Hasselblad 553ELX User manual

HASSELBLAD
INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Hasselblad 553ELX Instruction Manual
Page
3 Introduction
4 Parts and Components
6 Basic Instructions
6 Batteries and Fuse
8 Normal Settings
8 Front Protective Cover
8 Rear Protective Cover
8 Attaching the Lens
9 Removing the Lens
10 Attaching the Magazine
10 Removing the Magazine
11 Camera and Magazine Indicators
12 Focusing Hood and Magnifier
13 Strap Lugs
13 Left Hand Grip
13 Focus and Release
14 Operating Details
14 Exposure
14 Time Exposure and Locking (LOT) Lever
15 Release Sockets
15 Release Cords
16 Mode Selector Dial
17 Remote Control Socket
17 Double Exposure
18 Battery Types
19 Battery Check
20 Lens and Shutter Functions
20 Shutterspeeds
20 Aperture
21 Exposure Values
Copyright © 1992. Victor Hasselblad AB
Page
21 ShutterSpeed/Aperture Interlock
22 Focusing and Depth of Field
22 Infrared Photography
23 Checking Depth of Field
23 FlashSynchronization
24 Magazine Operation
24 — Loading the Magazine
26 Load Status
26 Removing the Film
26 Film Tab Holder
26 Changing the Magazine Status Indicator
26 Film Plane Index
27 Viewfinder System
27 Changingthe Viewfinder
27 Changingthe Magnifier
28 Changing the Focusing Screen
28 =PMEandPME3/PMES5 Viewfinder Adjustment
31 Automatic Flash Control
32 Flash Adapters SCA390/590
32 Film Speed Setting
33 Viewfinder Signal
34 Accessories
Accessory Mounts
36 Accessory Chart
g
36 Technical Specification
37 Camera Body Dimensions
38 Troubleshooting
39 CircuitDiagram
40 Camera Care, Serviceand Guarantee
Allrights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, of transmitted, in any form
orby any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the
Company
1

Guarantee
Provided that you bought your camera from an
authorized Hasselblad outlet, itis covered by an
international guaranteo for one year. Further
details can be found on page 40.
Service and Maintenance
While Hasselblad equipment is extremely reli-
able and durable, cameras and lenses that arein
constant intensive use in a professional environ-
ment should be maintained and serviced by an
authorized Hasselblad service center at regular
intervals. Further information on service and
maintenance can be found on page 40.
Introduction to the Hasselblad Camera System
As a Hasselblad owner, you have in your
possession a camera of exceptional quality,
the product of an internationally renowned
tradition of excellence in the world of pho-
tography. Victor Hasselblad, the father of
the cameras which bear his namo, was
himself an accomplished photographer. It
was to satisfy his own exacting standards
and diverse requirements that he first
envisioned the Hasselblad system: a me
dium format single lens reflex camera with
interchangeable lenses and film magazines.
A photographer first and businessman
second, Victor Hasselblad would never
sacrifice quality for ease ot production. To
this day, Hasselblad cameras are pain-
stakingly crafted with this principle in ming.
The Hasselblad system has beon taken to
the ends of the earth and beyond — into
space, to earn its reputation for rellability and
absolute fidelity. A range of accessories
affords limitless flexibility and the potential
forsuccesstul photograohyin any application.
The realisation of this potential is of course
dependantupon the ski, care and judgement
of the photographer.
The Hasselblad 553ELXis.amotorizedsingle
lens reflex camera featuring lens, magazine,
viewfinder, and focusing screen interchange-
ability. It is capable of TTLIOTF (Through
The Lens/Off The Film’) flash metering,
providing direct full control of the Hasselblad
Proflash 4504 flash unit or, with Hasselblad
flash adapters SCA 380 and 590, of the
Hasselblad Macro Flash unitorany flash unit
conforming to the European Systems SCA
300 and 500. When the flash output is
sufficiont to provide a correct exposure the
flash units’ discharge is automatically cut off,
TTLOTF tnotering is particularly important
when using electronic flash for macro
photography.
Lenses
Since the early 1950's the Hasselbladlenses
have been manufactured by Carl Zeiss in
Germany. All C and GF lenses manufactured
after 1957 can be used with the 553ELX.
F-type lenses, however, can only be used
with Hasselolad focal plane shutter cameras
manufactured after 1976.
Use this manua! to learn how to operate
your camera. The knowledge gained from
reading twill give you access to the Hassel-
blad potential. Exploiting the potential is left
to your imagination!

19 18 17
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16 5
553ELX Parts and Components
1 Focusing hood
Acute-Matte” focusing sereen
Screen retaining clip
Flash function indicator
Diive statt
Lens release button
Focusing ring and soale
Shutter speed and aperturo
interlock button
Lens central index
Depth of feld scale
11 Aperture ring and scale
Seo syoasen
12
13
14
15
Shutter speed ring and scale
PC flash terminal
External and internal lens
accessory mount
Exposure value scale
Exposure value index
Release button
Front release sockets
FK30 release cord
Time exposure and locking
lever
Remote release socket
22 Remote socket cover
23 Camora status indicator
24 Straplug
25 Frame counter
26 Magazine stalus indicator
Film plane incex
28 Film winding crank
29 Magazine designation
20 Mode selector
31 Name plate
32 Magazine catch button
“Acule-Maite designed by MINOLTA
33 Focusing hood magnifier 41 Fuse holder 49 Depth-ot-fieid preview button
34 Magazine side 42 Fuse 50 Flash connector cover
35 Film holder key 43 Battery compartment 51 Dedicated flash connector
36 Film load indicator 44 Lens drive coupling 52 Lens locating index
37 Film tab holder 45 Battery compartment cover 53 Accessory rail
38 Motor housing 46 Battery check button 54 Strap ug
39 Tripod socket 1/4” thread 47 Battery check lights 55 Film speed selector
40 Quick-couplng plate 48 Cover locking button
NOTE: In the text, the positions of components are described in relation to the camera as you see it
when taking a photograph, i.e. the lensisonthe front, the viewfinderisin the top, andthe winding crank
is on the right hand side.

Basic Operation
This section describes the steps you must take to
make the camera ready to use. Follow the stegs
as they are described. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO
ATTACH THE LENS TO A CAMERA WITHOUT
BATTERIES. You will find comprehensive infor-
mation on how to operate the camera in the
following sections.
Batteries and Fuse
You cannot operate the camera until you have
inserted the batteries and the fuse into the bat-
tery compartment. To gat access to the battery
compartment you have to remove the cover on
the loft hand side of the motor housing, i.e. the
lower section of the camera body. You unlock the
cover by inserting a suitable coin into the cover
locking button slot and turning it counter-clock-
vise into a vertical position. Now youcan remove
the cover by opening the rear end outwards and
disengaging the hooks in the front end,
The Battery Compartment
When you have removed the cover the battery
compartment will be exposed. I! you look closely
at the battery receptacles, you will see that there
is a symbol moulded inside each one, indicating
which way each battery should be inserted. On
the front face of the compartment at the bottom
is another moulding that represents a battery,
showing the positive and negative ends and the
various different designations of the required
battery type.
TheBatteries
You will need five 1.5V alkaline batteries size AA
{alternative designations are LR6 or AM-3). Fresh
batteries will give you up to 4000 exposures at
ambient temperatures above 32°F (0°C).
Regarding use of other battery types, see page 18.
Battery Types}
The Fuse
The fuse is a 5 x 20mm instrument ‘use rated
4.6A medium slow-blow (semi time-lag).
Fitting the Batteries
Fit the batteries into the compartment in accor-
dance with the symbols moulded into the recep-
tacles. Once fitted the positive (+) ends of the two
uppermost batteries and the negative (-) ends of
the other three, should be visible. Fit the fuse into
its receptacle at the top right hand side of the
battery compartment. It is always advisable to
have a spare fuse, which can conveniently be
carried in the hole directly below the fuse recep-
tacle.
When you refit the cover you must ensure that
the twa hooks in the front of the cover positively
engage in the corresponding slots in the front of
the motor housing. Firmly holding the hooks in
place you insert the coin in the lock button slot.
Keeping the siot strictly vertical you push the
cover against the resistance of the contact
‘springs until tha lock pin engages in tho slot in the
motor housing. While pushing you turn the lock
button clockwise until it stops (approximately
1/4 turn) and the cover will be lacked in place.
NOTE: Ifthe camera hes been released using
the locktime (LOT) lever without batteries
inserted, the mechanism remains in the re-
leased state. When the cover is positioned
alter batteries have boen inserted tho power
circuit is closed and the camera will start and
complete the rewind cycle.

Normal Settings
‘While setting up the camera as described in this
section, itis important that both the mode selec-
tor dial and the ‘LOT’ lever are set in the 'O'
position. You will find detailed information about
these items on pages 14 and 16.
Front Protective Cover
Turn the cover (bayonet fitting) in the direction ot
the arrow and remove.
Rear Protective Cover
Depress the catch, tit the cover backwards, and
lift it off.
Attaching the Lens
DONOT ATTEMPT TO ATTACH THE LENS TO
A CAMERA WITHOUT BATTERIES!
Make sure that both camera and lens are fully
cocked. The adjacent illustration shows the car-
rect relationship between the drive shaft, the lens
drive coupling and their indexes.
if the camera is not fully cooked (it may have
been accidentally pre-released), press and re-
lease the release plate. The camera will then
wind on and be fully cocked.
Ifthe lens is not cocked, you can insert a coin in
the coupling slot and roiate it clockwise until it
locks (about 4/5 of a turn),
You will find that holding the camera in your left
hand ang the lens in your right hand, as shown in
the illustration, is the easiest way of attaching the
lens.
When you have aligned the orange index on the
Jens with the one on the camera as shown in the
illustration, the lens will be correctly positioned
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.
Removing the Lens
Depress the lens release button and rotate the
lens counter-clockwise unti it stops.
NOTE: You can only remove the lens when
the camera is cocked (fully wound) and not in
tho pro-reloased mode (see page 16}.

Attaching the Magazine
Ensure that the magazine slide is fully inserted,
and that the indicators are white. If the indicators
are not white, then refer to the instruction on
page 11
Rest the magazine on the camera’s magazine
supports and make sure that itis properly located
on them. Carefully swing the magazine towards
the camera body and check that the camera's
magazine hooks fitinto the slats inthe magazine.
Push the magazine gently but firmly against the
hooks while sliding the magazine catch button to
the right.
Release the button when the magazine has
made contact with the rear plate of the camera,
and pushitto the leftto ensure thatithas reached
the locked position. Remove the magazine slide
and the camera is ready to use.
Removing the Magazine
It is advisable to have the camera cocked (fully
wound) and the magazine indicator displaying
white, I the magazine indicator shows a red
signal then follow the instructions on page 11
Insert the magazine slide into the magazine with
the hinge towards the front of the camera.
Slide the magazine catch to the right, swing the
magazine back and lift it off the magazine sup-
ports.
NOTE: The magazine cannot be removed
without inserting the magazine slide. The
slide protects the film from being inadvertantly
ruined by exposure. Note also that the camera
cannot be operated when a magazine, with
slide Inserted, is atlached to the camera.
Camera and Magazine Indicators
‘The 553ELX camera indicatoris permanently set
on white. The magazine indicator shows whether
tha film has been advanced (white) or not (red).
When the magazine is attached to a camera
body, it can also be used to determine whether
the camera has been released but not wound on
(red) or is ready to be operated (white). The ex-
ception is when the magazine has been removed
to produce a double exposure, sce page 17.
if the magazine indicator shows red, the film has
to bo advanced to change the indicator to white.
This can be carried out in two different ways. The
procedure below has to be used on frame No. 1
and can be used on all consecutive frames.
1. Set the ‘LOT’ lever from the © (normal posi-
tion). to the T (time exposure) position.
2. Attach the magazine to the camera, leaving
the magazine slide in place.
3. Retum the leverto the O position, The camera
will now start to wind the film on and the
magazine status indicator will change to white.
A simpler method to advance the film on all
frames except frame No. 1 is described on
page 26.
W

Opening the Focusing Hood
‘Open the lid by gripping the tab firmly and litting
it to the vertical position.
The Built-in Magnifier
The magnifier flips up into the viewing position
when the oval button inside the lidis moved in the
direction of the arrow.
To fold the magnifier down simply press it back
with your fingertip until it locks into the lid
The magnifier may be exchanged for correction
lenses. See page 27.
Closing the Focusing Hood
“Pinch” in the side plates at the hinge points, and
fold the lid down.
Strap Lugs
Strap Attachment
Place the main body of the strap clip over one of
the camera's strap lugs. Press down on the tip of
the clip and pull back, and ensure that the locking
plate secures the strap in place.
Strap Removal
Lift the clip locking plate and slide the olip for-
ward. The strap is then freed from the camera.
Left Hand Grip
You will find that holding the camera in your left
hand with your index finger on the release plate,
as shown in the illustration, is most convenient
when taking photographs. Your right hand is then
free tor focusing, setting the exposure and
changing the lens or magazine.
Focus and Release
Before you can take a photograph, you must
remove the magazine slide. The magazine will
then be locked an the amera body. and the
camera release plate will be operative.
Rotate the focusing ring on the lens until you can
see a sharp image of the subject in the viewfin-
der. You can now depress and release the re-
lease plate to operate tho camera.
13

14
Operating Details
Exposure
As a general rule for all shutter speed settings
except B, with the ‘LOT’ lever in the O position
you should keep the release plate depressed
until the lens shutter has completed the expo-
sure. This is especially important at shutter
speeds from 1s to 1/15s.
If you relax the pressure on the release plate too
soon, the auxiliary shutters will terminate the
‘exposure prematurely (see page 20, ‘Warning
Signal’). The auxiliary shutter consists of two
blinds covering the rear opening of the body.
Time Exposure and Locking (‘LOT’)
Lever
The lever located toward the rear of the motor
housing allows you to select time exposure (T),
locking (L), or normal operation (O).
(©) — Normal operating position.
(T) — For time exposures, you should set the lens
at B and the mode selector at O, S, or RS. The
camera shutter is mechanically opened when
the LOT’ lever is shifted from O to T, The shutter
then remains open without any drain on the
battery. When the lever is returned to the O
setting the shutter cioses, the fiim Is advanced,
and the shutter is cocked automatically.
(L)-Inthe L-mode, release is blocked to prevent
inadvertent exposures.
Release sockets
Hasselblad 553ELX has tworeleasesockets atthe
frontof the motor housing. The socketsare parallell
connected andcanbe used optionally for inserting
the release button.
Release Cords
A tripod should be used when operating the
camera at slow shutter speeds. A release cord
provides a suitable means of releasing the
camera. FK type release cords 0.3 and 6 metres
(1 and 20 feet) long can be connected to either of
the front sockets. LK and SK type release cords
between 1.5 and 5 metres (5 and 16 feet) long
must be connected to the remote contro! socket.
15

Mode Selector Dial
The selector dial offers five release modes forthe
camera.
O-NORMAL MODE. Exposure occurs when the
release plate is depressed. The film is advanced,
Gaza)
16
the shutter cocked and the mirror returned to
viewing position when the presure on the release
plate is removed,
S - PRE-RELEASE. When the dial is moved to
this position the lens shutter is closed, the dia-
phragm stops down to the pre-selected aperture,
the mirror swings up and the auxiliary shutter
‘opens. Oniy the actual operation of the shutter
remains when the release plate is pressed. Since
most of the camera operations are pre-released,
the camera's reaction time between release and
exposure is reduced to a minimum, as is camera
induced vibration. The selector dial is not re-
tained in the S-position but returns to the O-
position when released.
RS- The camera is pro-released when the mode
selector is moved to RS where itis held, and con-
tinues to pre-release after each exposure until
the mode selector is returned manually to the O
or A position.
A— Automatic. The camera makes a continuous
sequence of exposures as long as the triggering
impulse is applied, and unexposed film remains
in the camera. The sequential exposure rate in
this mode is about 1 frame/sec.
AS — The camera is pre-released in AS and
exposes sequentially as long as the exposure
button is kept depressed, At the end of the
sequence the camera remains in a pre-eleased
state. The exposure rate is slightly faster than in
the A position.
Remote Control Socket
At the rear of the motor housing on the right hand
side is a 5-pole DIN-socket. You can use this to
operate the camera by means of the release
cords (SK and LK), a timer or any means that
closes the circuit between pins 1 and 3 (see page
38, Circuit Diagram). The external resistance
should not exceed 6 ohms and the circuit should
remain closed at least O.1sec for reliable
triggering.
Double Exposure
The camera has been designed to prevent acci-
dental double exposure. Intentional double and
multiple exposures on the same frame can be
carried out as follows:
1. Depress the release plate and keep it da-
pressed. The magazine status indicator now
shifts to red.
2, Move the LOT lever to the L position andrelax
the pressure on the release plate.
3. Insert the magazine slide and remove the
magazine from the camera.
4, Return the lever to the O position. The cam-
era will wind on.
5, Replace the magazine and remove the slide.
The unitis now ready to make asecond exposure
on the same frame even though the magazine
indicator is red. You can make additional expo-
sures in the sama manner.
The magazine status indicator remains red until
the magazine is left on the camera and wound
on.
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