tripped "by itself" in a bag (I don't exclude it could happen, though) but I often accidentally depressed the shutter while putting the camera in the bag or grabbing it from the bag. I noticed it every single time, no harm was done except for 6 cm of wasted film.

Alan9940 · Aug 24, 2020

Thank you all for your responses. It sounds like nearly everyone works the way I have for years. I've never had any issues with leaving the dark slide out and I've never accidentally tripped the shutter; but, then again, most times my Hasselblad lives on a tripod so it's not in/out of a bag. I, also, store the backs with the dark slide removed. Fairly recently, David Odess fixed one of my backs and did a general CLA on two and I asked him about storing a back with the dark slide in or out. His opinion was that it really didn't matter, but, hey, why change after 30+ years?

warden · Aug 24, 2020

etn said:
The magazine slide in place prevents the trigger to be inadvertently depressed.

I learned the hard way that my Hassy sits comfortably at the perfect level for inadvertent firing on my belt as I walk, so I need to replace the dark slide to prevent that. I have a few pics of the sidewalk which is no big deal, but still.

cjbecker · Aug 24, 2020

jawarden said:
I learned the hard way that my Hassy sits comfortably at the perfect level for inadvertent firing on my belt as I walk, so I need to replace the dark slide to prevent that. I have a few pics of the sidewalk which is no big deal, but still.

Haha, I just took a picture of the forest floor on my last roll. Little blurry tho. Haha

Arthurwg · Aug 24, 2020

Ai Print said:
I have twelve A12 backs and all of them are version III without the holder because I find them too bulky in hiking packs and I like the dark slides out of the elements when I am working in precipitation. But, I have strips of black gaffers tape on all of them for the reasons you describe, why take the chance, right?

I also agree that they act as a safety when put in the back to prevent accidental exposures from happening.

Why use "gaffers" tape? Much too heavy and sticky. Black masking tape is much better.
And BTW, when you look at Ansel's proof sheet for his famous "Moon and Half Dome," which was shot with a Hasselblad, you can see easily see the light leaks from the slide slot. Good thing he cropped it into a rectangle as it would be unusable square.

warden · Aug 24, 2020

Arthurwg said:
Why use "gaffers" tape? Much too heavy and sticky. Black masking tape is much better.
And BTW, when you look at Ansel's proof sheet for his famous "Moon and Half Dome," which was shot with a Hasselblad, you can see easily see the light leaks from the slide slot. Good thing he cropped it into a rectangle as it would be unusable square.

If you already have gaffers tape around it's perfect for the task but stick it to your shirt or jeans a few times first to reduce the adhesive strength. The tape (no matter the brand) should only block light and remove with a very light touch.

Ai Print · Aug 24, 2020

Arthurwg said:
Why use "gaffers" tape? Much too heavy and sticky. Black masking tape is much better.
And BTW, when you look at Ansel's proof sheet for his famous "Moon and Half Dome," which was shot with a Hasselblad, you can see easily see the light leaks from the slide slot. Good thing he cropped it into a rectangle as it would be unusable square.

I find Gaffer’s works much better in cold weather and is a more diverse use case in the field due to the strength of it’s fibers. It can get gooey if on something for years but that can be cleaned.

Magazine slide handling (Hasselblad)

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