A12 Back Dark Slide

I just finished replacing the light seal in my A12 back, and about halfway into the job a thought occurred to me.

 

On most of the other MF cameras I've had(especially the Bronicas, which seem to have heavily copied Hasselblad design) the dark slide normally can't be removed with the back off the camera. They generally need a switch tripped or a button pressed to do it.

 

On this A12 back, I was able to pull the dark slide out as normal. Unfortunately, the only two other backs I have(a "12" peephole back and an A24) are currently loaded so I can't just go check it.

 

I'm wondering if this is normal, however. The back otherwise seems fine, and all the other interlocks(no shutter release with the dark slide in, no removing the back without the slide in place) work fine.

sorry messed up my replay. This is normal behavior.

I hate this new site

There is nothing to keep you from removing the dark slide. To err is human, and and fogging film this way is a fringe benefit that comes with Hasselblad. The dark slide physically blocks an extension of the shutter release, making it harder to take a blank shot. Nor can you unsnap the back unless the dark slide is fully inserted.

Thanks for letting me know that this is normal.

 

As I said, I'm coming to this from Bronicas and Mamiyas, where you have to "trick" the back to get it to release the dark slide off the camera. Removing the darkslide off the camera is something that's just ingrained in me to not do(watch me ruin a roll of film the next time I get the camera out) and I wouldn't have noticed had I not been taking it apart for a light seal job.

 

At least the camera has all the other "idiot proof" features I'm use to-no removing the back with the dark slide out, no removing the lens unless the shutter is cocked, and no firing with the dark slide in.

Well Ben, at least you did not do what I did.

My first roll, and I loaded the film backwards, with the PAPER to the lens, not the film.

One whole roll of blank film. GRRRR

RTFM and pay attention.