Lend stuck "half unscrewed" on Hasselblad 500CM (urgent)

Hello there,

 

I am on honeymoon in South Africa and my 500cm decided to stop working. I am going in my favourite part of the country tomorrow for 4 days and took the camera specifically to shoot medium format to make large prints of the landscape there. I would hate to go back with no pictures...

 

The problem: after my wife cocked the camera after a picture, I tried to change the lens and it only turned about 15°... body is cocked but lens shutter is closed so I suspect my wife turned the lever 99% but not entirely so the body was cocked but not the lens. I did not even know that was possible.

 

I tried to cock the lens using the screwdriver trick but since it is stuck in a none aligned position, it won't be cocked. I tried to push the shutter release and I hear a click which makes the lens stiff in its position. Then I cannot turn the lever but I can recock the body with the screwdriver trick. Then the lens can move a few degrees freely but not enough enough to secure it on the body or remove it (as it's uncocked).

 

Anybody has experienced this? Any advice to fix it? I suspect that if I could just remove it, I could cock it and start shooting again. Just can't seem to do that. Thank you.

It's been a while since I unstuck a Hasselblad C lens, so if someone wants to correct me, please do.

 

If the lens can move 15deg, then the lens key is uncoupled from the body key. Since the lens has been tripped, there is no way to re-couple the key to the body, as it is not in a position to slide into the body key (you have to wind/tension the lens, which is not possible in it's current state). The reason the lens will not rotate off, is that the lens key, when it is in the un-wound position, interferes with the pin in the body that releases the lens key lock. The pin is small, and not rigid like the key, so you can force the lens past that pin with a firm (but gentle) twist. If the pin is damaged, it can be replaced relatively easily, but the worst I've had to do so far is straiten the pin.

 

Once the lens is removed, use a screw driver or small coin to turn the lens key (about 300 deg) until it locks in the cocked position. Cock the body. Mount the lens. Trigger the shutter. if the shutter triggers, then the pin is still able to release the lens key lock.

 

Best wishes for many pictures of you trip.

 

Cheers, Tom

It's been a while since I unstuck a Hasselblad C lens, so if someone wants to correct me, please do.

 

If the lens can move 15deg, then the lens key is uncoupled from the body key. Since the lens has been tripped, there is no way to re-couple the key to the body, as it is not in a position to slide into the body key (you have to wind/tension the lens, which is not possible in it's current state). The reason the lens will not rotate off, is that the lens key, when it is in the un-wound position, interferes with the pin in the body that releases the lens key lock. The pin is small, and not rigid like the key, so you can force the lens past that pin with a firm (but gentle) twist. If the pin is damaged, it can be replaced relatively easily, but the worst I've had to do so far is straiten the pin.

 

Once the lens is removed, use a screw driver or small coin to turn the lens key (about 300 deg) until it locks in the cocked position. Cock the body. Mount the lens. Trigger the shutter. if the shutter triggers, then the pin is still able to release the lens key lock.

 

Best wishes for many pictures of you trip.

 

Cheers, Tom

 

Hello Tom,

 

Thank you very much for taking the time. I tried and it did come off and I see nothing bent. Lens and and body can now be cocked without any issue.

 

However now I have another problem (could be just cleaning needed as I was just in dusty Namibia). When I press the shutter release, the auxiliary shutter in the back does not open directly so the film cannot be exposed. Then after a few seconds, vibrations I suppose do free it and shades get back in position and I can cock the camera again. I suppose it is a matter of lubricating a piece no?

 

Thank you,

Haroun

Edited July 23, 2018 by harounsouirji

What happens with the auxiliary shutter when you hit the mirror pre-fire button on the side of the camera? Does it open immediately then?

A lens jam usually indicates that the synchronization parts on the camera or lens are wearing. Mechanically, when the parts are correctly synchronized, this cannot happen (If you mount a cocked lens on and uncocked body, it is possible to trip the lens release and jam the lens, or if some foreign material got in between the lens mount and released the lens lock before it fully mounted). So ideally, you should get the camera serviced, and checked (a simple CLA may take care of it all). I'm guessing the barn doors are related.

 

As Ben asked, do the barn doors open when you per-release the mirror?

 

If it is a dust & lubrication issue, cycling the body a few times should get it going, but it's likely to return until it's serviced.

 

Cheers, Tom

Edited July 23, 2018 by tom_chow

Thanks to both of you for the good advice.

 

I did to a re-release this morning with no success as they still stayed down for a while. But I did it a few more times this evening and it got better and better and now is working flawlessly. I will however do as you suggest and get it services when I am back.

 

Thank you,

Haroun

Wear on the latch (or spring) which holds the lens in the cocked status may be worn, weak or missing. That's a repear you can do yourself by removing the bayonet ring on the lens.

 

As a matter of practice, be sure to attach or remove the lens quickly, in one continuous motion. With extension tubes, attach from the camera out, and detach from the lens in, to avoid similar jams. Of course, always fully wind the camera before attaching or detaching a lens. The lens coupling is very robust, but may be worn or out of sync.