New 'Blad: gaps between neg frames inconsistent

[gregmacc]

Hi all ... I've noticed that the gaps between the neg frames vary from 1mm to about 5mm. Does this indicate some sort of mechanical fault? ... Am I doing something wrong?
Cheers

 

[bdial]

If you are lining up the arrows on the film with the little red arrow in the magazine insert, you are doing your part right.
Sounds like your back may need a CLA.

 

[xtolsniffer]

That's similar to what I get on my RB67 and 35mm Nikons, as long as they don't overalp and you lose any image, I'd say that's ok. Mind you, Blads are supposed to be the model of engineering tolerances and I am barely worthy to mention them....(I joke of course)

 

[gregmacc]

bdial: Yep, lining up the arrows ... Supplied as exc++ by APUG recommended person in US who services, adjusts and replaces all worn parts before offering for sale. On that basis I'm assuming CLA has been done.
xtolsniffer: No image overlap ...
Thanks for responding ...

 

[John Koehrer]

There's a nylon/delrin stop in the back that becomes worn & is most likely the cause of erratic spacing.
Even if the back had a CLA the spacing issue wouldn't be noticed unless film was run through it and processed.

 

[Sirius Glass]

It does not necessarily need a cleaning, but certainly and adjusting.

Steve

 

[Q.G.]

I think John's sugestion that the nylon stop needs replacing is a good one.
There is very little else that will cause problems with frame spacing.

it should be remembered though that spacing will always be a bit erratic, and that it is deemed o.k. if frames are separated by enough to make a clean cut, leaving a bit of clear film on either side of the cut.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Which model back is it? Is it a 12 back, an A12, or one of the newest style backs? I bought a newer-style A-12 once that was in excellent cosmetic condition, but it was worn out from heavy use, and the seller refused to repair. I had it repaired once, on my own dime, but it still wouldn't work right (the spacing was always off). If you have an early 12 back, if the issue is the little delrin stop (which back in the day wasn't actually delrin, but I think hard rubber or some other plastic like bakelite), you've got yourself a paperweight. In the 12 backs, if the stop wears out and breaks, while it CAN be replaced, it rarely works well as making a new stop to the precise size is rather difficult. I don't know if/how this has been addressed in the A12 backs, but presumably the whole sub-assembly can still be replaced with factory new parts.

 

[Q.G.]

The situation isn't as bad as that.
Only the very earliest, 1000-series period 12 backs are different. All the others, 12 and A 12 alike, have the same nylon stop and can still be fixed.

 

[gregmacc]

It's an A12 manufactured around 1980 I believe.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Well, then it should not be a problem to get it repaired. Good luck to you whatever the outcome!

 

[V-System500]

hello you can exactly know what year it is by the yearcode.
VHPICTURES
1234567890
If its from 1980 it has the letter RS 1999 is EE
UT is 1976
best regards from cologne
Peter

 

[TimVance]

I had the same problem. I read on photo.net that when you advance the film from the start arrow with the advance lever on the body instead of the lever on the back it doesn't overlap. I tried it out and it solved my problem. The backs that do that probably do need a CLA. I'm too cheap for that though.

 

[gregmacc]

Hi all ... Thanks for all the information and ideas. Yesterday I spent 1.5 hours sitting and chatting with a local camera technician who kindly let me watch him work on my new 'blad in his workshop. It turns out that the back is in excellent condition and just needed some minor tweaking here and there. He's pretty sure the spacing issue is sorted but only running a film through it will tell for sure. I will probably do that tomorrow. I'm happy to have been reassured that the rest of my system is also in top condition.
Needless to say I was in camera gearhead heaven for the entire time. This fellow's workshop/office is wall-to-wall Hasselblad, Leica, and everything else in various stages of disassembly. Bodies, lenses, tools, jigs ... the works. Such an interesting friendly guy. Trained at the Hasselblad AND! Leica factories in Europe. If anyone is interested in using an Australian based camera/optics technician PM me for details.
I'm still on a high today over yesterday's experience.
Cheers