Hasselblad Single Exposure Back.

[Daniel Unkefer]

Hello All,

Going through my Hasselblad tubs of misc equipment in my studio, I came across the parts for the Single Exposure Back system. I have the Plate Holder (which fits on the camera body), six film holders, and the special Scissors for cutting the sheet film. I opened all the holders (one had a piece of film in it!) and blew out the dust.

Defrosting an old sheet box of Ilford HP-5 (not HP-5+!), which I will cut up and load into the film holders. I must say the Hasselblad precision on these holders is -amazing-. Also the 500C/M with folding hood, and plate holder, and six plates, takes up very little room! I will also use the knob with the Gossen Meter in it. Beautiful little package, very compact for carrying around with the 80mm T* black Planar.

I enjoy view camera photography, so this will be an interesting experience. I like the slowness of the entire process, to get one -perfect- negative is the goal. I am presently looking for the old Nikor Cut Film Tank, I think this is my best bet, for film processing the 6x6 cut film. Is there a better daylight tank made for 6x6 cut film?

Anybody out there ever use this part of the Hasselblad system? Anybody have any literature on this? Thanks! -Dan

 

[polypal]

This film holder is quite popular with people who are into astronomy.
They tend to use special emulsions and expose quite long time.

I found a couple of these film backs brand new and never thought somebody would be interested.

It is a scarce accessory.

 

[Daniel Unkefer]

Yes I have alot of interesting emulsions, in varying sizes, in my deepfreeze, which could be cut to fit the film holders. Tri-X Ortho, Ilford Commercial, Professional Copying Film, High Speed Infared, Kodalith, Tech Pan, etc etc etc.

Some of those could be used in Astronomy.

 

[Daniel Unkefer]

What I need, in order to make this project viable, is a NIKOR CUT FILM TANK. This will hold the 6x6 cut films, and allow easy, even daylight development. I have one on my radar screen, right now.

If the special Hasselblad Scissors were made only to cut 6x9 sheet film, that is still OK. I loaded up on Efke PL100 in 6x9 cm size, so I can easily cut that, with the scissors.

I have six of the Hasselblad Cut Film Holders, I may want more, once I find out how many films will fit in the NIKOR at a go.

Another fun project.

 

[Daniel Unkefer]

Here are the Parts, Laid-Out for this Project

Hasselblad Single Exposure Back, Six Hasselblad Film Holders, Special Hasselblad Scissors for 6x9 Cutfilm, 300 exposures of ADOX PL100 6x9 Sheet Film, and 25 exposures of J&C Classic 200 6x9 Sheet Film (probably FOMA200?).

Still looking for a Nikor cutfilm tank. Can use regular plastic Vue-All pages to hold the finished negatives.

 

[Daniel Unkefer]

OK Some Progress Today.

Today I cracked open a 25 sheet box of fresh Efke PL-100 B&W 6x9cm sheet film. Using the Hasselblad Scissors, I trimmed down seven sheets of PL-100, and loaded them successfully, into my seven Hasselblad Single Sheet Holders. It's a very precise operation, very easy to do, and proceeds very quickly.

Why bother with all this you may ask, why not use Hasselblad Digital? Because I am used to the Zen-like experience of using the View Camera, and not racking off forty or fifty exposures, in order to end up with one. A good exercise would be, to take one plate holder, and go off for the afternoon. Make that one, the best that it can be, that is the mindset.

Plus I think it is fun to use such an obscure accessory, and produce something worthy, with it. It is a hoot.

-Dan, there are others who use this equipment, there is competition for it on Ebay. I would like to see their photographs, taken with this stuff. Seems to be alot of interest in Japan.

 

[polypal]

Sheet film and this film holder are often used by guys who are into astronomy.

They have all the time in the world and use these holders for special film only available as sheets.


Paul

 

[Daniel Unkefer]

More Progress on This Project

I have picked up a few more #51012 Hasselblad Sheet Film Holders. Nine of them have been now loaded with Efke PL100 B&W film, three more are now on their way to me, for a total of twelve holders. Enough for a decent afternoon's shooting. Also the max capacity of the Nikor tank.

I took one holder out with 500C/M 80mm Planar and Yes, it is quite interesting to restrict oneself to just one frame, to make it the best it can be. I did expose the plate, and had alot of fun in the process. Like a little hand-holdable view camera.

The Nikor Subminiature Cut Film Tank is the answer to hassle-free multiple 6x6 sheet film processing. It holds twelve sheets of 6x9 cut film, or twelve sheets of 6x6 film, cut-down with the Hasselblad Scissors. It's an inversion tank, so should work very well for me. Will let you know.

Another fun project. Gotta love all the Hasselblad toys

 

[Daniel Unkefer]

Now I am Ready to Roll. Hasselblad 6x6 Sheet Film.

OK, now I ready to expose some 6x6 sheet film in my Hasselblad Film Holders. I now have twelve of them, enough to fill my New Nikor Tank, the film is held in place precisely with the "Nikor Subminiature Sheet Film Rack", which holds twelve sheets.

At this point, I have the 12 Hasselblad Sheet Film Holders loaded with EFKE PL100, which I precisely cut down, using the Hasselblad #41092 Film Cutter, in the dark. Freestyle Photo and B&H Photo still sell EFKE PL100 (I have 150 sheets at present) and EFKE PL50 6x9cm sheet film. B&H also sells EFKE PL25 in 6x9, so I think I will buy additional film from B&H. I've used PL100 in 4x5 in the past, I think I will develop the sheets in PMK+ Pyro Developer, that has worked very well for me. All I need now, is some warm, clear weather.

Here is the new Sheet Film Rack, with a piece of 6x6 sheet film, for practice loading. Also the twelve loaded Sheet Film Holders, ready to go:

 

[Daniel Unkefer]

Finally Processed Nine Sheets of 6x6 Film Today.

Finally tried out this equipment, today I processed nine sheets of 6x6 and 6x9 sheetfilm, and it worked well! I settled on using a 4-reel Nikor Tank, with two 35mm reels in the bottom, and put the Nikor Miniature Film Rack on top of that. So when I invert the tank, there is no banging around at all. Used Efke 100 and ADOX Borax MQ Developer, 12 min @ 20C. Negs look good, got some nice macros with my new 135mm F5.6 Planar-S on the correct Hasselblad Bellows. When the film is dry, I will make some scans. Also some exposures with the 80mm Planar (very compact arrangement!) and 30mm F3.5 C Distagon.

I like 6x6cm Cutfilm! I also have 6x9 Efke 25. Are other emulsions available in 6x9cm? I think maybe Fomapan??

 

[wbulte]

I like 6x6cm Cutfilm! I also have 6x9 Efke 25. Are other emulsions available in 6x9cm? I think maybe Fomapan??

Could be, but I was never very impressed by Fomapan. I used it exclusively to test equipment. Efke25 is *very* beautiful film in my eyes.

Wilko

 

[Daniel Unkefer]

I do have 25 sheets of J&C Classic 200 in 6x9cm, which I have been told is actually Fomapan 200. Haven't tried it yet, but I wasn't too impressed with 120 Fomapan, overall, so we will see.

I have read 9x12cm can be split in two, and yield two 6x9cm sheets. I see on Ilford's website, that Delta 100, FP4+, and HP5+ are available in 9x12cm. I do have 50 sheets of 9x12cm Efke 100 in my freezer, but that is also available in 6x9cm. I will have 250 sheets of Efke 25, when my backorder from Freestyle is filled.

So there are some additional options, besides cutting down 4x5", which would involve some major wasting of film.

Where are good sources in Europe to buy 9x12 cm sheetfilm? Specifically, Ilford and maybe Agfa??

 

[Daniel Unkefer]

Here is a Test of the Hasselblad Single Exposure Back.

Hasselblad 500C/M, 135mm F5.6 Planar-S on Hasselblad Bellows, Broncolor Hazylight (modeling light only) F22 at 1 minute exposure, Efke 100 6x6 cutfilm, developed in ADOX Borax MQ developer.

 

[Daniel Unkefer]

I can see that dust, dirt and fingerprints are more of a problem with the extra handling involving sheet film, versus roll film (I don't give it a thought to handling when using roll film).

I will have to be meticulous when making my next series of tests. Wash your hands with soap and water, and dry them thoroughly, when handling sheet film. And handle by the edges only.

I have and intend to still use 5x7, 4x5, and 8x10 cameras, so I am used to handling sheet film. Extra care is required with this smaller stuff.

I am encouraged by the results so far. I have another few images I can post later.

 

[Daniel Unkefer]

Here's Another 6x6 Cutfilm Scan.

Handheld Hasselblad 500C/M, 80mm F2.8 C T* Planar, Efke 100 6x6 cutfilm in Hasselblad Single Exposure Back. Processed in ADOX Borax MQ developer, scanned on Epson 4490.

This was a good year for apples, in our backyard.