Hasselblad 503 vs. 203

I am moving up to MF. I about purchased a 503CW when I read about the

price reduction of the 203FE to $3,175. This being a very

significant reduction I am rethinking my choice.

 

I do mostly portraits of family and friends but would also like to do

some still life and landscape work.

 

My question is for only about $1,500 more should I step up to the

203FE. Either choice is a significant investment and I only want to

do this once.

 

I am leaning toward the 203FE with the 110FE f2 lens.

 

I currently use Nikon F100 and 28-70 f2.8 AFS and 80-200 f2.8.

How much of your photographic commitments require any medium format? Then determine the highest priority "tool" (lens or accessory) needed, then determine which Hasselblad channel to start with. The electronic, focal plane shutter models are more expensive as a system, yet offer some outstanding versatility. The 500 series with leaf shutter lenses cover a lot of bases too, but do it more con$ervatively. Price the accessories that you really need from each channel and that may clear up your direction. There is some interchangeability either way, but the more defined your needs are, the easier it will be to decide. Hasselblad offers some comparative feature lists that may prove useful. Ernst Wildi's latest edition may provide you with more info to help you compare. The book would be a cheap investment before plowing money into either choice.

I got my 203FE some four weeks ago. With the body/magazine I decided to buy the Distagon 2.8/50, the Planar 2.0/110 plus the converter TC1.4xE. For some convenience I also got me the PM45.

 

My main system is Contax from rangefinder (G2) to SLR (RTSIII, N1). So the glass is in the same league. I traded in my 645 for the Hassi because I love the quare.

 

Why a 203FE and not a 50x?

 

- I use my cameras mostly in aperture priority mode. So it was much more convienient having a MF camera with the same ability. Although owning a handheld meter it is not my way of taking pictures. I'm seeking for a good balance of technic and intuition in a tool.

 

- In addition with the 200 series the mirror is swinging back automatically. Not a big issue but very convenient.

 

- I can buy into used CFi glass later if I need flash sync up to 1/500 for studio work later without problem. (sorry guys, I do not need 1/8000 flash sync et al. Look at your TTL systems SLR and you will find that indoor flash at parties, weddings etc is mostly synchronized around 1/100 from the cameras electronic. Fill in flash outside is a different story)

 

If you can live with some battery dependency of the 203 and if you are willing to invest heavily into the F glass you'll get a great equipment. It is already today a "will probably never be sold" camera to me.

 

Just a warning at the end: Once you saw good MF slides you may trash your small format equipment (especially if MF is done with Zeiss glass :-). But be aware, for some jobs the 135 is the equipment of choice.

 

Andre

B-

 

I really struggled with the same question. I experimented with a

Leica to improve 35mm imaging, then tried several MF cameras.

Ultimately, I bought a 501CM, which turned out to be the right

decision.

 

Roughly, here's the issue rundown:

 

1. METERING. Three choices:

A. Prism Meter: Most people prefer Hassie's PM45 system, with

spot, center-weighted, etc. Good news is accuracy and ease of

use. Bad news is expense and weight.

B. Built-in Meter (on the 203): It's like your 35mm setup, but it's a

mighty expensive choice.

C. Hand-Held Meter: I bought myself a Gossen Luna Pro Digital

F for a few hundred dollars (new). It's the size of a deck of cards,

very accurate, and far more versatile than most built-in meters.

It's by far the least expensive choice, and it works just fine.

 

2. FLUID USE: Your Nikon 100 does it all. A Hasselblad does

very little, which is, ultimately, its power. Force yourself to meter

and image slowly-- and your pictures will improve. They really

will. But for snapshot pictures of people-- family shots, etc.--

Hasselblad is not a wonderful choice. It's cumbersome to

handle, the flash situation requires study and care, and, frankly,

most subjects will grow impatient. For landscapes and travel

photog, it's a great camera. But if you're thinking that the 203 will

transform the Hasselblad system into a high-quality

point-and-shoot that does it all, you need to spend more time

playing with the camera. Rent one for a week; you'll learn more

than you will reading on the web.

 

You get the idea. To read some rather extensive notes and

reviews related to my (similar) journey, visit:

 

http://www.voicenet.com/~howardb/photography.html

I have the Hasselblad 501cm but have recently bought the Contax 645 for AF and the added shutter speed You might want to check it out....I love both cameras, but the choice is going to be what YOU prefer and want to shoot and spend. Rent and see how you like the two cameras....Good luck!

You are moving from small format to medium format, so there is a natural tendency to make the camera work as similar as possible to what you are used to already. However, medium format has it's very own charm which you can only discover by using it.

 

For example, when I myself made "the switch" about 12 years ago, I bought a 503CX with a PM 45 prism. I sold the prism a few months later cause I had fallen totally in love with the waist level finder. I get MUCH better compositions by seeing the entire picture ON the screen, as opposed to looking THROUGH a lens.

 

I may be mistaken, but it is my impression that you need the prism for metering on the FE203 (???)If so, for that reason alone I would not buy it, but that's my taste and style. Using a handheld meter (incident meter) has made me much more aware of light and shadow and contrast situations - and a better photographer, I believe.

 

"For only $1500" - you can buy another (used but like new) lens!

 

If you buy, I suggest www.keh.com - I have bought many Hassie lenses from them over time, if they rate it as LN or LN- it really is indistinguishable from new for a fraction of the price. They are a bit more expensive than let's say eBay, but have a very generous return policy.

 

I would go with the 503CW with CF100 lens (or CF60, which is actually my favourite and most used Hassie lens!!!)

it is a beautiful camera, but I decided against it. the display is poorly implemented, backlit in red, and unreadable without a prism or magnifier. if they switch to an LED readout like the Rollei 6008i, I would buy one tomorrow. and so would just about every wedding photographer I have talked to. I just wish the FE110 f2 would fit on my 503CW.

I agree with Andreas & Daniel. The 503 will do what you ask of it. KEH is a great source for used HB equipment. And don't ignore the 60mm

CB lens - has to be one of the best I've used. I bought a 50mm & like the slightly wider angle of view & was about to sell my 60 CB, but decided not to.

The point has been made that the 503 will do everything you want. But remember that a 203 will do everything a 503 will do (including operating without battery), and then some.

The convenience of having a (very good) built-in meter alone will, in my mind, justify the extra expense.

Just to correct Andreas' confusion on the 203 metering - no, the 203 does not require a prism to meter. The 20x bodies meter behind the lens, reflecting off the shutter curtain, not in the finder. I much enjoy the conveniences of the 203, but the shutter is electronic. This can be both a good thing and a bad thing. It depends on your values, comfort levels, and remembering to bring along a spare battery.

If it is sharp pictures that you want then you can only go for leaf shutters, large MF shutters tend to cause camera shake at suprisingly high shutter speeds, that was the reason I went from pentax 67 to 503/555 combo and part of the reason Large format is so good.

Just my 2cents worth. regards Sean

Hello!

 

Because of all my experiences: Go for the Hasselblad 503CW, forget the

203FE. With a 203 you will not get better quality, the 200 system is only a little bit more "comfortable", but also much more

delicate. Keep it simple and spend most money for the lenses (i.e. CFi 100 instead of CFE 80, Superachromat's etc.)!

This makes a difference.

 

Best regards,

Guido Puttkammer

I am not trying to start a Hassy vs Rollei war, but perhaps you should also consider the Rollei 6000 series. It wouldn't appeal to those who aren't into batteries, but certainly if automation is interesting to you, it is one very serious contender in 6x6 format.

 

TTL metering regardless of viewfinder, central (leaf) shutters, access to quite a comprehensive line up of Zeiss and Schneider lenses. There are plenty of interesting user Rollei 6008 stories here on Photo.net. Price competitive and especially so when comparing it against an equivalent Hassy with automation.

 

Sure there are downsides too. I wish that renting Rollei gear was even 1/100 as easy as renting Hasselblad gear for those infrequently used items. Far fewer knowledgable dealerships.

 

But perhaps worth considering. May as well have some fun spending the imaginary dollars prior to plunking down the real ones.

 

cheers - Michael

I spent three hours with the 203FE and finally succumbed to its lure. at USD $3175 I couldn't resist as I need multiple-exposure, metered exposures up to 90 seconds, 1/2000 second, and the 110FE f2 lens. I also heard that this is not a life-time price reduction, but a Hasselblad USA promotion that has a limited lifespan.

Kinda makes me embarrassed to say that my 500C made in 1958 still shoots great pictures in the back country, wears out no batteries and I have less than $2k tied up in camera, lenses, backs, flash, shade,case, tripod, and my light meter. We won't discuss $$$$$ tied up in my Canon outfit.