Hasselblad Magazine Dark Slide
Photographs by Ulrich Lotzmann and used with permission.
This Hasselblad camera is owned by Journal Contributor Ulli Lotzmann and is equipped with a magazine that was flown on the Mir/Soyuz TM-8 mission ( 5 Sept 1989 to 19 Feb 1990 ). The wire handle near the junction between the black magazine and the grey camera body is attached to the dark slide. The dark slide protects the film from light when the magazine is not attached to the camera. Ulli writes that, in the case of this magazine and camera, " it is impossible to mount the mag to the camera body if the dark slide is not inserted properly." As we will see below, addition of a reseau plate at the focal plane of the cameras used on the lunar surface dictated modifications so that the dark slide could be removed before the magazine was mounted on the camera. To protect the film, the Apollo astronauts advanced the film by two or three frames after mounting the magazine on the camera and, again, before taking it off. |
The TM-8 Hasselblad magazine shown separate from the camera and with the dark slide in place.
The TM-8 Hasselblad magazine shown with the dark slide partially removed.
The TM-8 Hasselblad magazine shown with the dark slide totally removed.
Apollo 11 Hasselblad magazine R shown with the dark slide in place. Note the decals on the top surface. One is a reminder to remove the dark slide before mounting the magazine on the camera; this kept contact with the dark slide from damaging the reseau plate. The other decal indicates the f-stop settings to be used depending on Sun angle. The silver-colored, reflective coating means that this magazine could have been used out on the lunar surface. However, another magazine, also filled with color film, Mag S, was the one used during the EVA. Photographed at the National Air and Space Museum, Washington D.C. |
Apollo 11 Hasselblad magazine R shown with a large wire handle attached to the dark slide to accomodate the fingers of the pressure-suit glove and make removal of the slide a lot easier than it would have been otherwise. Photographed at the National Air and Space Museum, Washington D.C. |
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Apollo 11 Hasselblad magazine R showing the frame counters and the "Mag. R" decal. Photographed at the National Air and Space Museum, Washington D.C. |
A Hasselblad technician is shown working on lunar surface magazine, Mag L. Magazines with that designation were flown on Apollo 13, 14, 16, and 17. Dark slide wire handles can be seen on the magazines on the left. Hasselblad photograph Rec C-81-4 provided by Ulli Lotzmann. (Click on the image for a larger version.) |