Hasselblad quality

[anyone]

Hi there,

I may have bad luck, but two items I bought within the last 12 months need service:

• XCD 90/3.2 - the weather sealing ring went out of place when I attached the rear lens cap
• 907x - the body first started with showing odd signs: when I wanted to dial in the exposure compensation (-), it first went to (+) before it reacted properly. Then recently, it also showed the undesirable property of not detecting the attached lenses in the first place.

The XCD lens is now for 2 months in service (didn't come back yet), the 907x is going the same route next week.
While I shot unique pictures with the system, the service time is not what I expect from such a system (comparison: Fuji fixed an issue within days), neither is the durability. I'm very happy with the image output, but these things make me wonder.

How are your experiences with the system?

Thank you!

 

[SrMphoto]

I am sorry to hear about your issues.

My only issue was with the X1D, which needed to go to service for rear dial adjustment (a known issue then). I never had any other issues with several X-mount cameras and XCD lenses.

 

[SGreenberg]

My X1D won't format new cards and one of the back buttons won't work. I can still use it, but probably not worth repairing at this point.

 

[Paul2660]

X2D occasionally will give the “no lens detected” error mainly with the 35-75. But now has started it with other lenses. So far removing the lens and re-installing it seems to fix the issue. Have cleaned contacts on lenses and camera.

Paul

 

[FloatingLens]

Sounds a lot like contact problems either on the lens side contacts of the 907X body or to the back. The high number of exposed contacts make the 907 susceptible to this. At some point some of my lenses were no longer reliably detected. Try wiping the contact areas down with a tiny amount of lens cleaning fluid (dry cleaning did not solve it in my case). Care needs to be taken, of course, as @anyone wouldn't want residual moisture between body and back.

 

[mristuccia]

I've had the 907x 100c + 45p for almost three months now. I have a slight problem in maneuvering the grip's joystick but I think it is more getting used to it rather than an issue.
Other than that, no problems so far (fingers crossed). But I've owned it for too short a time to give a definitive opinion, and I only have the body and one lens.

One thing I noticed, dust seems more prone to stick on this sensor's glass than on the one of the CFV-50c MkI I owned before this.
Since I often use a technical camera, the sensor is frequently exposed and it gets dust very easily which a normal air blower isn't able to remove.

Sorry to hear about your issues. Such things can ruin the trust relationship with a camera and its brand.
I sincerely hope that after these repairs you won't have problems anymore and that such bad impressions will become a distant past.

 

[GeorgeBo]

My 45p failed in a firmware update via 907x/100c a couple weeks ago (two other lenses updated with no issue). Sent it to the Burbank Ca location and after getting through a USPS delivery hangup, they turned the repair around in one day. It is on the way back to me for delivery this coming week.

Someone from the Burbank office actually went to the post office to retrieve the lens that was being held there for some reason. So kudos to them for doing it. They replaced the main lens board. The lens was out of warranty so it did cost, but no complaints on the service I received.*

*pending me getting the lens back and confirming the repair

 

[usm]

Sending in my 907x once a year to change the buttons. Including sending it took a week.
The checking of my 38v took 4 weeks. I told them that I would need a lens at a specific date and ask for a loan. They sent me a new one as an exchange.
I always communicate directly with the support team. Never through dealers…

 

[lookbook]

"Hasselblad Quality"
My Hasselblads are 20 years old and older and work perfectly!!
The buyer of the Hasselblad name perhaps has to prove quality first?

 

[anyone]

Thank you all for sharing your experiences. Like lookbook, my old Hasselblad's work like a charm.

It looks like that there are quite some people here who had already a touchpoint with the Hasselblad service. Although the issues of my gear are not too severe, it leads to a long downtime. Even when I would receive the XCD 90 back now, the 907x will be gone. I send it in via my dealer.

 

[doccdiamond]

"Hasselblad Quality"
My Hasselblads are 20 years old and older and work perfectly!!
The buyer of the Hasselblad name perhaps has to prove quality first?

When I bought my 500c/m in 1987 it failed after the 2nd roll of film - a spring broke and the mirror system got blocked. And the film Hassies are/were notoriously prone to issues with the film magazines - not keeping a proper gap between the pictures, sometimes even overlapping irregularly. Others told me never do a professional shooting without a spare 500c/m (similar stories about the Mamiyas, not sure about the other MF companies...).
I experienced these failures never e.g. with my mechanical Nikons... I believe these things happen more often with the "Boutique" Camera-Companies than with the SoCaNikons...

Don't get it wrong - the Hassy was one of the finest cameras I ever used, but not hassle-free!

 

[John_McMaster]

similar stories about the Mamiyas

I once assisted (1980s) a portrait photographer who used Mamiya RB (I was a Hassleblad user). I was amazed at what was on his table, 4 bodies, 2 or 3 of each lens he would use and over a dozen backs (for one film stock). After four days shooting I realised why....

john

 

[Pieter 12]

When I bought my 500c/m in 1987 it failed after the 2nd roll of film - a spring broke and the mirror system got blocked. And the film Hassies are/were notoriously prone to issues with the film magazines - not keeping a proper gap between the pictures, sometimes even overlapping irregularly. Others told me never do a professional shooting without a spare 500c/m (similar stories about the Mamiyas, not sure about the other MF companies...).
I experienced these failures never e.g. with my mechanical Nikons... I believe these things happen more often with the "Boutique" Camera-Companies than with the SoCaNikons...

Don't get it wrong - the Hassy was one of the finest cameras I ever used, but not hassle-free!

I'll second that opinion. A well-known fashion shooter told me when he used Hasselblad 500C cameras, he always had at least one, more like two back-ups. Prone to problems, requiring frequent service under heavy commercial use. I can only imagine how much abuse the cameras used for rentals were subject to.

 

[mristuccia]

We should ask an opinion to the Apollo 11 guys...

 

[Pieter 12]

We should ask an opinion to the Apollo 11 guys...

I don't think that was an off-the-shelf model.

 

[lookbook]

When I bought my 500c/m in 1987 it failed after the 2nd roll of film - a spring broke and the mirror system got blocked. And the film Hassies are/were notoriously prone to issues with the film magazines - not keeping a proper gap between the pictures, sometimes even overlapping irregularly. Others told me never do a professional shooting without a spare 500c/m (similar stories about the Mamiyas, not sure about the other MF companies...).
I experienced these failures never e.g. with my mechanical Nikons... I believe these things happen more often with the "Boutique" Camera-Companies than with the SoCaNikons...

Don't get it wrong - the Hassy was one of the finest cameras I ever used, but not hassle-free!

.. I don't want to contradict you - but I have had very different experiences.
I'm surprised that so many of the few people who have contributed here are talking about problems with the new Hasselblad!!!

Because a few people here also like to speak disparagingly about Fuji, I would like to add that in the past there was cooperation with the "old" Hasselblad company, which was very fruitful for both sides. Fuji has obviously benefited from this cooperation and still builds solid cameras!!

 

[doccdiamond]

.. I don't want to contradict you - but I have had very different experiences.
I'm surprised that so many of the few people who have contributed here are talking about problems with the new Hasselblad!!!

Because a few people here also like to speak disparagingly about Fuji, I would like to add that in the past there was cooperation with the "old" Hasselblad company, which was very fruitful for both sides. Fuji has obviously benefited from this cooperation and still builds solid cameras!!

All I wanted to mention is, that the medium format cameras were (are?) not the holy grail of reliability - as they are of image quality. And even the Hasselblads in the good old days were not immune of it (what I initially believed when I bought one as a very young photographer...- quickly disillusioned; or grown up )

 

[darr]

I've never encountered a failure with my Hasselblad CFV 50c or 907x 50c system that wasn't due to user error. The 45p lens did give me an error once, but I quickly realized it was my mistake—I hadn't secured the lens properly to the camera while rushing in bad weather.

As for the negative comments about the V system, I can only share my experience: I've shot with the V system for 40 years of commercial and personal work without a single spacing error from any of my film magazines, whether they were 120, 220, or 70mm backs. For 15 of those years, I shot special events, weddings, and portraits on location in Atlanta—some of the toughest conditions for setup and breakdowns on gear. The only recurring issue I faced was with the flash stems on some of the "C" lenses, which required occasional repairs. Still, I can't complain—this system built my career.

Recently, I ran 120 films through an A24 magazine for an article, and while it produced expected odd spacing, it did not produce any focus issues, and the entire 12 frames are usable. I also once had a Bronica that I took in trade and enjoyed using for a weekend, but I knew it wouldn't have held up to the demands of the commercial work I was doing back then. Similarly, I tried an RB67 that I took in barter that ended up needing repairs for a mirror jam; after it was fixed, I gifted it to an assistant.

At the end of the day, it's different strokes for different folks. But one thing holds true: if you buy used gear without knowing its service history, it doesn't matter who made it—you're bound to encounter a surprise or two. Here's hoping they're the good kind.

 

[doccdiamond]

I've never encountered a failure with my Hasselblad CFV 50c or 907x 50c system that wasn't due to user error. The 45p lens did give me an error once, but I quickly realized it was my mistake—I hadn't secured the lens properly to the camera while rushing in bad weather.

As for the negative comments about the V system, I can only share my experience: I've shot with the V system for 40 years of commercial and personal work without a single spacing error from any of my film magazines, whether they were 120, 220, or 70mm backs. For 15 of those years, I shot special events, weddings, and portraits on location in Atlanta—some of the toughest conditions for setup and breakdowns on gear. The only recurring issue I faced was with the flash stems on some of the "C" lenses, which required occasional repairs. Still, I can't complain—this system built my career.

Recently, I ran 120 films through an A24 magazine for an article, and while it produced expected odd spacing, it did not produce any focus issues, and the entire 12 frames are usable. I also once had a Bronica that I took in trade and enjoyed using for a weekend, but I knew it wouldn't have held up to the demands of the commercial work I was doing back then. Similarly, I tried an RB67 that I took in barter that ended up needing repairs for a mirror jam; after it was fixed, I gifted it to an assistant.

At the end of the day, it's different strokes for different folks. But one thing holds true: if you buy used gear without knowing its service history, it doesn't matter who made it—you're bound to encounter a surprise or two. Here's hoping they're the good kind.

As said - I loved the V-system (not called like that duing the good old times). Image quality, flexibility and handling was/is still great. But servicing a brand new 500c/m after the second roll of film was disillusioning...- servicing A12 backs more than once (and getting confirmed it from a retired Hassy technican these days that it was quite common) as well. If you never experienced it - great. And again, I still miss my 500c/m...

 

[darr]

In the areas where I lived and worked (NYC and Atlanta), we referred to the systems as "C" and "V" to differentiate between the older, classic components and the newer "V" series, which was marked on some of the more recent gear at the time.