I'm new to the forum and have a question...

[Darrell]

I've used Hasselblad gear since 1974, and still have every lens and camera I've ever bought. About two weeks ago I came across an incredible deal on a mint condition 555ELD and a 22MG Imacon 528c back with Image Bank. It's a bit awkward having a cable to the Image bank, but I'd wanted a digital back for a while and it looked too good to pass up. Everything seems to work fine. But the 555ELD instruction manual and the Imacon instruction manual are pretty light on how to connect the camera to the back without the cable between the lens and the Imacon back that I use when shooting with an ELM or CM camera. I know from Hasselblad literature that the ELD can shoot with no cable, and the camera seems to "talk" to the back so that when I push the "digital" shutter button on the 555 the back triggers an exposure, but the camera doesn't fire, so the back's just shooting without the camera firing and giving a black exposure. Any suggestions?

 

[fotografz]

I posted an answer to your PM, but will answer here also. I may be incorrect here as I haven't used a 555ELD for years, and never used a Ixpress 528c ... I had a 96c.

I now use a H2F with 39 Multi-Shot back in the studio.

Assuming your camera fires conventionally, does it work with the digital back when you use a sync cord from lens-to-back?

What setting have you selected in the digital back menu? When using a sync cord lens-to-back you have to select sync in the back's menu ... otherwise you have to select the camera model.

Isn't the 528c a Multi-Shot back? It is named 528 because it can capture up to a 528 meg un-interpolated file using a 4XRes module. The 555ELD is the perfect camera for this function. Very few digital cameras can outperform the 528c MS in the studio.

Let us know what happens.

-Marc

 

[Darrell]

555ELD and digital back question

Thanks Marc, The camera and back work if I use the "camera" shutter button and a sync cord from the lens to the back, but I'm trying to avoid the sync cord. The 528c has a setting for the 555ELD (and various other Hasselblad models). I have it set to the 555ELD setting.

When I put the shutter button on the 555ELD in the "dig" input (just above the "film" input for the shutter button), the back fires, but the camera doesn't. As a result I get just a black exposure on the back. I am pushing the shutter button in all the way.

Before I bought it, I took the 555ELD to Hasselblad (their NJ repair center is near me) and they said it was in great shape and checked out with no problems, but that was before I discovered it wouldn't fire in "dig" mode.

 

[fotografz]

I'm stumped. You seem to have all the settings correct.

Darrell, I'd just call Hasselblad and get a tech support person to speak to if possible.

In addition, if you are not already a member, join here and ask the questions: http://www.hasselbladdigitalforum.com

Tell Nick T that Marc Williams sent you. There are still photographers there using that combo if memory serves me ... but I'm not sure.

Now, for some odd reason, I vaguely recall having the same issue with my 96c on the 555ELD, but it was so long ago I can't remember if was that combination or not, nor whether it got solved. I do remember using the sync cord with the 555ELD ... but I think that was with a Kodak Proback which was my first Digital back for V cameras. I had a lot of issues with the sync cord method and 96c and ultimately got rid of it. I now use gold tipped sync cords from Paramount when shooting my backs on a Rollei Xact2.

-Marc