Hasselblad Light Seals, Fixing Light Leaks || How To

[@mattilatoni]

Remember that even with top condition seals, the dark slide can still cause a light leak if removed from the cassette in strong sunlight. It's a very reflective piece of metal.

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Thanks for sharing this info Toni!!!

[@moizmughal821]

How to avoid that ? I’ve been getting a few light leaks on my photos from shooting outdoors as opposed to indoors

[@fiuttello]

@@moizmughal821 "Paint It Black" 😁

[@danielesabbatanipinder4603]

My camera repair man asked me 50 Euro to change the light seal on each magazine. I paid 18 Euro for two kits and thanks to you I saved 82 Euro. Thank you !!! TOP 💯

[@JMaxwell1000]

Fantastic! Thank you so much for this video. Super-informative - no cheap background music, no frills, no gimmicks - just the BEST information out there. You've just saved me several hundred dollars with this great instructional video. WOW!

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Thanks Joe! Got to try and keep it simple and easy.

[@vadimtayts539]

Unbelievably how such a video comes in just in time

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Im glad its good timing!

[@jaywesselink8709]

A tip I learned regarding Hasselblad dark slide insertion is if you insert the darkslide with the rolled edge facing the camera body the film insert can be pulled out and put back in without interference from the darkslide rolled edge.

[@Photinos]

Hi Nico, excellent video to change the light traps in the roll holder, I have done it in several. I recommend removing the curtain when it is not used frequently to avoid sticking and disintegrating materials with time. Greeting.

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Thanks Pablo, note taken!

[@johnpeterson7264]

Great video thanks for posting ! I am just getting into the 500 system and would be interested in more discussion about maintenance and repair of these older cameras

[@DerGeileEisbaer]

When changing seals I use a tiny strip of double sided tape to stick the foam to that plastic seal. Makes life a little easier when putting it all back together ;)

[@Martin_Siegel]

If I may contradict: Phillips head is crossed. Excellent video, BTW. Thanks for putting that online.

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Thanks, I always get them wrong. I need a rule to remember the exact one ;)

[@Martin_Siegel]

@@NicosPhotographyShow If it has a fancy name it is not straight ;-)

[@jaywesselink8709]

I magnetized my screw driver with a screw driver magnetizer from the hardware store. That said, the second magazine made in 1983 that I did today had probably brass screws rather than steel so the magnet didn’t work for those screws. The magazine made in 1971 has steel screws so I could enjoy the magnetic driver.

[@tuttebenne1]

Actually they are NOT all the same size screws. Early backs had one long screw; the rest were the same. Its important to get the long screw back into the correct location so it should be marked accordingly. Also, to help with your "screwdriver dyslexia" (just an attempt at humor) The Japanese call them Positive and Negative screwdrivers. If you look at the tip you will see why. Philips=positive. Great video.

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Thats good to know. I guess its easy to notice if you are doing it yourself.

[@thedondeluxe6941]

I've done this myself. One of the few repairs I dare to do at home. Careful with the spring loaded parts, they spring😄

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Same here, Im scared to try more.

[@crissignori7482]

Fantastic instructional video !!! Much appreciated. Thank you

[@Murgoh]

Excellent tutorial, I'm going to need this information as the magazine of my Kiev 88 has a small light leak (does not affect pictures in normal conditions but when I tested it by flashing it multiple times with a studio flash I managed to get some artifacts on a unexposed frame) so I got myself a seal kit. Haven't gotten to replacing it yet though as it's still not critical.

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Thanks!

[@milandragojlovich5500]

Great explanation! Informative, clearly presented…thank you…

[@bicycle551]

Caution Will, he doesn' know the difference between a phillips head and flat blade screwdriver. Don't let him work on your equipment. Lost in Space Episode 42. Very helpful vid. Thanks

[@OttomanPhotography]

Great tutorial … thank you so much for this ☺️

[@kenklontz1945]

Nice job thanks

[@JMaxwell1000]

Agreed! Nico has THE BEST videos related to photography. I never miss his shows.

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Thanks!

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Thats very of you Joe! I try my best

[@jiml989]

Very helpful. 2 Questions: Where do you get the small adhesive strip? Recommendation on screw drive size/brand?

[@the_last_rangefinder_society]

Thanks, really useful

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Glad it was helpful!

[@theoldfilmbloke]

Talking about 'Honeymoon' -- in 1985 I went to 22 other members of the Pentax Club of Great Britain to EGYPT with Wife Number 2 on 'Honeymoon' . On the Nile Cruise trip I got Dysentery so did not feel 'Romantic' lying in bed for a couple of days !

[@Igarpe]

Hey Nico, another nice educational video. Thank you for this one. I would love to see a similar one to seal light leaks from pinpoint holes in regular bellows. I ask cause I´ve bought a spare regular bellow from Ebay for my Arca Swiss F Line 171x171mm but I spotted some tiny tiny pinpoint light leaks with a torche inside in my dark closet. Not sure if this is an issue to really worry about and if I can fix these. Muchas gracias! Salu2. Ignacio

[@terrywbreedlove]

With the lens opens all the way up my Hasselblad 503 CW will not focus out say 60 feet to infinity. Stop it down and it does look focused on the screen. The focusing screen is on correctly but if I put it in upside down it does look focused. Crazy thing

[@gregbrophy]

Unfortunately the kit that you link to does not include the thin seal for the other side, just the mylar and foam.

[@ginovairo6487]

Excellent video Nico. An essential skill for any Hasselblad film camera owner. I have bought light seals from the same place you recommend and they are very good. Just one thing though they haven’t come with the self adhesive felt “ribbon” you also replaced. Do you change it every time you replace the light seals?

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Thanks Gino, I would change it if you see its deteriorated.

[@Pumpcity27]

Have you ever had the foam sticker fail immediately after replacement? I just tried my first replacement and the dark slide pushed the foam right off on first use.

[@matthewharting3390]

I have been ramping up to use my Hasselblad again, and have come across quite a few of your video. You are very knowledgeable and thorough. Thank you very much for your content. Quick question was the top strip of film included in the light seal repair kit you have listed?

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Thanks Matthew, I listed the only one I found on Ebay, but its the one I used in this video.

[@CarlosReyes-wh2ii]

Muy didáctico. Gracias

[@thewhiteapparation]

Super helpful!

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Glad it was helpful!

[@user-ss6zt2mo1l]

I need to do mine. I bought them direct from Hasselblad in NYC. Big $.

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

The originals have to be a nicer fit for sure.

[@user-ss6zt2mo1l]

Nicos Photography Show we will see :)

[@user-ss6zt2mo1l]

Nicos Photography Show I just posted in the comments about a place for the Bronica SQ film lightseal. I also sent you a message on Twitter about them.

[@ej-vi]

hi nico anywhere trusted you know where i can get a dark slide for my hasselblad 500cm i followed your light leak link ill trust your judgment thank you again for this awesome video

[@DAWH95]

Eerie timing considering I just bought 2 C12 magazines that had broken light seals for cheap.

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Nice! Hope you get them up and running

[@wv_]

Great video. I found a 645 type ii back in rough condition for a good price that is generally OK but there is a light leak between the rollers on the border of the frame that sit between the body and the film. This creates lines outside of the frame. Is there a way to replace the seals that cover the gap?

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

All the leaks as far as I know happen in the seal that I changed. Start there and see if it works for you, if not send in for a repair if possible.

[@jaywesselink8709]

Somehow I missed the resource to purchase the light seal materials. Can you help me out please?

[@mickeyaloisio7300]

Hi Nico, I was following along with the video and I replaced the light seal just fine. However, I removed the 'texture strip' from the top plate before realizing that my light seal replacement actually didn't come with this added strip. Is it still going to work even without the texture strip, is this strip just for extra protection, or am I doomed? Please let me know. Thank you!

[@tomschelling6814]

This same thing happened to me as I was doing the repair today. Did you ever figure out what the next steps should be?

[@jaywesselink8709]

Nico, thanks for this tutorial. The resource for the replacement light seals does not include the self adhesive narrow strip. Do you have a resource for that? I did two Hasselblad Film magazines today, YAY! But I was careful not to touch the old self adhesive strip since I haven’t found replacements yet. Thanks again.

[@mickeyaloisio7300]

Any luck with this?

[@The8TrackChap]

Where can you find replacement light seals for Bronica SQ film backs?

[@Igarpe]

Good question. I´be interested as well

[@milesmetcalfe94]

From looking at my sq back, I would suggest you might be able to just use for generic light seal foam there only appears to be one bit of foam at the top. And you can get sheets of foam on eBay and the such.

[@user-ss6zt2mo1l]

I have a source for Bronica SQ film back seals. Please Contact: Jon Goodman [e-mail] He can make you the film back seal. If you are not in North America the shipping will be higher. He is in Texas.

[@1911geek]

Backs which are put to work will wear that's all

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Oh yeah, they are tools, I don't expect no maintenance on a camera.

[@1911geek]

@@NicosPhotographyShow yes 5 backs 3-4 contracts per week charged batteries after each shoot ice chest for film. Life was healthy and hustle to make a dollar. Those were the days...

[@philippedagau6428]

Thank's to you, i replace it with you :-)

[@CertainExposures]

But light leaks add more T O N E S 🌈. (Nice video).

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Tonez for dayz