So Many Issues with my Recently Purchased 500CM

Hi All,

I am a serious photographer who has just moved into film, and last week I purchased a mint condition Hasselblad 500CM. The first roll of film, perfect. Loaded my second roll and the issues began.

Firstly, it would allow me to take two photos, then the body winder would no longer progress. Took the back off, allowed me to make a shot and advance the winder. Put the back back on the body, two successful shots, then it jammed again. This happened for 4 rolls in a row. Now, the little switch that you flick to remove the backplate, it won't budge and the back won't come off (the dark slide is in place). I cannot progress the film with the film winder on the back, nor with the body winder, and I can't remove it. I am having so many issues with this camera (that I just paid £800) for and I have no idea what to do about it. I have spoken to a service company who want around £400 for a full service.

So, in a nutshell, I can't remove the back, advance the film or take any photos. Any help would be greatly appreciated as Im lost .

Thank you.

Dan

Dan, the dark slide has to be all the way in for the back to be released from the camera. Your back might be missed up or the gears from film back to camera might be out of synchronization or miss aligned.It might be just the back or camera also. Also check that the little lever that locks the shutter release button in is not engaged which will prevent the shutter release button from poping back out once an exposure has been made .

Bought my 500cm new in 1978 took it home and jammed the darn thing up, had to take it back to Hasselbad to fix it and then carefully read the manual. I has worked fine ever since then, every 5 to ten years to have it serviced.They are good cameras and last a long time.
Mike

And the seller sold the camera as mint? Was the camera guaranteed??? One thing that must be remembered is that there is the "normal way" and then there is the "hasselblad way". For example, camera must be cocked before removing the lens because the lens can only be removed or mounted on the body if the lens is cocked, and to cock the shutter in the lens, you have to do it via cocking mechanism in the body... that little circular pin at the bottom of the lens mounting ring of the body...... it has to align with the lens pin so that they can lock together). If the body isn't cocked, they won't align. It's the Hasselblad Way, or you have a broken 120 Planar like I do. Again, as Mike mentioned, the problem could be the film back.

For starters, if the camera is cocked, (cock it if it isn't, ) and then remove the cocked lens... one less thing to worry about. but from what you describe, you can't advance the film, which means that you can't cock the lens and remove it. A possible culprit could be the mechanisms relating to the film spindles in the film back.... film jamming, the film counter jamming......

Next thing is the remove the film insert., remove the film and put the insert back in. That should reset your film counter to 0. . Now remove the film slide and try winding now with an empty film back. Also, if you want to remove the film back, the slide must be in... if the slide is out, then the button you flick will not budge.

Let us know if you find a solution. Good Luck!