What's happening with the Hasselblad

Effects

A friend gave me 11 rolls of film he shot with his hasselblad to develop. Five of the rolls were blank. Any thoughts? I think he might have been putting them in backwards as I've heard people have done.
The same guy could never use his holga correctly. He always got double exposures due to not using the correct film mask and selector at the back.

jpb1974

Five of the rolls were blank

Blank black or blank transparent?

DaireQuinlan

completely transparent ? Were there edge markings on the developed rolls ?

Effects

Completely transparent. Nothing on them at all apart from the frame number and kodak branding at the top/bottom. He said he couldn't have loaded them wrong and has never had a problem with anything he's developed. Could it be a mistake made by the staff in conns? If they were completely exposed they would be dark wouldn't they?

jpb1974

If they were completley transparent with just the frame # and branding then they were not exposed.

Maybe some sort of shutter issue or the like.

DaireQuinlan

yeah, edge markings show they were developed correctly but never exposed. Your buddy either loaded it wrong or one of his lenses is bust (the shutter is in the lens in most hasselblads' case). Dunno if there's a way to lock up the mirror, take off the back, and check that the shutter is opening properly on a hassie, I'm more familiar with the bronicas. Could be if he has one lens that it's just gone the way of the dodos. Were the blank rolls the last 5 he shot or anything ?

Effects

He said he's never had any problems with anything else he's shot. I think it might be a problem with the shutter as he had a problem with the camera after firing the shutter with the lens off the body. After I scan them all I'll ask what order they were shot in.
Thanks for the help.

DaireQuinlan

Effects wrote: »

He said he's never had any problems with anything else he's shot. I think it might be a problem with the shutter as he had a problem with the camera after firing the shutter with the lens off the body. After I scan them all I'll ask what order they were shot in.
Thanks for the help.

hmm. Hasselblads are rather notorious for jamming or behaving inconsistently when unexpected series of events happen (like for example hitting the shutter with no lens on the body). Maybe the body isn't cocking the lens anymore or something ? I don't know much about hassies unfortunately, maybe post on apug or photo.net or something and see if anyone has a list of diagnostic steps.

zerohamster

Sounds like he didn't charge the lens before putting it back on the body although I'm pretty sure it won't fit if it isn't charged (damaged perhaps or jammed).
I'd be happy to have a look at it and test the shutter speeds etc...