Will a Hassy A16 insert fit a A24 body?

Hello:

I have several A24 backs that will become obsolete once I run out of 220 film. I have an opportunity to buy an A16 insert and was wondering if I could simply fit it to the A24 body (once I took out the A24 insert, of course). If so, this seems like a viable option to go 645 for less cost than buying an entire A16 back, and still allows me to use my A24 back.

Thanks!

It may fit but you still have a 6x6 mask and it may advance the film for 6x6 frames, though I'm not sure on that part.

Yes, the A24 back will have to be modified to form a 645 mask. And the more I think about it, it would most likely advance as if it were spacing for 6x6.

Hasselblad backs are also known to be somewhat finicky. You'd be lucky to get the 16 insert to work at all with the 220 12 body. It will fit, but will it work is a question to be tested.

Yeah, I may have been over optimistic when this A16 insert popped up, hoping that I may be able to further the life of my A24 back(s). I probably have a better chance of convincing some film company to reintroduce 220 then getting my scheme to work. Grin.

Buy the A12 or A16, it will just take you a little longer between buying backs.

Is the A16 insert *cheap*? If it is cheap enough the price is inconsequential, and you do a lot of shooting in a hurry, buy it and a full A16 back. Then load a roll of film onto it--just to the start marks, as normal--and put it in a ziplock bag or something. Voilá, you can now quickly shoot 32 exposures without fiddling with tearing open the plastic covering and tape on a new film roll, putting in the insert under the tab, etc., and getting it all lined up to shoot. You just wind on and swap out the inserts as soon as you finish the first roll of film.

Maybe not an entirely practical idea, unless you're doing photojournalism or something. But inspired by the old days when Leica photographers used to keep an extra takeup spool for their M2s or M3s with a roll of film already inserted into the tab there, so they could save a few seconds and quickly re-load after finishing a roll. Might come in handy if you're shooting insurrections or something with your 'Blad.

The A16 insert has a smaller pressure plate than a 12, but the gearing that determines if you get 12, 16 or 24 exposures is in the back. Your likely result would be 12 or 24 frames with soft corners, depending on whether you load 120 or 220.
I don't have a 220 back, but mechanically, a 16 insert goes into a 12 back fine, so, from what I can tell, the answer to your question is "yes", but it won't get you to where you want to go.

FWIW, I've heard of people successfully using 120 in their 220 back, I think you have to align the start mark differently, plus remember to stop shooting when you get to 12. The spacing is off as well, as I recall.

My experience with the A-24 backs is, looking down at the film loading indicator, a red triangle, which matches a backing paper mark, and think as of that red mark as "6:00" on a watch dial.

Now, you want to roll only enough film out 'till the paper indicator is at about "4:00", no less, no much more.

Make sure your film stays tight and under the patten pressure plate, the thin, up/down section that locks the film and paper into place, for inserting into the back

120 film is used by many Hasselblad A-24 120 film shooters and can also be used for 35mm roll films with an adapter.

Cheers.