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Hasselblad 203FE - good choise??


marco_casale

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If you like medium format and Hasselblad it's great to buy now when many photograpers sell good equipment cheap to go digital. :-)

 

I just got a 26 year old 2000FC, and I'm a little supprised over the qyality of this first 2000-model. I'd like to have a 201F or a 203FE, but I'm so far satisfied with my 503CW and 2000FC.

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The FP Blads are not welcomed by most independent repair facilities, so you're pretty much stuck with Hasselblad's obscene repair prices. And the 200-series are *very expensive* to have repaired. I had a 201F which the shutter was a little off, sent it to Hasselblad during the 14-day MBG period, and was given an estimate of $800 to replace the electronics. Of course I sent the camera back and didn't buy it. Personally since in order to get the full benefit of the 203FE you need both the FE or CFE lenses and the "E" backs, these are additional expenses you might want to consider. And when (not if) the V series is "retired", parts for the electronics of the 200-series will be the first to dry up. My advice is stick to the 500-series bodies.
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I would choose a Mamiya RZ 67 Pro II over the Hasselblad any day. The Mamiya is a

more modern up to date camera, has easier focussing, 6X7 format, a fantastic array

of lenses, and is less expensive. I used to have a hasselblad and sold all of my Hassy

equipment to switch to Mamiya, and I am much happier.

Brian

www.brianhallett.com

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The 203FE is currently under production so spare parts are available for the next 10 years, at least. In any case, a repair is expensive. If you handle the camera with care, the electronics will most propably fail first. It depends on your luck this will happen in 2, 5, 10, 20 years depends on your luck. However the electronics of a Hasselblad is not known to be particular delicate, so you can be safe for more than decade.

 

All in all, the 203FE is a photographers dream and may well worth the potential trouble. Myself I got a 2000FC/M and I am very happy with the machine but it may well be that the camera is unrepairable sometimes.

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hi,

i have used a 500cm for about 15 years. and loved it.

recently i chose to buy a *new* 203fe.

i spent a year pondering if i should buy it, considering things like

price, supportability, and compatability.

i love the new body. its great id reccomend it to anyone.

comparison between the 500cm and 203fe.. well their both 'blads so they are great,

but ther are like venus and mars. the 203fe is venus. so silky smooth.. the 500cm ruff and

tuff..

i havnt used the 503 since, but i still take it with me on as a backup. i probably will

continut to use both..

great stuff both of them..

d:-)

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ps .. i know not everyone is rich, im certainly not.

but second hand cameras dont give any money to hasselblad.

and it doesnnt incentivise them to enhance current production lines..

it seems that all the posts here is about buying second hand this second hand that..

there are some great incintives to buy new from hasselblad or their distributors.

i think that if you weighted up the pros and conns there may be little difference in proce

after all.

d:-)

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I rarely used the 501CM after purchasing the 203FE. I find the 203 is very intuitive to use and a camera with many features. My advice for used is to either get it checked over by a qualified tech. or at least ask the seller to let you run a roll of film through before buying. The camera is also quite rugged as I used mine in -25C weather without a problem (at that temp. the focal plane shutter is more accurate that your lens shutters...especially at slower speeds).
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I just sold a 203FE, but i really enjoyed it. It's an amazing, versatile camera, especially

for travel/out-of-studio work, when you might not want to carry and use a handheld

meter. You can use either the focal plane or leaf shutter lenses. The high-end shutter

speed is very useful versus what you get with a 500-series, especially if you like to

isolate focus using fast film in daylight. And, you can use that 110/f2 lens that

everyone claims is the "best lens ever." I never got a chance to, but i'm sure someday

i'll have another chance.

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The 203 wil act like a 503 when the battery is removed. It will also act like a 503 when you mount any lense that is not electronic. The only conveince is the auto metering but if you are competent then you can meter adn shhot with a 503. I passed up a full 203 kit last year with 50mm 2.8 110mm 2.0 and 150mm 2.8 at a truly great price because I have used the 500 series for 38 years and I like the no batter aspects. I also have a rollie slx and the batter requirement drives me nuts. I keep it because I am too lazy to sell it.
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Edward,<br><br>You wrote: <i>It will also act like a 503 when you mount any lense that is not electronic.</i><br><br>That, of course , is not quite correct. A 203 will act very much like a 203 even with lenses that are not "electronic". The only restriction to its function due to using non-"electronic" lenses is that you need to meter/work with the lens stopped down.<br>You still get the built-in meter (not in a 503), still get the metering modes (ditto), and still have the choice of using either lens shutter (with the apropriate non-"electronic" lenses) or focal plane shutter (allowing the use of all the faster non-"electronic" shutterless Hasselblad lenses, plus those shutterless special purpose lenses. Again, not an option the 503 offers).<br><br>The battery-dependency issue, was it at one time considered a definite con, has proven itself to be a non-issue, really. Besides, with the battery removed, and provided you have shuttered lenses to use, a 203 will act exactly as a 503 (both with "electronic" and non-"electronic" lenses).
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