Hasselblad FlexBody User Guide
Contents
1. When tilting the top of back away from the lens as in fig 5 the correction screens should be inserted from the right side of the focusing screen adapter with the inscription visible when viewed from behind the camera However when tilting the top of the back towards the lens as in fig 6 the correction slides should be inserted from the left side of the focusing screen adapter with the inscription visible when viewed from behind the camera In both cases the correct screen is chosen according to the amount of tilt applied Correction Screen 10 For use when the angle of tilt is greater than 10 but Jess than 20 Correction Screen 20 For use when the angle of tilt is greater than 20 Basic Operation With the lens and the focusing screen adapter attached to the FlexBody the combination becomes a complete camera It be haves in the same manner as a view camera in the sense that a direct inverted image is formed on the focusing screen and that a film magazine has to be attached where the focusing screen is situated The conventional Hasselblad routines re garding operation therefore do not apply though you should find certain aspects very familiar Read through the description that follows to familiarise yourself with the basic operation be fore moving on to the later sections on camera movements 1 Itis advisable to adjust the camera position on the tri2. 11 Remove slide from magazine 12 Depress cable release again this time to fire the shutter 13 Reinsert the magazine slide 14 Rewind the shutter 15 Advance the film one frame by depressing the locking catch and winding the crank by one revolution While certain parts of this routine can be changed for example you may advance the film before replacing the magazine slide other parts may not Rewinding the shutter before replacing the magazine slide will cause you to lose a film frame either the one you have just exposed or if you have already wound the film on the one you are about to expose It is therefore very important to follow a correct routine that suits you FlexBody Movements Hasselblad FlexBody has two movement controls plus an integral bellows extension for close up work The two move ment controls are tilt and shift and it is these two movements that the FlexBody utilises to exercise control over sharpness and image shape The amount of movement needed varies according to the de sired effect there is no formula and each case must be judged accordingly by what is seen on the viewing screen Certain re strictions apply however in particular according to which lens is being used The table on the illustration fold outs demon strates the amount of movement possible before vignetting occurs After a description of how these movements can be made on the FlexBody in particular there
3. QUICK REFERENCE TABLE Maximum shift at 716 image format 55 x 55 mm and no tilt Maximale Shift Verstellung bei f 16 Bildformat 55 x 55 mm und ohne Schwenk Verstellung Deslizamiento m ximo en f 16 formato de imagen 55 x 55 mm sin inclinaci n D centrement maximum f 16 format d image 55 x 55 mm et sans bascule Massimo decentramento f 16 formato d immagine 55 x 55 mm senza basculaggio Maximum shift bij Die beeldformaat 55 x 55 mm en geen tilt 15 10 5 DISTAGON DISTAGON DISTAGON PLANAR PLANAR PLANAR 4 40 CF 4 50 CF 3 5 60 CF 2 8 80 CF 3 5 100 CF 4 120 SONNAR CF 4 150 SONNAR CF 5 6 250 it EE nen a CC Eu Kio AL anni LG D HASSELBLAD FlexBody Instruction Manual Gebrauchsanweisung Manual de Instrucciones Manual d Instructions Manuale d Istruzioni Gebruiksaanwijzing Bruksanvisning Hasselblad FlexBody The Hasselblad FlexBody bridges the gap between two photo graphic systems It combines the compactness ease of use and economy of the medium format with some of the versatili ty and controls that normally only view camera users enjoy Significant image adjustments can easily be made not only for image corrections but also creative effects The FlexBody there fore appeals to a wide variety of photographers involved in ad vertising architectural scientific nature photography and be yond Most types of work can benefit f
4. already mentioned concerning the lack of depth of field in a landscape you may wish to photo graph the same scene but this time greatly reduce the depth of field This can be done by tilting the camera back the opposite way that is to say the top of the camera back towards the cam era body The effect would be to isolate one part of the scene within a zone of sharpness while throwing the remainder of the scene into varying degrees of softness Similarly you may wish to increase the convergence of verticals in a building for example for dramatic effect By shifting the back upwards the camera would have to be pointed upwards at an even greater angle to include the top of the building thereby exaggerating the convergence effect While it is not intended that the FlexBody should have all of the possible movements that some view cameras have you may wish to reading relevant articles about camera movements in the photographic literature They should provide you with a deeper insight into the concepts that lay behind what takes place and in doing so broaden your scope to be able to take on technical and creative challenges The Rear cover MultiControl The Rear cover MultiControl has a vignetting control facility in the form of four holes positioned at each corner of the frame As vignetting can not only be caused by shifting the lens but also incorrectly positioned or adjusted accessories such as lens shades filter holders
5. demonstrates this idea in practice Shifting of the camera body and thereby the film plane downward causes this to occur in a relative manner There are limitations however Each lens has a specific circle of coverage that is to say a circle of even illumination of the pro jected image at the film plane Some lenses have a large circle and can therefore allow a moderate amount of film plane place ment within that circle before a fall off in light is noticed Others have a much smaller circle and therefore provide very little in the way of movement Both shift and tilt can be used to gether to provide a combined effect bearing in mind the previ ously mentioned limitations If the camera is turned 90 onto its side similar problems oc curring in the horizontal plane may be resolved For example fig 28 illustrates that while photographing the length of a building the whole of the facade at angle to the camera may be in focus at one time without resorting to stopping the lens down excessively Likewise fig 29 illustrates how the right hand side of a building facade could be included while remaining undistorted by shift ing the back when the camera s position cannot be changed The photographic situations just mentioned are normally con sidered as faults which have to be corrected However the very same visual changes can also be classified as creative additions and can be used to positive effect For instance in the example
6. facility you should temporarily remove any correction screen and set the tilt control to zero to improve metering accuracy Polaroid Magazine The use of a Polaroid magazine with the FlexBody presents no problems though it is advisable to stop the lens down to f 11 or 716 when a large amount of tilt is put into effect Screw the cable release into the cable release port with or without the open L connector Rotate the shutter winding knob clockwise one full turn to wind and open the shutter Insert format mask if necessary Compose the photograph carefully observing the changes in the image on the focusing screen as you make the neces sary adjustments If appropriate that is when shifting the camera back or even when using lens accessories remove the focusing screen adapter and replace with the Rear cov er MultiControl to check for possible vignetting problems see page 12 If necessary replace the focusing screen adapter to make necessary readjustments Lock tilt control and lens extension control knobs Press cable release to first position to close shutter Remove the focusing screen adapter Ensure that the film magazine indicator is white If the in dicator is red the magazine will have to be wound one full revolution after it has been attached to the camera unless you are going to make a multiple exposure Rest the magazine on the magazine supports ensuring itis properly located on them Carefully
7. for one year The guarantee document and a registration card are supplied with the FlexBody Keep the guarantee document carefully but fill in the registration card and return it to your Hasselblad distributor 1 4 3 8 socket threads and base plate for quick coupling attachment Body type Technical with a tiltable and shiftable back Design Mechanical with controls for tilt and shift Film advance Manual advance with winding crank Tripod coupling External dimensions 110x140x140 cm 4 2x5 5x5 5 LxWxH Weight 700 g 1 5 Ib Focusing screen Acute Matte Screen with two correction screens patent pending Back shift tilt control _ Shift max 14 mm vertical vat Tilt 28 vertical plane tilt Lens extension 22 mm built in Shutter winding Manual Compatibility LG All Hasselblad prism viewfinders with or without a built in light meter or magnifying hood 15 interchangeable CF lenses with built in leaf shutters providing flash synchronization at all speeds from 1 to 1 500s The 6x6 cm 21 4x 21 4 and 6x 4 5 cm 21 4 x 15 format magazines Film types 120 220 70mm double perforated film sheet and Polaroid film
8. is a short general description of camera movements in practice and their effect on the image Tilt Mount the FlexBody on a stand or tripod and set up as previ ously described on page 5 You may wish to ensure that the camera is level if photograph ing a building for example and this can be achieved by using the integral spirit level The camera is tilted simply by loosening the tilt control knob lock and then rotating the knob fig16 A clockwise movement of the knob causes the top of the rear standard to move towards the lens and the bottom of the rear standard to move away from the lens Rotating the knob in a counter clockwise manner will produce the opposite effect The tilt index displays how much tilt has been put into effect approx 28 being possible Use the appropriate correction screen see page 4 if necessary to improve the brightness of the image Lens Extension Control mr ra ci To extend the lens bellows for close up photography loosen the lens extension locking screw and rotate the lens extension wheel clockwise when standing behind the camera The lens can be extended up to 22mm The bellows is made of natural fabric and is _ designed to permit a combination of tilt shift and extension movements However a combination of maximum settings such as 14 mm shift and 28 tilt together should be avoided as this may cause the bel lows to distort Iris also advisable to kee
9. swing the magazine to ward the camera body and check that the camera s upper support hooks fit into the slots in the magazine Push the magazine gently but firmly against the hooks while push ing the magazine catch to the right 12 Release the catch when the magazine has made contact with the rear standard and push it to the left to ensure that it has reached the locked position Remove the magazine slide 13 Make the exposure by pressing the cable release all the way in 14 Advance the film 15 Insert the magazine slide fully with the grip towards the front of the camera Push the magazine catch to the right swing the magazine back and lift it off the lower supports now be readable on the shutter winding knob instead of OPEN You may want to practise this a little without a film magazine attached See fig 9 for how the text on the knob denotes the camera status OPEN red stop The shutter and aperture are both open so that an image can be formed on the focusing screen Do not attach a magazine and withdraw slide CLOSE green go The shutter is closed A magazine may now be attached the slide safely removed and an exposure made EXPOSE black neutral The shutter has fired or is still open if a time exposure is being made and the cable release re mains depressed OPEN EXPOSE CLOSE The exposure sequence is com plete The shutter is closed and released The FlexBody exposure sequence is illust
10. 5 Service amp Guarantee 16 Technical Specifications The focusing screen system and accessories that are supplied with the FlexBody consist of 1 Stray light protection mask Used to prevent stray light from dulling the image when large amounts of shift and or tilt are put into effect Supplied already fitted to rear standard 2 Format mask 4 5 cm Used both as a compositional aid and as a film mask to avoid vignetting It is advisable to en sure that the mask has been inserted when the shift facility is to be used and especially when using lenses of focal lengths from 40mm 60mm inclusive 3 Focusing screen adapter This device not only provides the viewing system for the FlexBody but also serves as a holder for the correction screens and viewfinders 4 Case for Focusing screen adapter and correction screens 5 Rear cover MultiControl With integral vignetting con trol facility Getting Started The FlexBody is supplied with a front protective cover and Rear cover MultiControl They are attached and removed in the same manner as with a conventional Hasselblad camera When storing the FlexBody without lens or focusing screen it is advisable to keep the covers in place for protection Attaching lens When attaching a lens make sure that it is fully wound Fig 1 shows the correct relationship between the drive shaft the lens drive coupling and their indexes If the lens is not wound yo
11. etc a check on the FlexBody Quick Reference table may not be sufficient As a quick and efficient check against vignetting proceed as follows 1 Set up the camera and complete picture composition as normal with any filter or lens shade in position 2 Remove the focusing screen adapter 3 Replace with the Rear cover MultiControl 4 Depress the depth of field button on the lens so that the lens stops down to the working aperture 5 Look through each hole in the Rear cover MultiControl in the direction of the lens and compare what you can see with the illustrations fig 30 6 Experiment to find whether it is the degree of shift applied and or an accessory that is causing the problem Illustrations a The aperture is fully open No vignetting will occur b The lens has been stopped down to the working aperture producing the ideal situation No vignetting will occur c The lens has been stopped down to the working aperture but Troubleshooting You cannot attach the lens You cannot remove the lens There is no image on the focusing screen Tilt contro knob lens extension wheel cannot be moved The image is dark when the back is tilted The image becomes very unsharp when a correction screen is inserted The image is dark at the corners of the focusing screen Shutter will not fire when cable release is pressed Film frames have been fogged vignetting is starting to occur However this amount is acceptab
12. le for a vignette free result d The lens has been stopped down to the working aperture and more than 50 has been covered Vignetting will occur and will produce a visible result The FlexBody and Digital Photography The can be used with digital imaging backs Your Hasselblad dealer or distributor will have more information about compatibility Some digital backs attach directly to the FlexBody in the same manner as a film magazine while others make use of an adapter plate of some kind Follow the manufacturer s recommenda tions for attachment Lens or FlexBody not wound Same as above Lens cap still in place Shutter unwound Release appropriate tacking screws Insert appropriate correction screen Correction screen inserted incorrectly Vignetting has occurred Shutter has not been wound Magazine slide removed while shutter still open Shutter rewound before magazine slide replaced EQUIPMENT CARE The Hasselblad FlexBody is designed to withstand the rigours of professional use in most environments In order to avoid the possibility of damage however it should be protected from the following Extremes of temperature High temperatures can have an adverse effect on both the film and the equipment Try to avoid frequent and severe temperature changes Dust and grit You should take care to prevent dust and grit from getting into your equipment In coastal areas take mea sures to protect your equip
13. ment from sand and salt water spray Dust on the lens glass and focusing screen can be removed with a blower brush or very soft lens brush if necessary Smears on the lens glass should be treated with great care In some cases they may be removed with a high quality lens cleaning solution on a tissue but be careful not to scratch the lens or touch any of the glass surfaces with your fingers If in any doubt do not attempt to clean lens glass surfaces yourself Impact Your equipment can be damaged by severe physical shocks so practical protective precautions should be taken The Technical Specifications FlexBody bellows section of the FlexBody is particularly vulnerable to physical damage and care should be exercised in the vicinity of pointed or sharp objects The FlexBody is best stored with the bellows withdrawn and the shift and tilt in the neutral position SERVICE You should return your equipment to a Hasselblad service cen tre for occasional checking and preventive maintenance to ensure optimal reliability If your camera is used constantly and intensively periodic check ups every six months are recom mended at one of the Hasselblad Authorised Service Centers They have the expert staff and specialised equipment neces sary to ensure that your FlexBody remains in perfect working order GUARANTEE Provided that you bought your equipment from an Authorised Hasselblad outlet it is covered by an international guarantee
14. ng the same angle The result of this action can be that converging ver ticals for example in an image can to a certain extent be corrected The FlexBody also boasts an integral continuously variable bel lows extension providing a valuable close up facility without the need for additional equipment Digital photography is also catered for with a variety of different models on the market that simply replace the conventional film magazine explanation of features and sequences There is also a pocket sized folder supplied which outlines basic procedures The manual assumes a certain familiarity with the Hasselblad system regarding the fitting and removal of items common to both Hasselblad cameras and the FlexBody such as film maga zines viewfinders protective covers etc Where any such opera tion differs from the normal Hasselblad routine it is pointed out Each section begins with a sketch of the placing of the illustra tions that are relevant to that particular section The knowledge gained from this manual will give you full access to the Hasselblad FlexBody potential Exploiting the potential is left to your imagination Index i Introduction FlexBody components Accessories Getting Started 3 The Focusing Screen Adapter amp Correction Screens 5 Basic Operation Exposure Sequence FlexBody Movements 10 Camera Movements in Practice 12 The Rear cover MultiControl 13 Digital Photography 14 Troubleshooting 1
15. p the bellows exten sion retracted to the neutral 0 position when notin use 10 sharpness for the lens at that specific focusing position Remember the image is inverted Likewise the distance of the lower part of the film plane to the far limit has now decreased also allowing it to fall into the zone of acceptable sharpness In practice care must be taken When the back of the camera is moved in this manner the plane of sharp focus is angled away from vertical objects Fig 22 23 illustrates this effect While ob jects in the image that lie close to the camera are now sharper the tops of taller objects may now be less sharp because they have now fallen out of the zone of acceptable sharpness Shift Apart from lens effects image shape distortion can be caused by the film plane not being parallel to the relevant plane within the image A common occurrence is found when photograph ing the front of a building for example With the camera at ground level and close to the building it is often necessary to angle the camera upwards so as not to miss the top of the build ing fig 24 25 It then appears that the top of the building is nar rower than the base Shift To raise the camera back rotate the shift control knob in a counter clockwise manner To lower the back rotate the shift control knob in a clockwise manner fig 17 The back can be shifted approx 14mm Shifting the back is subject to the limits of
16. pod or stand using the integral spirit level This ensures that the back is vertical and simplifies the need for further adjust ments when working with architectural perspective con trol for example 2 After making your lens choice check with the table on the illustration fold outs to see how much shift is permissible The Focusing Screen Adapter amp Correction Screens The Focusing Screen Adapter Rest the focusing screen adapter on the FlexBody s magazine supports fig 4 ensuring that it is properly located Carefully swing it towards the FlexBody checking that the upper support hooks on the camera body fit into the slots in the adapter Push it against the hooks while depressing the focusing screen adapter release catch To remove depress the focusing screen adapter release catch and swing the top of the adapter back away from the camera body while lifting it off the lower supports Viewfinders All viewfinders in the Hasselblad system will fit the focusing screen adapter They are simply slid down into position for at tachment and upwards for removal fig 7 An additional 1 dioptre correction is recommended when the standard focusing hood is used If you are using a PME viewfinder and you want to use the me tering
17. pplied with an open L connector to facilitate use Remov ng a lens Depress the lens release button and rotate the lens counter clockwise until it stops and lift it out of the mount Fitting the format mask First remove the stray light mask from the recess in the rear standard Then fit the format mask into the same recess with the smooth inscription side facing you in other words so that it can be read as in fig 3 It can be aligned in either direction and is simply pressed into the recess provided until it is level with the rear standard Replace the stray light mask after re moving the format mask Again ensure that the smooth side is facing you Note the orientation of lens in relation to in Do 3 This orientation differs from the conventional lens camera body _ sitions vignetting reasons You can only remove the lens when the shutter is GC When fitting the format mask focusing screen adapter and correction screens ensure that you would be able to read the inscriptions on them when viewed from behind the camera Ifyouseeno inscription then you are fitting the GEES Dee Ly _ The straylight mask should be fitted at all times when the format mask is not fitted o Fitting Correction Screens
18. rated in fig 10 15 and is as follows Remember Do not forget to reinsert the magazine slide _ before you rewind the shutter _ The conventional Hasselblad routines with multi exposure safeguards built into the mechanism do not apply Sr Donot forget to advance the film before re moving the magazine Exposure Sequence HAS The exposure sequence requires that you press the cable re lease all the way down in order to activate the various stages of the procedure However this must be done in two stages in order to be able to attach the film magazine The text on the top of the winding knob is to be read when viewed from behind the camera The knob automatically ro tates for each stage of the exposure sequence and signifies the current lens status All exposure controls are governed by set tings on the lens After picture composition and exposure setting press the cable release to its first position By pressing the cable release part way but no further the aper ture closes to the required setting and the shutter closes in preparation for magazine attachment The text CLOSE will 10 Depress cable release part way to close the shutter If you unintentionally press the release all the way down and com plete the sequence you only have to rewind the shutter and depress the cable release again As the slide has not yet been removed from the magazine you have not lost a film frame
19. rom what the FlexBody offers in terms of image control by broadening the photogra pher s scope for both technically challenging photography and creative expression The FlexBody was conceived around two basic photographic concepts familiar to view camera users namely tilt and shift Altogether the FlexBody offers a combined versatility that many photographers will greatly appreciate Needless to say the FlexBody follows on in the tradition of the Hasselblad philosophy by ensuring complete compatibility within the system All Zeiss CF and C lenses Hasselblad film magazines and viewfinders are compatible and attach to the FlexBody without any need for adapters The FlexBody is light and compact making it a very useful ad dition to your outfit both in the studio and out on location This instruction manual describes in detail how to operate your FlexBody and covers most questions that should arise about its use Please read it carefully and keep it with FlexBody at all times for reference It has been designed to fit the FlexBody car rying case and features fold out illustrations to facilitate the The tilt facility allows a change in the angle of the film plane in regard to the lens The result of this action causes an apparent change in the depth of field without having to resort to a change in the lens aperture The shift facility allows a change in position of the film plane with regard to the projected image while maintaini
20. the chosen lens regarding the GEES of vignetting Wide angle lenses are r to this effect and careful study both with the Rear cover MultiControl ine Oe screen is advisable Sa fbi Pave Be On the fold out illustrations you will find table showing the amount of shift possible with Hasselblad lenses before vignetting occurs a Camera Movements in Practice Tilt Depth of field the zone of an image that is acceptably sharp is controlled by the aperture setting The angle of the plane of this zone however can be altered to achieve greater sharpness in the image Fig 18 19 illustrates a landscape photograph When maximum depth of field is required parts of the subject close to and far away from the camera the near and far limits respectively re main unsharp even with the lens set at the hyperfocal distance The problem is caused by the distances between the near and far limits and the film plane at that focus setting The solution to the problem is to alter these distances In fig 20 21 you can see that by tilting the back of the camera the dis tance from the top of the film plane to the near limit has now increased thereby allowing it to fall into the zone of acceptable The solution to this problem would be to move the lens up wards in relation to the film plane while ensuring that all three planes building lens and film plane remain parallel to each other Fig 26 27
21. u can insert a coin in the coupling slot and rotate it clockwise until it locks about 4 5 of a turn When you have aligned the red index on the lens with the red index on the FlexBody as shown in fig 2 the lens will drop easi ly into the bayonet fitting You can then rotate it clockwise until it stops with a faint click as the lens catch locks it in place FlexBody Components 1 Rear standard 13 Shutter winding knob 2 Winding crank lock 14 Cabie release port 3 Shift index 15 Shift control knob 4 Winding crank 16 Lens extension locking 5 Tilt index Screw 6 Front standard 17 Quick coupling plate 7 Drive shaft 18 Tripod thread 1 4 in 8 Lens release lever 19 Tripod thread 3 8 in 9 Lens extension wheel 20 Magazine supports 10 Lens alignment index 21 Stray light protection 11 Tilt control lock mak 22 Support hooks Tilt control knob Accessories Front protective cover Carrying case Stray light protection slide Used to prevent stray light from dulling the image on the focusing screen when no correction screen has been inserted Correction screen 10 Used to improve screen iniage brightness when tilt adjustment is between 10 and 20 10 Correction screen 20 Used to improve screen image brightness when tilt exceeds 20 11 Cable release There is no release button on the FlexBody The cable release provides a smooth and vibration free ac tion when making an exposure It is su
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