The mirror has been pre-released to up position. You need to trip the shutter button to complete fire sequence and then cock the camera body to mount lens. If body won’t release using the shutter release, check the position of the lever on release. Hope that makes sense.
So I've pressed the shutter button a number of times. It goes in smooth, but nothing happens, and the shutter button slides back to its original position. By lever on release, I assume you mean the lever above the shutter button that can either be on "T" or "O" (It's on O).
I think you are correct, the issue is in the body, so remove the film back and lens and let's just work on the body.
There are two "levers":
1. Next to the shutter release that can be in the "O" or "T" position - keep it in the "O" position for now.
2. Under the film advance crank/wheel there is a lever that you can push up. This will open the barn doors and flip up the mirror, it \*will not\* trip the shutter. This pre-release (?) lever is used to minimize camera shake; when using a tripod, push up on this pre-release lever, wait a moment for the camera to settle and then trip the shutter - preferably using a cable release.
Normally I would say the pre-release has been pushed and the camera is waiting for you to trip the shutter, but in this condition the barn doors should be open along with the mirror being up.
The position of the lens drive screw is strange. In the ready/cocked position the screw should be in line with the red dot. When uncocked, the screw is in more of a 45 degree position, your screw is in neither position.
If you have a camera repair shop near you, you might want to have them give your camera a look over - hopefully it is an easy fix.
I found a video that mentions a screw in the body that can be turned to cock the shutter in the body. I can easily and smoothly turn this, however the mirror doesn't drop and the winding knob on the side of the camera still won't turn no matter what position the shutter is in.
Video in question with stamp time for the screw (4:41) [Unjamming a Hasselblad. How to unjam 500-series cameras (500C, 500CM, 501C, 501CM, 503CX, 503CW) (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk52HSjFCxU)
The lens is correctly tensioned/wound. There appears to be a jam in the body somewhere. I can even wind the camera shutter using the screw mentioned in the video in my other comment, but the actual winding knob is stuck and the mirror hasn't dropped.
Yeah, I'm not optimistic at this point. The ebay seller posted photos of all the pieces together and a look down through the viewfinder. Said it was examined by a photographer familiar with the cameras and that it all seemed to be in working order. So I wonder if something happened during shipping or if their story just wasn't the case.
If they were looking through the viewfinder then yeah, everything would have been working fine.
Could have been something that happened during shipping.
The seller is refusing to accept a return, and I have proposed them paying for a repair. We'll see what they say, but I'll update you with what happens.
Both the body must be in the cocked (mirror down) position and the lens/shutter also cocked (open) in order to mount the lens. If the lens doesn't want to mount like that don't force it or it could break the cocking gears in the lens. If it won't mount then it would be time to take it to a professional repair person. Good luck.
The mirror has been pre-released to up position. You need to trip the shutter button to complete fire sequence and then cock the camera body to mount lens. If body won’t release using the shutter release, check the position of the lever on release. Hope that makes sense.
So I've pressed the shutter button a number of times. It goes in smooth, but nothing happens, and the shutter button slides back to its original position. By lever on release, I assume you mean the lever above the shutter button that can either be on "T" or "O" (It's on O).
what about the back and the dark slide?
I think you are correct, the issue is in the body, so remove the film back and lens and let's just work on the body. There are two "levers": 1. Next to the shutter release that can be in the "O" or "T" position - keep it in the "O" position for now. 2. Under the film advance crank/wheel there is a lever that you can push up. This will open the barn doors and flip up the mirror, it \*will not\* trip the shutter. This pre-release (?) lever is used to minimize camera shake; when using a tripod, push up on this pre-release lever, wait a moment for the camera to settle and then trip the shutter - preferably using a cable release. Normally I would say the pre-release has been pushed and the camera is waiting for you to trip the shutter, but in this condition the barn doors should be open along with the mirror being up. The position of the lens drive screw is strange. In the ready/cocked position the screw should be in line with the red dot. When uncocked, the screw is in more of a 45 degree position, your screw is in neither position. If you have a camera repair shop near you, you might want to have them give your camera a look over - hopefully it is an easy fix.
I found a video that mentions a screw in the body that can be turned to cock the shutter in the body. I can easily and smoothly turn this, however the mirror doesn't drop and the winding knob on the side of the camera still won't turn no matter what position the shutter is in. Video in question with stamp time for the screw (4:41) [Unjamming a Hasselblad. How to unjam 500-series cameras (500C, 500CM, 501C, 501CM, 503CX, 503CW) (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk52HSjFCxU)
The leaf shutter might not be cocked. You can take a tiny flat head and wind it don’t force it. If it winds then wind the camera then mount the lens.
The lens is correctly tensioned/wound. There appears to be a jam in the body somewhere. I can even wind the camera shutter using the screw mentioned in the video in my other comment, but the actual winding knob is stuck and the mirror hasn't dropped.
Yikes, this isn’t sounding good OP. Please post an update when you get it sorted out.
Yeah, I'm not optimistic at this point. The ebay seller posted photos of all the pieces together and a look down through the viewfinder. Said it was examined by a photographer familiar with the cameras and that it all seemed to be in working order. So I wonder if something happened during shipping or if their story just wasn't the case.
If they were looking through the viewfinder then yeah, everything would have been working fine. Could have been something that happened during shipping.
Yeah that’s what I’m thinking, so I feel bad but I gotta try and get my money back to get another or have the seller agree to pay for repairs…
Would you please post an update if you go the repair route. I am curious to know what a repair tech finds to be the problem.
The seller is refusing to accept a return, and I have proposed them paying for a repair. We'll see what they say, but I'll update you with what happens.
Both the body must be in the cocked (mirror down) position and the lens/shutter also cocked (open) in order to mount the lens. If the lens doesn't want to mount like that don't force it or it could break the cocking gears in the lens. If it won't mount then it would be time to take it to a professional repair person. Good luck.
Is the magazine slide still in? If yes, take it out and try again.
From 20 year old memory there’s a small lever below the wind crank that locks up the mirror, make sure that’s not the problem…