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Data bus error on FE lens?

Z

zthee

Member
Just got a 350mm f4 FE lens today! It's a monster and I love it. Unfortunately it has a small error, with the aperture set to f4 my 203FE displays 2.8. And the same along the entire range, so f32 is displayed as f22. Not so good. None of my 3 other lenses does this. So I figured there is something wrong with the lens, and not the camera.

I've googled some, and it seems to be an easy error to fix?
Anyone else has had any experience with this?

Thanks!
 
I had bad expérience 4 years ago with a FE 110: between 2.8 and 4 only it showed 11 (correct for other values) and of course the exposur was wrong. I sold it as a F lens and found another one. If your lens is only wrong for one stop, it's not a great problem I think. Now I have digital back and rarely use light mesure as I change iso setting of the back often and do not waste time to change it on the body.
 
Thanks!

No, I should be able to correct it by setting the camera to -1EV. And just shoot away.

Luckily I got 3 months warranty (even thought it was a second hand item) from the company I bought it from. Bad things is I needed it for the x-mas trip to Venice this weekend. So I'll have to sort it out after that...
 
Not sure you need to correct by -1 as the body thinks that your lens is a FE 300mm 2.8 one ( Great cash value !!) with a grey filter.
 
Haha! If I could get a tele photo power pack for the same price, I'd be the happiest man alive!

But they've agreed to send it to Hasselblad in Gothenburg, and hopefully it won't cost too much :)
 
zthee said:
No, I should be able to correct it by setting the camera to -1EV. And just shoot away.
Click to expand...

Now I've been thinking about this.

I shouldn't set the camera to -1EV, as then I'll underexpose? What I need to do is set the camera to +1EV. The camera thinks it's 5.6, but it's in reality 8, which means I need more light than the camera thinks I do? But this only applies if I shoot at high f-numbers? As if I have it set to 4 (the camera thinks it 2.8), the camera will not close the aperture - so it just measures incoming light - Which means it doesn't matter if it's 2.8 or 4, the end result will stil be the same?

To recap:
Lens set to 4. Camera says 2.8. Amount of light hitting the film is the same. No exposure compensation needed.
Lens set to 8. Camera says 5.6. Amoun of light hitting the film will be less than the camera thinks. Need to overexpose with +1EV.

Or have I, as usual, got it completely wrong?

It's times like these I wish I had a digital back, so I don't have to shoot a roll of film guessing what the result might be.
 
No, do not change iso setting (-1). Let's belive your body that your lens is a 2.8.
BTW, You have to try if the mesure is the same if you close the operture, it may be the same.
With digital back I do not use anymore the cell of my 203FE, wast of time. Histograme is far better tool to learn and be sure of what you do.
 
I've sent the lens to Hasselblad now. Hopefully it won't be gone too long.

Come to think about it - There seems to be an accessory rail on the front of the lens, almost like a sight? Should it be used for anything?
 
I bought an FE80 from KEH a few months ago with the same problem. I returned it with a detailed write up about the problem but a week after I returned it the lens appeared on their site again. I doubt they fixed it so buyer beware. Every aperture setting except two showed radically different readings on my 202FA.
 
Data Bus error

I put this question before, and I have tried My 203fe with two Fe lenses when I have seen this thread.

To make sure if there is wrong with the lenses or the body. The result is both lenses setting gives the same informations ( as error indicated at the same shutter setting on manual. at 1/90 as 1/60 and 1/125 as 1/60 and at some slower speeds) So this shows me there is something wrong on the body. I guess. I was hoping this error was due a lens fault and now I know is not and the other way round.
 
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