catherineadams

Congratulations on your future trip--it's one I'm planning once I finish my phd

in art history--to reconnect with the spiritual after so much time with the

academic. Photography is a large part of this experience, though the

connection between photography and spirituality is beyond my ability to

articulate lucidly. Yet I do not want the equipment to get in the way,

particularly the weight or the quest for technical perfection (slide film, tripod,

etc.) Personally, I'm leaving my slr's and medium format at home and bringing

a small rangefinder with one lens and 400 speed film (bw), with the idea that

a monopod can serve as a walking stick. Note, I'm the sort of person who will

carry a full medium format kit for 12 hours while traveling, but a pilgrimage

seems to call for a more restrained and humble approach.

When I was faced with the same question, I bought a 203. The metering has

been marvelous when traveling, and it works quite well with none fe lens. (I

agree with the reply above--the 60cf(i) is an excellent focus length for this

camera and the square format.) While I do not have any regrets for making

this choice, I think your concern for reliability years down the road means

buying a 500 series camera. I had to get my 203 shudder fixed (don't use J&

C Classic film for this camera--there were no start markings on my sample, so

I aligned it wrong and it ripped out the shudder on the last frame. My fault and

foolishness). Hasselblad NJ fixed this, but they broke the metering in doing

so. A complaint I've seen (not a lot, but I've seen it) is that something

inevitably gets broke when they fix a 200 camera. Last--but certainly not

least, given your concerns--the repair man actually said to me that there aren't

a lot of parts for fixing the 200 in the long term. Imagine my eyebrows

shooting way up. He said they are focusing on keeping the H1 electronics

available.

Therefore, buy the mechanical camera. I'll be doing so when I get a second

body.

Catherine Adams

I just had my shutter fixed on the 203. I originally thought it could be done by

KEH, but they had to send it to Hasselblad--they said that only H could fix it

due to the electronics involved. It cost $600. It's a lot, but worth it. The

camera came back with the entire metering system broken, but their warrenty

(6months) covered that repair.