Photo: How to Load a Hasselblad Film Back
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- Опубліковано 8 лют 2025
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OK, I know there are several such videos on UA-cam. I hope mine is clear and close-up, by comparison. I wanted to round out my Hasselblad coverage, so here it is.
I watched the video without the sound so I'm not sure if it was mentioned. Anyways remember to cock the shutter before the back is attached. Otherwise camera will rewind your film to the next frame, wasting the first one.
No, I think I failed to mention that. It was never an issue for me because I always kept bodies and lenses cocked. Still, it’s a good pointer!
As someone who has owned a 500cm for several years, I have to keep coming back to this video to make sure I’m not loading it backwards… probably just means I don’t use my camera enough.
I've owned my 503CX for 13 years and I still need to occasionally reeducate myself on how to load the film. This is by far the best video I've seen. Thank you!
12 years later this is still the best video on the internet on how to load Hassy film. Thank you!
@@brianfulda I appreciate that. It is definitely an “evergreen” vid :-)
Wow....this video is over 10 years old but like a Hasselblad it is still relevant and mighty useful. Thanks for posting this.
I hope people keep shooting Hasselblads. They are one of the best systems out there, for sure.
Still a valuable resource years later. It had been a while and I needed a quick refresher, 👌
I love hearing that. Thanks for taking the time to comment!
I'm always very impressed by the design and engineering of Hasselblads; the film backs are a little marvel of their own. Hope to have one of these someday
I've watched this video a few times to load my first roll of film on a Hasselblad and I'm watching it again to load a second roll. This video is concise and easy to follow. Thanks for keeping this up after all these years!
I will leave this up forever. It is one of my most watched videos :-)
my first roll was loaded into my newly purchased Hasselblad thanks to you. other tutorials were not as good as yours.
I love hearing that. Thanks for taking the time to comment! Happy shooting 👍
This is the best how to load a Hasselblad video I have found.
This is best film loading video for this camera I have seen yet!
Thank you. I appreciate you taking the time to make your nice comment :-)
Thanks so much, we just found 2 bodies with several lenses at work that were used years ago and forgotten about, had to refresh my memory on the usage, your video was just what I needed, thank you....8 years later....but thank you just the same :)
Nils Granholm So glad it helped!
Thank you so much Mike! I have a Hasselblad that I've never used. So excited to actually shoot with it. Your video was great. Tammy
Glad to hear it!
Hey,
2 days ago I bought Hasselblad 500cm and I with your help I just loaded my first film!
@@MPala90 W00t! Congrats, and have fun!
I owned a 500 C/M over 20 years ago and knew its operation well. I just bought a replacement and needed a refresher course. Thanks! Oh, I also learned something I never knew as well. Good tutorial.
Markham White Glad my video was helpful. I have a tony of Hassy videos, in case you need other refreshers :-). Have fun with your new-old camera. Best camera ever.
Have watched this many times but it’s always a great reminder- very clear and very helpful
Thank you so much this tutorial. I need a refresher every now and then.
Mike, thank you for this quick and useful tutorial. Just bought my first 501c and your video is perfect for learning how to load. I'll shoot my first roll tomorrow morning. Hoping for good light.
Glad to hear it was useful. 🤞 for light.
Nicely done. I've seen pretty much every "how to load film" video regarding the Hasselblad, yet they never get boring. Makes me want to make one myself : )
Thank you that was super helpful. I just shot a roll of Tri-X with the film loaded backwards so I exposed a lot of pretty pictures onto black paper. Sigh. Now I refer to your video whenever I get this camera out. Cheers!
Thanks Mike. I just loaded my first roll of film into my Hassie back. Here we go!
Debi B 👍👍👍
Good job Mike it's all flooding back now after your help.
Great post, Mike! Thanks for the info and tips!
I referenced this video back in 2013. Found it again in 2021. Thanks for the help!
Thank for making this how to video, Mike. Just about to load my Hasselblad for the first time and I'm now glad I didn't just "do it".
Glad you found it. Loading a Hassy is an art, and you also have to hold your mouth the right way (I only had one camera, so no video of that).
BIG thanks for this, Mike. I actually inherited a 500C/M recently, and, being a lifelong 35mm devotee, hadn't handled anything medium-format in ages, so this came in quite handy.
This was great. I just loaded my first roll of 120 in my new 500c/m!!! :) You made it so incredibly easy. Thanks a bunch, Mike!
Congrats! You will be blown away by results from the Hasselblad.
You are super helpful. Helped my friend out so much! Now she knows how to load film on her Hasselblad!
Alexia Fernandez Glad my video was helpful. There's another one for what to do when you've shot all the frames.
Very good reminder indeed, thank you! I used Hasselblad 30 years ago when I was a student, had never used since ;-)
Thanks Mike! I haven't touched my HB in 3 years and needed a refresher in loading. Very useful indeed.
Glad it was helpful :-)
Thank you for the Hasselblad film magazine Loading! I have a couple of Hasselblads that I seldon use, so it was good to have a look at this small turorial!
Absolutely useful. And thanks for taking the time. I hadn't done it in so long, I had forgotten. But you know what? I've noticed that even my 20 megapixel Canon's images look "flat" compared to the 2 1/4". ALSO... Shooting with ektachrome, and then processing cibachrome (good luck finding anyone who knows how to do that correctly still) you will find that the surreal quality, the blue of the sky is SO REAL it's as freaky as watching a technicolor film...
Thank you again. I always watch your video before loading a film. Just in case.
Glad I watched this, I have a YashicaMat and the roll loads face down not face up. So, force of habit I loaded the hasselblad the same way and felt as if something looked horrible wrong. I watched this video, and saw the error of my ways. Thanks!
One LAst Thing... You may want to, since you have a knack for talking to the camera and explaining things... Maybe talk about switching back and forth in the midst of rolls being shot, and keeping the backs light-safe, efficiently swapping them out for one-another, and having a smooth shoot. Thanks again for the effort and patience,
Excellent tutorial video. Thank you. Tim.
This is great. Thanks. Well done and some really good “learned from experience” tips for me. I inherited a 500C and am testing to be sure it all works before I sell it. And I’m flat out lost.
I’m sure you will enjoy the camera. They are very well designed and the lenses are fantastic.
I hadn't loaded one in a while and this was most helpful. Thanks!
+Mrs. Joy's Absolutely Fabulous Treats Glad you found it helpful!
great video, the H system HM 16-32 loads simmilar, no silver tab, or winding knob,but has a captive crank-on\off style darkslide, you have to man-handle the takeup spool, but as soon as you switch on and hit the shutter it auto winds to frame one, there is even a darkslide shut warning on the body, a 6x4.5 format, but still a somewhat simple system, but with the H back it uses a cr2032 button cell battery (it does use the body battery-when ON the camera), but if you don't have this battery, you instantly lose the frame count\asa\data imprint and other settings, as this is 'stored' on the film mag's chip, and if you power it down (by taking the mag off), there goes the roll.
I just got a hasselblad and this was VERY helpful. Thank you
+macgruder Glad to hear it!
First, great video! One thing you may want to add: With the 500c (and I'm guessing the 500c/m), one must be sure that the body is cocked BEFORE attaching the back, otherwise, if you crank it after attaching the back, you will lose your first frame. I've been told later models don't have this issue.
Good point. I guess I was so used to keeping Hasselblads cocked at all times that it didn’t even occur to me to mention it! Thanks :-)
Thanks Fr.o.m. Sweden Gothenburg were The Camera Hasselblad was born!✨
Thanks Mike! Informative and to the point.
Thank you ! very useful !!! tomorrow I will get my first Hasselblad!! I’m so excited!!!!!
Great video Mike, very clear. I didn't know about the little progress bar, they really thought of everything didn't they.
@nige1rumsey Glad you think so, Nigel. Yes Hasselblad seem to have bought of everything. Of all the camera systems I've shot, the Hasselblad is the best thought-out system of them all, and is incredibly versatile. I mean, consider that your can plug a modern 40+ megapixel back onto a 50 year-old camera.
Hi. Yes, it's just a regular 120 film spool from any roll of film. Once you have one, it will become the take-up spool for your first roll of film, and will be turned in with your film to be developed (and you'll use the now-empty one) for the next roll. If you have a photo shop nearby, I'll bet they can give you one.
Thanks !It's all very clear to me now.Just shot my first film with a Hasselblad !Yeahhh.
An excellent demo, thank you
Glad you found it useful!
I've shot quite a few rolls through mine and never noticed the red progress indicator! Thx!
@fvgotch It all depends upon the camera or back you're shooting, and its format. 8 frames of 6x9, 12 frames of 6x6, 16 frames of 6x4.5, etc. Hasselblad backs indicate the number of frames in the back type: A12 gives you 12 (square) frames, A16 gives you 16.
@nige1rumsey Yeah, when I've bothered to look I've noticed it isn't a perfect match from frame # to the progress indicator. Not sure why you aren't seeing *anything*, though. Seems like if your frame counter is working, the progress bar would probably be. You might want to see whether it turns red when you unload it.
This is so clear and helpful. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for your comment :-)
Hey, that's really great to hear! Glad you found it useful.
@The1970sInfatuate Actually I wonder if you meant to ask this question on the instant film video (?). If so, the camera used there is a 500c/m. You can't use the Polaroid back on a 2000FCW -- it will damage the shutter.
it was very useful for me. Yesterday I have bought a Hasselblad 500 CM
+Jaap Hofman Congrats!
Very useful, greetings from Barcelona!
Good on ya mate! ....put my first one on back to front, now I know Thanks!
Thank you! Very good explained. Maybe make another video on how to unload?
thanks, there were a couple of features that I was not aware of so that was great to know.
+Pat Colgate Glad you found the vid useful.
terrific video. verrrrry helpful. signed, missingthefabshotsitookhavingloadedtheHasselbladwrong !
thanks, I've just shoot about 3 rolls in my 500 EL/M and had some problems with first image being cut. It happened that I didn't know you have to alling the red arrow with the arrow in the backing paper.
Thank you great information on the Hasselbald.
Just loaded my first roll of Portra! Awesome!
The Hasselblad magazine is a model of efficiency and ensures perfect tension and flatness of the film, as on the Linhof Roll film back. This is one of the secrets of the famous Hasselblad sharpness.
Thanks a lot! any ideas on where to get a cheap waist level finder? the prism 45 degree I have makes it really hard to see if image is in fact in focus or not...
also a special warning for the "12-on" backs (not the ones with A12 on it), you have to do the same things, but red window set the number one frame, but the real catch is you must 'ARM' the counter by rotating the windind knob the other way, it clicks to number one, then you are ALL SET to go, and "wind_off" as normal, only the wind-ON is the sticky part.
Very well explained and demonstrated. So helpfu. Thank you!
Glad to hear it. Thanks for your comment!
Glad you liked it!
Brilliant Thanks...loaded my first roll backwards...!
I'm sure you aren't the first. Happy shooting!
Thank you for the great and simple tutorial! Helped alot ;)
Glad it helped! Thanks for taking the time to comment :-)
Thank you for this, from South Africa.
Thank you for an excellent review.
Great video and very helpful
Great video. Do the lens/body need to be cocked when attaching the film back?
This was reeeeaaally helpful! Thank you…
Thanks! Very useful and up to the point.
Glad to be of help. Signed, dontworryaboutiteveryonehasbotchedatleastonefilmload.
@The1970sInfatuate The backs are identical between the two bodies, 500c/m and 2000FCW.
Probably a stupid question I got my first Hasselblad 500cm camera and when I was about to load film into back I noticed that there is no take up spool... is this a normal film spool and I should just waste 1 120mm roll take the film of the spool and use it? or is it a special kind of spool different from a 120mm film spool ? Its my first analog camera Im mostly a digital fellow trying to switch analog! bear with me here thank you all...
Thx, Excellent video, very useful
Can't have too many "how to load" Hassy videos :-)
Thank you very much for your videos!!
Thank you for your kind comment :-)
@mathomas1962 I heard you say that in the video. I was just wondering why the exposure didn't fill up the entire space on the print. That seems weird to have all the black space, and only the top corner contains the image.
hi there. loved your video! i recently took my 500c out, cleaned out the mirror etc. ready to go. question for you; i loaded my film, all is well i have the first frame in the window and the white dot, took it out took a few shots all is well but the red progress bar isn’t showing up in the opposite side of the magazine.., any idea? the frame numbers are themselves going up normally as i am at 7 out of twelve but no progression of the red ..
Hmm, not too sure about that. Perhaps that part of the mechanism is not working on that particular back? No idea really. Hopefully things are advancing fine and you’ll just have to live without the progress bar 🤷🏻♂️
One question: if you have the red indicator , can you shoot? If so, how so multiple exposure is made in a Hasselblad 500 cm ? Do not have to be white to white , it is white ( in the body ) to red (on chassis ) ? Thank you!
+Daniel Gil As I understand it, to do multiple-exposure with the V-Series, you take your first frame, then remove the back and wind only the body, and take the next shot.
Thank you for the tutorial! I've never used Hasselblad before and it was the first time I've tried to load film into it with your tutorial. However I've missed that little detail that the metal plate shouldn't have been removed when winding the film, I just didn't think about it so I winded 10 turns to the frame 1. Does it mean that now my entire roll got exposed or just the beginning of the roll? Thank you!
If you wound it to frame 1 with the back mounted on the camera, you’re probably OK due to the rear shutters in the body. Any other possiblity will probably result in at least some leaks on the next frame, and maybe the next (?) I’d just shoot this roll on non-critical stuff while you’re learning the camera, if I were you.
@@mike.thomas Thank you very much!
Too cool! Post a link to your photos here, or do a video response.
Great video
@kylehazachode Hehe. Thanks for the heads-up. It's a typo. I'll fix it.
Hey everything worked, until the part where it needs to stop by it self. I kept on turning and Its already showing me the number 4? did is miss something or didn't load the film right?
7 seconds is what it would take be to load one and i remember as an assistant my mind was tuned to 12 frames. You always knew when to be beside the camera with the dark slide ready to change backs.
Wow, that’s cool! I certainly could never do it in 7 seconds, but time was never of the essence, like with a pro.
@mathomas1962 I've just been to look at the progress bar on my camera and although I've taken 6 shots it hasn't moved. I don't suppose it matters too much, but it's a shame never-the-less.
This system was devised by a sadist. The fact that I finally accomplished it a few months ago (and didn't load the camera since), and the fact that I have the manual and illustrations in front of me, meant nothing, I still had to study this video. So, many thanks. Perhaps part of the Hassy mystique is you have to do all this nonsense when for decades cameras have been self-loading. And I am not so idiotic as to think this camera will make me a better photographer -- I just love cameras.
I’m not defending Hasselblad, but I think you’ll find that any replaceable-back system developed in the 40s-60s will have similar loading characteristics. 120 film is never as easy to load as cartridge film at least in the cameras I’ve shot.
I’d like to humbly submit that I think your Hasselblad might actually make you a better photographer, although I’m in no position to judge your current status. Shooting square, using a handheld meter, using EV settings rather than shutter/aperture, shooting more slowly and thoughtfully, for me all contributed to more knowledge, more care, and I think ... better shooting. The same growth happened again when I started shooting large format, and if you’ve not loaded large format carriers in the dark and taken photos that cots $1 or more per shot then you’re really missing out :-).
Thanks for this video!!!
thank you so much easy to use
Thank you, very clear!
+Pier Luigi Giraudi Good to hear. Thanks for the comment.
one warning, the INSTANT the frame counter passes 1 the film crank on the back is able to turn again, like the mamiya RB67 and others, but without the interlock switch!, so ONLY use the BODY winding knob until the film's end!!; then use the winding knob to wind off the tail end of the backing paper to safety the film roll.
So helpful! 🙏🏽