Hassy Loose Film Back/Age of Components

I have acquired a used 500CM and got 2 used A12s with it. I notice that the backs don't fit as tightly as I would like - they are loose when pushing the backs from left to right versus forward and back. I cannot discern by looking whether the body is worn or the backs are worn. Both parts actually look quite new.

 

<p>

 

The serials#s are

A12 ES 3359619, 30EV20363

C/M 10EP22369

 

<p>

 

Anyone know the ages of these serial #s or anything about this problem? Is there a pattern of overworn used A12s on the market?

 

<p>

 

Thx in Advance

Ages of hassy kit can be worked out by translating the letters as follows

VHPICTURES

1234567890

 

<p>

 

Therefore the ages of your equipment are 90 91 and 93.

 

<p>

 

 

The backs on my hassy do not feel as secure as you would expect but I have no problems with picture quality

My Hassy A12 backs are relatively new, and I notice the same play or looseness that you describe. The looseness, however, seems to be back and forth rather than toward or away from the body. In fact, the slots in the back seem to be a very slight bit wider than the meter prongs from the body that slot in them. I assume this is in the design. In any event, my shots are tack sharp.

 

<p>

 

By the way, I hope these cameras are solidly built. I try always to pick my camera up by the body and support the lens, but in the heat of battle, everything goes including, on occasion, picking the camera up by the prism viewfinder.

 

<p>

 

Hope this helps.

I've noticed over the years (11) that my A12 backs are getting just a bit looser. I thinks its because of all the weddings I've photographed where constant back changing has led to some wear on the various parts involved in latching the backs to the body. My photos look fine. One of the things that originally impressed me with Hasselblad was how tight everything fit compared to other cameras I checked out. I suppose it is natural that with lots of use that the equipment should loosen up a bit. The only way to keep a camera mint is to keep it in a box at home. This year I had two backs serviced to stop overlapping of the first two frames - plus replacing a part in each that stops the film on the first frame after loading. One of my 500CM bodies also jammed (screwdriver trick wouldn't fix it) so I had it overhauled. If I'm forced to buy some more Hassy equipment, I plan to buy used but will make sure everything fits very tight. I think that is the best indicator of the amount of use something has had.

When I bought my brand new 500CM Classic I noticed that the back would wiggle just a bit from side to side. The local wedding photographer told me that's the way they are. I made some measurements and a very close inspection and that is the way they are. There is nothing to stop them from moving side to side a bit. The groove on the light trap is wider than the mating part and the bottom attach points are wider than the fingers. It would take two pins fitting into two sockets to remove the play. It doesn't hurt a thing except for taking double exposures where you wind the shutter by putting in the dark slide and pulling the back away so the film doesn't wind. Since there is no positive lock on the horizontal position of the back the second picture on the frame might not line up exactly. Since I rarely make double exposures I don't care. Now if you can pull the back away from the body without releasing the catch then you have a legitimate problem.

I have seen the same loose back problem. On a 70 MM back I have I have even had some light leakage problems. I have worked around this by using black electrical tape. The tape comes off with no problem and it stops light. I would not use tape though unless you see a light leakage problem.

 

<p>

 

I understand you can have internal frame replaced by a Hassy repair center to correct the light leakage problem.

I had a pair of loose backs and determined that the 2 feet on the body

had been slowly bent by slaming the backs on in haste. I took a hammer

and wrapped on them, and now they are snug.