Mechanical Camera Series - Hasselblad A12 Magazine Loading Method

Preface

A while ago, I was pushed into the pit by a friend and bought a Hasselblad 500cm + CB 60mm 3.5f. As a medium format film SLR camera, the exquisiteness of its mechanical structure goes without saying. Even if not taking it out, playing with it in hands is still very enjoyable. Looking through the viewfinder, the optical beauty of Zeiss is revealed completely. The only drawback is that the huge body and weight are really inconvenient to take out. Bought it for a while but it has been kept in the dry box by me. Recently, I finally made up my mind to use it to take good photos. On a whim, I recorded how to use the Hasselblad A12 magazine to change film. For a novice using Hasselblad photography for the first time, I was surprised to find that there are many details to pay attention to. It is completely unlike 135 film cameras which are brainless. One careless mistake may destroy a roll of film and 12 hard-earned photographic works.

A black painted Hasselblad 500cm collected from an old master. Most people's impression of Hasselblad is the silver stainless steel outer edge, which has the beauty of classical crafts. The all-black Hasselblad has a modern feel and is more low-key. CB 60mm 3.5f was purchased from Pinkuan Photography. Originally wanted to match a mediocre 80mm, but the price of 80mm on the market was too scary at that time. CB 60mm is a high CP value choice. Sharpness and distortion are perfect. The viewing angle is also close to the 35mm lens of 135 format, but the actual shooting perspective is completely different.

Start Loading Film

Remove Magazine

First thing to do is remove the magazine from the body. Slide the round button on the magazine to the left side of the picture to unlock the latch and remove the magazine. Note that if the dark slide is not inserted back into the magazine, the latch cannot be moved. Forcing it may cause mechanical damage. After removing the magazine, be careful not to touch the two door-like light shields behind the body, otherwise damaging them causing light leakage will not be fun.

Pull Out Magazine Insert

Next, take out the magazine insert inside. But before taking it out, be sure to check if there is still film inside. If there is, confirm if it has finished rewinding. If you rashly take out the magazine insert, it will cause the film inside to be exposed to light, which would be miserable. Then just turn the knob on one side of the magazine from the left appearance to the right appearance and pull outward to pull out the magazine insert. Sometimes it may not be pulled out, mostly because the dark slide is inserted backwards and stuck the magazine insert, so remember the dark slide also has directionality.

Exchange Spool

The extracted magazine insert looks like this. The one originally on the left is the old spool, which needs to be moved to the right. So don’t lose the old spool. If lost, you can only go to ~~ask film developing shop for one~~. After Hasselblad magazine finishes shooting, it will rewind the film to the old spool, so every time the spool of the last film shot will be left.

Film

Today I am loading Kodak’s Portra 400 film. This roll should be one of the few satisfying films in the era of diminishing film types. Color latitude and detail are much better than the new Gold 200, and 400 ISO can provide relatively higher shutter speed. Except for the high price, it should be the first choice for 120 color.

After opening the 120 film package, need to tear off the paper seal outside the film. The pulled out section is actually not film but backing paper, which is the biggest difference between 120 film and 135 film. Because 120 film has no shell, to prevent accidental exposure of film, need to rely on backing paper for light shielding. The real film is sandwiched in the middle of backing paper. Pulling to a certain position will pull out the real film together. The real film and backing paper are stuck together with a piece of paper tape. For detailed structure, can refer to this article: 120 Film Structure.

Install Film

First we install the film to the right side where the spool was originally placed. Please note the direction the backing paper is pulled out, it is pulled out from below. Do not install the film direction backwards. Then pull the backing paper to the back of the magazine insert.

After wrapping the backing paper to the back, please note that there is a structure on the magazine insert for clamping the backing paper. This structure is clamped tight when the magazine insert is pulled out. We need to turn the knob of the magazine insert back to the original position first so that this backing paper clamping structure will loosen, making it convenient for the backing paper to pass from below.

After the backing paper passes, turn the knob of the magazine insert back to the open state, this structure will clamp the backing paper again.

Pass the end of the backing paper through the hole in the center of the old spool.

Finally we rotate the knob below the spool on the other side to tighten the backing paper. Continue rotating until the START arrow (not necessarily have START) appears on the new film side. This arrow will align with the red arrow on the magazine. This completes the film installation.

Reinstall Magazine Insert

When reinstalling please note the position of the magazine insert knob. Need to tighten the backing paper clamping mechanism so the magazine insert can be installed into the magazine. After installing, turn the knob back to original position to complete magazine insert installation.

Hasselblad magazine needs to pre-roll film to the last frame. Can be understood as Hasselblad magazine starts shooting from the last frame. Therefore need to rotate the crank on the other side of magazine until the number 1 appears in the small window at the bottom left of magazine.

Finally install the magazine back to the body and can start shooting. Remember to confirm the body is already cocked when installing back to body, otherwise installing magazine then cocking will make film shoot one less frame.

Remember to pull out magazine dark slide when shooting, otherwise shutter cannot be pressed.