Question about Hasselblad 500EL

aldevo · Dec 22, 2007

I have an opportunity to buy one at a good price from an old friend

I understand this camera to have a motorized film advance. Does anybody know if the film can be advanced manually should that motor fail?

The camera is likely nearly 40 years old, and even if the motor works now I have to figure it will not be for much longer. I want to make certain that I can still advance the film if (when) that motor packs up.

Thanks

fdisilvestro · Dec 22, 2007

Hello,

No, There is no way to manually advance the film in the EL series cameras if your motor or battery fails.

Regards,
Francisco

Pinholemaster · Dec 22, 2007

This is why I also own a manuel advance camera body as a back-up.

epatsellis · Dec 22, 2007

Then again, for only 3 or 4 dollars (or 35-40, if you're not handy), you can never be more than a 9v battery away from not worrying about it.
I use mine far more than the C/M.

erie

Allan Swindles · Dec 22, 2007

I don't think you need worry too much about the motor but the battery is another problem, but not unsolvable. The original rechargeable Deac cells are no longer available and it is quite likely that, if included in the deal, may not accept a charge. On the other hand they/it, (you only NEED one) may still have some life depending on usage and care, or with luck, might have been replaced with the better M/H version. Are you a 'blad user already and does your prospective purchase include a lens? If so, check the slow shutter speeds are not sluggish and the glass is fungus free. Make sure you get the charger as they are difficult to obtain. Replacement M/H batteries are available, in the UK at least, and as erie has said, there are other means. If it's a good deal, go for it - it's a nice piece of kit.

Regards - Allan.

Smudger · Dec 22, 2007

I have read on the "Net about re-power alternatives for the EL series. Google may be your friend.
In my experience, the motor in these cameras is built like a brick outhouse, so I would not be too concerned in terms of reliability..

epatsellis · Dec 22, 2007

Allan Swindles said:
I don't think you need worry too much about the motor but the battery is another problem, but not unsolvable. The original rechargeable Deac cells are no longer available and it is quite likely that, if included in the deal, may not accept a charge. On the other hand they/it, (you only NEED one) may still have some life depending on usage and care, or with luck, might have been replaced with the better M/H version. Are you a 'blad user already and does your prospective purchase include a lens? If so, check the slow shutter speeds are not sluggish and the glass is fungus free. Make sure you get the charger as they are difficult to obtain. Replacement M/H batteries are available, in the UK at least, and as erie has said, there are other means. If it's a good deal, go for it - it's a nice piece of kit.

Regards - Allan.

Yes the chargers are awfully expensive, especially when you consider it's a wallwart with a 5 pin din plug on it, the plug costs more than the wallwart. All of the power and trigger issues are easily resolved, inexpensively if you don't care if it's an official "hasselblad" solution.

I have a pigtail on a 5 pin din plug that has 2 banana jacks for an external trigger, and a small inline coax connector for power, when I use it in the studio. The total cost was less than $20, and you don't need to use the crazy expensive release extensions, etc.

erie

Sirius Glass · Dec 24, 2007

Three suggestions:
1) David Odess Hasselblad technician search the internet for him; highly recommended.
2) hasselbladusa.com
3)http://www.hasselbladinfo.com/cgi-bin/discus/discus.cgi

Steve

aldevo · Dec 29, 2007

Post-mortem...

I had my friend demo the camera for me last week...and the motor picked that exact moment to pack it in! A quiet squealing followed by a clunk - and that's all she wrote.

I think I'll pass...

Question about Hasselblad 500EL

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