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203FE with a problem. Any advice ?

Not the first time Hasselblad service is not able to correct a problem the first time a camera is offered for service.

Apparently there final check of items serviced needs to be improved.
Happy to report the technician who solves problems for me scores significantly better in this department.
 
jotloob said:
Did you inform HASSELBLAD service people about this "stupid" situation and if so , what was the answer ? ? ?
Click to expand...

I have, and the UK office was responsive, but the Service Dept in Sweden took 10 days to decide it might be the magnets. It went back to Hass UK yesterday.

Sadly, back in October, the UK technician believed it was the magnets, but decided a trip to HQ was advised. The cost of the magnet replacement is lower than the repair I've paid for already. However, both of those will be insignificant if we start to get into PCB replacements.

I've had a bad 12 months with camera gear, needing the Services of Hasselblad, Leica and Canon on several occasions each. Compared to the others, Canon was unbelievably good - 3 day turn-around on 3 occasions. Very professional in everything.

To be fair to Hasselblad; this fault is intermittent although it does happen 70% of the time after a period of rest and takes 8 hours to establish itself again. So, I can sympathise a little for what's passed.

Leica Service ? It's like dealing with an old fashioned bike shop: lovely people, great end result, but requiring a LOT of patience.

Thanks for the interest.
 
bladdered said:
Leica Service ? It's like dealing with an old fashioned bike shop: lovely people, great end result, but requiring a LOT of patience.

Thanks for the interest.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your report .
Now it is HASSELBLADS turn to show , that they can do better than LEICA .

BTW , your judgement of the LEICA service above is the best I have ever heard . :z04_auslachen: . Great . Thank you . But , sorry , seems to be true .
I have heard some horror stories about their service turnaround times too .
 
Hasselblad cameras are often professionally used.
Many owners depend on these cameras for their income.
Hasselblad service used to be fast and effective by any standards.
The question is why the service department in Sweden did not replace the magnets to increase the chances of solving the intermittent problem.

Leica does not seem to have any idea what kind of service professional users require and expect to get.
This is one of the reasons the Leica S2 camera did not find much buyers amongst with professional users.
 
203FE manual Shutter setting.

polypal said:
Hello Gary,

Sorry to hear of your misfortune.
These cameras used to be reliable workhorses without any issues.
With age and frequent use these bodies are now also developing problems.
Just had the display of my 203FE replaced at the cost of 970 euro.
Parts and labour do not come cheaply.

Hasselblad Germany is one of the few places besides the factory that has an experienced technician who is qualified to service these bodies.
Click to expand...

Yes ....My camera When I just bought, I had to return back to get the led display fix and after some years i found some manual shutted setting are not correct. Ex. flash syncro 1/90 can't do at 90 and it indicates only 1/60 setting.and some lover shutter speed it indicates previous lover or higher setting.

So I went to see <<one of the Second main hasselblad dealars>> In Paris and opened several Brand new 203FE's and checked the problem and found Two bodies had the same issues. I did not fix the problem. now out of the warrenty and i think it is too late.
It is such a good camera. I agree. The batteries can last long. I keep the battery polarity turned .in the camera and it is still there for more than 2years +++ no problem or dameges.
 
Well, it's back home again today. Appears to be OK at first sight.

Work done was cleaning the magnets and removing a piece of old tape from the shutter. Hmmm.

Not for me to question Victor, but wouldn't cleaning the magnets have been an obvious procedure to do for the defined problem ?

As for the old tape on the shutter - the mind boggles. Wasn't replace old tape .... or tape of unknown origin. Wonder if it was masking a hole ? Doh.

3 1/2 months out of action and £560 for want of cleaning 2 magnets.

To avoid further unwanted disappointment, should I now place it on a plinth in a glass cabinet ? :)
 
bladdered said:
To avoid further unwanted disappointment, should I now place it on a plinth in a glass cabinet ? :)
Click to expand...


First day shooting with my 203 FE was in auto mode.
All images were 100% correctly exposed.
Only thing to watch out for is slow shutterspeeds in auto mode.

The best thing to do is use the body.
With propper care it should last at least another five years before a service job becomes necessary.
Enjoy this great piece of Swedish engineering!

Paul
 
bladdered said:
As for the old tape on the shutter - the mind boggles. Wasn't replace old tape .... or tape of unknown origin. Wonder if it was masking a hole ? Doh.

3 1/2 months out of action and £560 for want of cleaning 2 magnets.
Click to expand...

Ouch.. that is real money. Maybe next time send a good bottle of single malt along with the camera to Gothenburg? They might fix it for free, given the cost of alcohol in Sweden.

That tape, gaffer tape maybe? :(

Wilko
 
560 GBP is less than 10% of the retail price of this camera.
RRP was over 7500 GBP.
Many users think Hasselblad cameras will go on forever without a service or repair job.
The last batch of 203 FE bodies were made in 2003, some are registered as 2004 cameras.
I can understand it hurts to pay for an unexpected repair but this is all in the game.
 
polypal said:
560 GBP is less than 10% of the retail price of this camera.
RRP was over 7500 GBP.
Many users think Hasselblad cameras will go on forever without a service or repair job.
The last batch of 203 FE bodies were made in 2003, some are registered as 2004 cameras.
I can understand it hurts to pay for an unexpected repair but this is all in the game.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I know. 7500 UKP was real money in those days, given the exchange rates and all that. Essentially it still is a lot of money to most people.
 
polypal said:
560 GBP is less than 10% of the retail price of this camera.
RRP was over 7500 GBP.
Many users think Hasselblad cameras will go on forever without a service or repair job.
The last batch of 203 FE bodies were made in 2003, some are registered as 2004 cameras.
I can understand it hurts to pay for an unexpected repair but this is all in the game.
Click to expand...

It's not the £560 per se, it's more a question of whether any cash was wasted. Acknowledging, and happy, that the camera is now ready for years of future service, I'm now returned to the situation I believed I was in 12 months ago when I bought it used. Hasselblad has dragged it's feet on solving the issue and possibly charged double what it might have done to just clean the magnets.

I am delighted that it now appears to be resolved, ecstatic that I've got a fully functioning fabulous 203FE with warranty ready to venture out with and excited at the prospect of using my 110FE, 80mm CFe and 50mm FLE in the coming weeks. :)

Thanks.
 
bladdered said:
I am delighted that it now appears to be resolved, ecstatic that I've got a fully functioning fabulous 203FE with warranty ready to venture out with and excited at the prospect of using my 110FE, 80mm CFe and 50mm FLE in the coming weeks. :)

Thanks.
Click to expand...

That is what it is all about.
Enjoy the camera!
 
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