Picture of original Xpan quick release plate?

[wbulte]

I am planning to machine my own quick release plate for the original HB tripod quick release. From an old 500-series I have scrounged the stainless steel QR plate, I now plan to mill a aluminium spacer plate to fit between the camera and the stainless steel plate.

For inspiration purposes I am looking for some detailed pictures of the original HB QR plate for Xpan.

Can some kind soul post some please?

Wilko

 

[dneyhard]

Hi Wilko--

Hope that these pix will help. I don't have any fancy measuring tools but it appears like the thickness of the Xpan plate is approx. 4mm as opposed to the Standard plates approx. 3mm thickness. The length, width and shape of the Xpan plate is exactly the same as the Standard Plate. Of course the Xpan plate has the small tab on the end to match the depression in the camera bottom plate so that the plate will not turn while on the tripod.
Now if I can only remember how to attach these pictures to this message using the forums software.

 

[dneyhard]

Hi Wilko--

Hope that these pix will help. I don't have any fancy measuring tools but it appears like the thickness of the Xpan plate is approx. 4mm as opposed to the Standard plates approx. 3mm thickness. The length, width and shape of the Xpan plate is exactly the same as the Standard Plate. Of course the Xpan plate has the small tab on the end to match the depression in the camera bottom plate so that the plate will not turn while on the tripod.
Now if I can only remember how to attach these pictures to this message using the forums software.

Don

 

[ulrik]

Arggh, another rangefinder camera with off-center tripod mount. I hate that.

Ulrik

 

[wbulte]

Arggh, another rangefinder camera with off-center tripod mount. I hate that.

Ulrik

It is not too practical, I agree. The winders for my Pentax MX-s have the same problem. The camera itself has the mount centered.

Hmm... I did not know the Xpan QR plate was mounted under the camera at a 90degr angle compared to the 500 series. Food for thought, maybe I can create a plate that results in the balhead being centered under the lens.

Wilko

 

[wbulte]

I don't have any fancy measuring tools but it appears like the thickness of the Xpan plate is approx. 4mm as opposed to the Standard plates approx. 3mm thickness. The length, width and shape of the Xpan plate is exactly the same as the Standard Plate. Of course the Xpan plate has the small tab on the end to match the depression in the camera bottom plate so that the plate will not turn while on the tripod.

Today I acquired some aluminium blank to start working on.

Time to ask some additional questions:

- The small depression you refer to, is that the round hole, approx 2.5mm in diameter and approx 2cm from the tripod hole towards the latch of the film door?

- I assume the aluminium alloy has some rubber padding on it to avoid scratching the Xpan's bottom cover?

thanks,
Wilko

 

[dneyhard]

Hello Wilko--

Yes the round hole that you describe is the one that I am refering to and it has a matching pin on the quick release plate. There is No rubberized material on the plate, simply metal against metal.
If you look on ebay today by searching for Hasselblad Xpan you will find a quick release shoe for $75.00. Lookling at this item and the sellers heading it appears as though it may be meant for either the Xpan or the SWC replacement since I do not notice a matching pin to prevent spinning while on the tripod. You might be able to add a pin much easier than machining a complete coupling. Also the pictures show the part number 45148 which you may be able to cross reference with a Hasselblad catalog to verify that it is meant for the Xpan. The seller may be able to provide more information. Please let me know if you need additional information or if you need a more detailed picture in place of my earlier quick and dirty point & shoot pix.

Don

 

[terrydent]

That one on ebay is a Quick Coupler S. It allows use of the Tripod Quick Coupling S on 500 CM models. Also SWC models. The Xpan coupler is 44408 and has an off center mounting screw.

Terry

 

[wbulte]

Homegrown Xpan quickrelease

Today I got inspired and decided to try and make my own Xpan tripod quickrelease.

The result of my work is show in the pictures below. Keep in mind I am not a machinist, rather an electronics guy turned computer geek. Bloody amateur at work and all that

In contrast to the original plate mine does not have the index pin to prevent the plate rotating under the camera. Rather I milled a small ridge that aligns with the front of the camera. No way this one is ever going to rotate on me

I used a surplus stainless steel bajonet plate from a scrapped V-series body. Another small improvement (at least I think it is an improvement..) is the fact that the Allen-head bolt cannot get lost as it cannot get through the hole I drilled in the bajonet plate.

I plan to round-off the corners that protrude from underneath the camera, add some thin rubber to protect the Xpan's bottom plate and paint the hole thing flat black. Obviously the surface finish needs some sandpaper first.

The only thing I lack: a 3/16 Allen-head wrench. I was already lucky to find in my junkbox the 1/4" UNC Allen-head bolt. Getting imperial standard tools/bolts/etc here in (metric) the Netherlands is not easy.

• FUJIFILM - FinePix F610
• 7.7 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/105 sec
• Pattern
• Auto exposure
• ISO 400

• FUJIFILM - FinePix F610
• 7.7 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/170 sec
• Pattern
• Auto exposure
• ISO 400

• FUJIFILM - FinePix F610
• 7.7 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/70 sec
• Pattern
• Auto exposure
• ISO 400

• FUJIFILM - FinePix F610
• 7.7 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/420 sec
• Pattern
• Auto exposure
• ISO 400

• FUJIFILM - FinePix F610
• 7.7 mm
• ƒ/4
• 1/340 sec
• Pattern
• Auto exposure
• ISO 400

• FUJIFILM - FinePix F610
• 7.7 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/280 sec
• Pattern
• Auto exposure
• ISO 400

Wilko

 

[terrydent]

Nice work Wilko! You don't give your machinist skills enough credit!

Terry

 

[wbulte]

the finished product

Today I finished my tripod quickrelease plate. The sharp angular corners I ground to match the form of the camera.

For the curious: I covered the side of the plate in contact with the camera with thin rubber normally used to repair punctured bicycle tyres. One side of the rubber is red All in all it fits nicely and does the job perfectly

• FUJIFILM - FinePix F610
• 7.7 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/50 sec
• Pattern
• Auto exposure
• ISO 400

• FUJIFILM - FinePix F610
• 7.7 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/90 sec
• Pattern
• Auto exposure
• ISO 400

• FUJIFILM - FinePix F610
• 7.7 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/75 sec
• Pattern
• Auto exposure
• ISO 400

Thanks to Don for the pictures of the original plate!

Wilko

 

[dneyhard]

You could easily go into business producing these things. Looks nice and is heavy duty.

Don

 

[wbulte]

You could easily go into business producing these things. Looks nice and is heavy duty.

Don

Thanks Heavy duty it sure is. I guess it will be the last part standing if something truly bad were ever to happen to my Xpan (I sure hope I will never find out...).

Wilko