Hasselblad will not repair 110/2.0 FE lens

[calico]

So my 110/2.0 FE lens's aperture blades are stuck at 2.0. Again.

This is the third time. First time, Hasselblad in NJ had technician there fix (don't remember the year, maybe 2010). The second time (2013), they had to send to Sweden to be repaired because previous technician not there anymore. He didn't want to move when the company became Hasselblad Bron and moved to new location.

Each repair cost about $500. When I saw blades were stuck again, I told myself, I'm not spending another $500 for repair. Then I faced the reality of not being able to use at any aperture other than 2.0.

So I tried to find web site/contact info for Hasselblad Bron. There is a web address but when you go there, you get message saying "this account has been suspended."

Found web site which is just Hasselblad, no "Bron". All about digital Hasselblads. No physical address at site, as far as I can tell. Emailed the support email address. Was told no one there, NOR anyone in Sweden could repair the lens. They don't know who could.

Totally sucks. This lens is even hard to find for sale anywhere.

Anyone know if this lens specifically needs a Hasselblad-experienced person? Or could I trust anyone who works on lenses to work on it?

Thanks.

 

[BrianShaw]

There are independent Hasselblad trained/experienced repair shops; have you talked to any of them?

That’s a very sad (and expensive) story you are telling. Hope you get it fixed!

 

[calico]

There are independent Hasselblad trained/experienced repair shops; have you talked to any of them?

That’s a very sad (and expensive) story you are telling. Hope you get it fixed!

No, I haven't. The only one I'm aware of is David Odess, and he doesn't work on 200 series equipment. I wouldn't use him anyway because of the smoking issue (equipment comes back smelling of cigarette smoke).

I saw someone here recommended Mr. Park at Camera Service Pro in Atlanta for Hasselblad repair.

If anyone else recommends them or has other suggestions, I'd love to hear. Thanks.

 

[BrianShaw]

Another to consider is Steve’s Camera Repair in Culver City, CA. They have a long history with Hassy repair but I haven’t talked to them in a long time so not too sure what their status might be.

 

[Photomultiplier]

Hello

Do you know what was the cause for the stuck aperture?
A few weeks ago i was talking to my technician about some typical issues and he mentioned that in the FE lenses there is a plastic ring on the center housing which acts as a bearing for the inner aperture ring and this plastic ring cracks almost invisibly (shrinkage and ageing) and due to friction,
the ring stops moving. It took him some serious amount of head scratching until he found it because the part looks fine but isn't. (Unfortunately we are in Europe, but at least the problem sounds similar and as far as i know, it was possible to fix it)

Chris

 

[calico]

By the way, when the blades got stuck the second time, I did some research and read that a certain number of the 110/2.0 lenses (manufactured during a certain period of time?) had something about them that made them prone to stuck apertures. I can't remember the details now, and I don't think I saved the info. I asked the woman I was dealing with at Hasselblad Bron if my lens was one of those. She said no, but I don't think she really knew. She was just the administrative assistant, and it didn't appear she asked the technician in Sweden.

 

[rcap]

Their website says they can provide repair estimates for XPan, V System, H System body and lenses. Below is their USA contact info.

USA
HASSELBLAD INC: SERVICE CENTER
1080A Garden State Road
Union, NJ 07083
USA
PHONE
+1-800-367-6434
FAX
+1-973-227-1063

support.us@hasselblad.com

 

[calico]

Hello

Do you know what was the cause for the stuck aperture?
A few weeks ago i was talking to my technician about some typical issues and he mentioned that in the FE lenses there is a plastic ring on the center housing which acts as a bearing for the inner aperture ring and this plastic ring cracks almost invisibly (shrinkage and ageing) and due to friction,
the ring stops moving. It took him some serious amount of head scratching until he found it because the part looks fine but isn't. (Unfortunately we are in Europe, but at least the problem sounds similar and as far as i know, it was possible to fix it)

Chris

Hi Chris. That's interesting. I don't know the cause of the stuck aperture. Is what you're talking about INSIDE the lens? I haven't had anyone take the lens apart yet. Thanks.

 

[calico]

Another to consider is Steve’s Camera Repair in Culver City, CA. They have a long history with Hassy repair but I haven’t talked to them in a long time so not too sure what their status might be.

Thanks, Brian, I'll check them out.

 

[calico]

Their website says they can provide repair estimates for XPan, V System, H System body and lenses. Below is their USA contact info.

USA
HASSELBLAD INC: SERVICE CENTER
1080A Garden State Road
Union, NJ 07083
USA
PHONE
+1-800-367-6434
FAX
+1-973-227-1063

support.us@hasselblad.com

That's who I emailed today, and they said they and no one in Sweden can work on the lens.

 

[rcap]

That's who I emailed today, and they said they and no one in Sweden can work on the lens.

Got it, hopefully you'll be able to find a repair person to fix it.

 

[Photomultiplier]

Hi Chris. That's interesting. I don't know the cause of the stuck aperture. Is what you're talking about INSIDE the lens? I haven't had anyone take the lens apart yet. Thanks.

Yes, he even showed me the parts. Looked similar to the "tube" around which the shutter mechanism is built in the leaf shutter lenses. There was a narrow ring of plastic pressed over the tube and on this ring glides the internal aperture ring.
As far as i know, when you press the lever to stop down the lens, this internal ring is released and turns until it reaches the aperture set by the external aperture ring.
The crack was visible, but only if one knew what to look for...

Chris

 

[calico]

Yes, he even showed me the parts. Looked similar to the "tube" around which the shutter mechanism is built in the leaf shutter lenses. There was a narrow ring of plastic pressed over the tube and on this ring glides the internal aperture ring.
As far as i know, when you press the lever to stop down the lens, this internal ring is released and turns until it reaches the aperture set by the external aperture ring.
The crack was visible, but only if one knew what to look for...

Chris

Hmm. I hope that isn't the problem, as that would require new part from Hasselblad, which they probably don't have. I'm hoping it's just that the blades need to be cleaned. Thanks for this info, though, maybe I should mention to whoever I send the lens to for repair.

 

[calico]

When I was looking for my info about 110/2.0 lenses with faulty parts (?), I found this post which I had saved, probably from photo.net. Makes me think the first time the aperture blades got stuck was in 2009, and I had been inquiring about it. Post is by Q.G. de Bakker. Makes some interesting points about the 110/2.0.

Q.G. de Bakker , Aug 05, 2009

This particular aperture problem (damaged, not dirty blades) can only be repaired using undamaged blades, of course. It can be prevented by doing what the service info says: replace (preferably all) aperture blades.

But I wouldn't worry about it too much. It is something that might happen, but not not something that must happen with any pre-1994 110 mm lens. Check the blades the way the Service Info describes, and if they are fine, they are fine. ;-)

The diaphram mechanism of the 110 mm lens in particular (the 150 mm too) is rather complicated, and is more likely to fail than that in other Zeiss lenses. This is due mostly to the large size of the opening, i.e. the little room left for the mechanism in the lens.
The 110 mm has a 'double' diaphragm, with more blades than usual. And that too doesn't help to make it more robust.
And yes, I have had troubles with the apertures in both f/2 110 and f/2.8 150 mm lenses. Both needing repairs (the 110 mm more than once).
Repair wasn't cheap...

 

[RalphLambrecht]

So my 110/2.0 FE lens's aperture blades are stuck at 2.0. Again.

This is the third time. First time, Hasselblad in NJ had technician there fix (don't remember the year, maybe 2010). The second time (2013), they had to send to Sweden to be repaired because previous technician not there anymore. He didn't want to move when the company became Hasselblad Bron and moved to new location.

Each repair cost about $500. When I saw blades were stuck again, I told myself, I'm not spending another $500 for repair. Then I faced the reality of not being able to use at any aperture other than 2.0.

So I tried to find web site/contact info for Hasselblad Bron. There is a web address but when you go there, you get message saying "this account has been suspended."

Found web site which is just Hasselblad, no "Bron". All about digital Hasselblads. No physical address at site, as far as I can tell. Emailed the support email address. Was told no one there, NOR anyone in Sweden could repair the lens. They don't know who could.

Totally sucks. This lens is even hard to find for sale anywhere.

Anyone know if this lens specifically needs a Hasselblad-experienced person? Or could I trust anyone who works on lenses to work on it?

Thanks.

contact Carl Zeiss in Germany. They fixed mine for $50; but they will not touch it if replacement parts are required!

 

[AgX]

https://www.zeiss.de/consumer-products/service/reparaturen/fotoobjektive.html

 

[calico]

contact Carl Zeiss in Germany. They fixed mine for $50; but they will not touch it if replacement parts are required!

Wow, $50? I guess they would have to take apart in order to see if parts needed. Would be worth cost of shipping to them if there is even possibility they could repair (w/o new parts) for low cost. Thank you so much.

 

[calico]

https://www.zeiss.de/consumer-products/service/reparaturen/fotoobjektive.html

Unfortunately, neither of my browsers will let me go to this site, or any zeiss.com site ("your connection is not private").

 

[AgX]

Well, it says that Zeiss still repair "some" of their old lenses.

(In cases where I encountered such browser warning, the browser offered some way to overrun his blocking and enter such website nonetheless.)

 

[calico]

Well, it says that Zeiss still repair "some" of their old lenses.

(In cases where I encountered such browser warning, the browser offered some way to overrun his blocking and enter such website nonetheless.)

I will try again to get into their site and contact them. Thank you very much!

 

[gone]

Maybe try clearing your cache and cookies. I was able to get to that website w/ both Brave and Chrome browsers. I get that message about site security on my phone sometimes, but the laptop never does that.

 

[calico]

Maybe try clearing your cache and cookies. I was able to get to that website w/ both Brave and Chrome browsers. I get that message about site security on my phone sometimes, but the laptop never does that.

Tried with Chrome and Safari. Will try emptying cache. Thanks.

 

[shutterfinger]

Firefox 91.0.2 opens the link without any security warnings. Firefox does block some sites but I can Accept the Risk and continue.
Frequently such blocking is due to the sites security certificate.

 

[calico]

Firefox 91.0.2 opens the link without any security warnings. Firefox does block some sites but I can Accept the Risk and continue.
Frequently such blocking is due to the sites security certificate.

That worked! Thanks.

I even saw how to view the site in English. I will send them message asking if they will work on my lens.

Thanks everyone for helping! Will let you know what happens.

 

[calico]

From the German Zeiss site, in section where you select what kind of equipment you want repaired. They say they won't work on Hasselblad lenses. I'll write and see who they have on their list for independent shops in US who might work on the lens.

Other (former ZEISS Lenses)

Legacy lenses and cameras (e.g. Hasselblad, Contax/Yashica, Rollei, Carl Zeiss Jena, Zeiss Ikon AG Stuttgart…) can unfortunately no longer be repaired by ZEISS.

Some independent specialist workshops offer maintenance and repair services for these products. On request, we would be pleased to send you a list of several workshops in Germany and the USA who may be still able to repair your lens or camera (please take advantage of our contact form). Please understand that we have no influence on either the quality of any repairs carried out or the pricing policies of independent workshops. It is also quite possible that the repair of such legacy equipment may no longer be possible due to the lack of replacement parts.

It is also possible that your photographic equipment dealer may be able to recommend service workshops in your region or country for the repair of your legacy equipment.

https://www.zeiss.com/consumer-products/int/service/repairs/photo-lenses.html