Hasselblad H2 user manual Problems, Equipment Care, Service & Guarantee

Problems, Equipment Care, Service & Guarantee

The H2 is a very sophisticated camera that relies on much information be- ing passed and processed to and from each modular unit to produce the correct behaviour. It is therefore essential that reasonable care is taken in attaching, detaching and storing the viewfinder, lenses, extension tubes, magazines etc to ensure that the databus connections are not dam- aged or soiled in any way. Also when lifting or handling the camera try to always use the grip or strap and avoid holding the camera just by the magazine or viewfinder. Warning messages, for example ‘The darkslide is closed’ are easily addressed and remedied but ‘Error’ messages seen on the grip LCD require further attention as they denote a fault, temporary or otherwise. You should methodically investigate the situation to see for ex- ample whether the recent attachment of an accessory has coincided with the appearance of an error message. Standard procedure is to detach and re-attach the viewfinder, magazine etc ensuring that they are positioned firmly and correctly to see whether the problem disappears. Failing that, removal of the batteries or battery pack for about ten seconds or so will reset the camera’s processors. Persistent error messages might well sig- nify a more complex problem and you are advised to contact your near- est Hasselblad Authorized Service Center for advice. As well as the error message, a description of the camera’s behaviour and an account of what action you were trying to take when it happened could be beneficial. Also, please remember that the Center will almost certainly want to inspect all of the items that were involved when the error message first appeared, not just the camera body.

In certain situations, it is possible that the camera can be affected by a discharge of static electricity particularly if the area around the control buttons on the grip comes into contact with a conductive cord or mate- rial that is connected to earth, directly or indirectly (a lighting stand, for example). This might temporarily deactivate the camera though it does not cause any damage. Press the red ON.OFF button on the grip again to reactivate the camera.

If a problem does occur you are advised not to attempt any repairs your- self. Some service operations require very sophisticated instruments to check, measure and adjust and there is a real danger of creating more problems than solving them if such attempts are made in any other way.

EQUIPMENT CARE

A Hasselblad camera is designed to withstand the rigours of professional use in most environments. To avoid the possibility of damage however, it should be protected from harsh conditions and in particular avoid oil fumes, steam, humid conditions and dust.

Extremes of temperature: High temperatures can have an adverse effect on both film and equipment. Try to avoid frequent and severe temperature changes. Be particularly careful in humid environments. Allow the equipment to acclimatize before assembly. Try to ensure the storage conditions in such environments are as dry as possible.

Dust and grit: Take care to prevent dust and grit from getting into your equipment. In coastal areas take measures to protect your equipment 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 caution. 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 but allow a “Hasselblad Authorized Service Center” to treat them.

Impact: Your equipment can be damaged by severe physical shocks so practical protective precautions should be taken. Some form of protective case or camera bag is advised for transportation.

Loss: Hasselblad equipment is much sought after and you should take obvious steps to prevent theft. Never leave it visible in an unat- tended car, for example. Separate and specific camera insurance cover should be considered by professional users.

SERVICE

Return your equipment to a service centre for occasional checking and preventive maintenance to ensure optimal reliability. You can easily keep a check on service intervals by looking under ‘Info’ in the menu. If your camera is used constantly and intensively, regular periodic check-ups are recommended at one of the “Hasselblad Authorized Service Centers”. They have the expert staff and specialised equipment necessary to ensure that your equipment remains in perfect working order.

GUARANTEE

Provided that you bought your equipment from an authorized Hasselblad outlet, it is covered by an international guarantee for one year. The guar- antee document and a registration card are supplied with the camera. Keep the guarantee document carefully, but fill in the registration card and return it to your Hasselblad distributor.

CAUTION

•Keep all equipment and accessories out of the reach of small children.

•Do not place heavy objects on the equipment.

•Do not use the batteries except as specified.

•Use only the batteries specified for use with the camera.

•Remove the batteries when cleaning the camera or if you intend to leave the camera unused for a long period.

•If you use spare (standard or rechargeable) battery packs be particu- larly careful to use the supplied protective cap when storing. There is a potential fire risk if the contacts are short circuited across a conduc- tive object (such as keys in a pocket, for example).

•Take particular care when working with strobe / studio flash units to prevent damage to equipment and personal injury.

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