Hasselblad owners beware Palpas Coating Deterioration on 503CW Shutter Blinds and other late bodies

G

Guest

Guest
I discovered an issue with my negatives, I have a 500CM, 503CM and a SWC/M. Long story short, I tracked it down to the rear shutter blinds in the 503CW. They have a velvet type coating and it was separating from the shutter blinds every time the shutter was actuated, the particles stuck onto the film emulsion (I believe through static electricity) so every time an exposure was taken they were blocking light exposure. This resulted in negative marks, under serious scanning I noticed they were acting like small hairs blocking light. Because I have multiple backs that I use, I tracked it down to this body.
I have since cleaned this covering off the blinds and they now look the same as my 500CM has just metal. The problem has gone away immediately since removing this ridiculous fur, unfortunately it is also coating the interior of the body and showing the same separation but the clash of the blinds when they shut and depositing the fur on the emulsion has gone.
Just thought some of you out there would understand this issue.
 
This is a well-known problem with the "Palpas" coating used in late-model Hasselblad bodies. Use the search terms "Hasselblad", "Palpas", "cracks", "deterioration" etc and you'll find lots more.
 
I wanted to buy a 903swc but that has a "palpas" internal coating in the lens. would it affect the optics?
 
Well my SWC/M does not have the problem, I did not want the last two models of the series, both overpriced now.
 
Forgot to mention, it would not be a problem unless the glass was covered in the flecks but it would get onto the film and that would obviously give bad negatives, causing the problem like I had.
 
pushto1600 said:
I wanted to buy a 903swc but that has a "palpas" internal coating in the lens. would it affect the optics?
Click to expand...

Well, I wouldn't buy that model. Why buy a known problem? Get an older SWC. The lens, if anything, is better, anyhow. They had to redesign the one in the 903 to get rid of the lead in the glass, for environmental concerns.
 
If I am correct it was only the last, the 905 that has the glass chemistry changed, it was arsenic that was removed from the formula the 903 was still old style.
I went up to New York and looked at a new 903 but decided I would be better off getting a good used older one, my SWC/M is a magnificent camera absolutely magnificent, I never go on a vacation without it. The results are simply stunning in either color or black and white.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom