Need advice/knowledge please on 203/205.

[bcphoto]

I have a few questions about Hasselblad even though I've been a user since 1974 I have little knowledge of various camera model numbers.

1. Which is preferable, the 203FE or the 205TCC ? I think there is some difference in metering but that is all I know.

2. Will the 503CW winder work on the 203FE?

3. The H lenses have a different mount than the "C/CF" lenses?

4. The 203FE requires FE lenses (and can use CF)?

5. Is there a 28mm or 30mm in the FE series lenses or is a 40mm still the widest?

6. I've seen references to a 212 body -- any info or is it a mistake?

There are NO Hasselblad dealers around here to ask -- no equipment to be found.

Thanks in advance.

BC

 

[polypal]

The 205TCC was the first model in the 200 series.
Initially that camera knew some problems that were corrected later with modifications.
Besides the fact that the 205TCC has spotmetering part of the programming also differs i.e. flash adjustment for fill in flash.
The later 205FCC has similar facilities as the 203FE with identical flash adjustment.
Like the TCC the FCC version has spotmetering.
Both 205 cameras were designed with the zone system in mind.
Used in auto mode with aperture priority the 203FE is more usefull.

The winder for 503CXi and 503CW is not suitable for 200 series bodies.
These have their own winder p.n. 44069, NLA from Hasselblad now.

H lenses have a different mount and can not be used with V series cameras.

The 203 FE can be used with all lenses produced for the V series since 1957.
Its metering system will also function but can only be used in stop down mode.
CF(E) lenses allow for immediate view after an exposure if used in "F" mode.
Light metering with CF lenses is as for C lenses: only stop down.

The widest lens for the FE series with databus is the 40 mm CFE now superceded by the CFE IF.

There is no 212 body. That is probably an error.
There was a 202FA body with less options compared to the 203FE.

No idea where here is.
Hasselblad has dealers in most parts of the world.
Not all of them are familiar with V series cameras.

 

[bcphoto]

Thanks Polypal

Thanks for setting me straight. The numbers for the 200 series are counter-intuitive it seems.

I was hoping that Hasselblad had developed a wider lens for the F series or 2xx cameras since the lenses didn't have shutters but I guess my hopes are dashed.

HERE is Indianapolis, Indiana, USA -- a town that used to have 2-3 stores displaying Hasselblad and Leica and now has none. Nikons, Canons, Sony etc abound -- the world here is 35mm style. It is understandable though since this is a big racing/sports town for shooters and all the large product studios have collapsed. I've been shooting with toy cameras for the last 7 years and I can no longer stand it. My 32 year photo career was mostly with large format and Hasselblad. I miss shooting square tremendously. The 35mm frame is a waste and actually causes a photog to change the composition to match that confinement. I'm going back to Hassey one way or another. Fortunately I kept all my V series cameras (Sinar as well) and resisted the urge to Ebay it all. When I get that CFVII or 39 back and a 40mm I can Ebay the entire lot of Canon.

Funny how I had 2 lenses for Hasselblad and rented a wide to make a ton of money and the 35mm style requires the ownership of a bushel basket of lenses.

Thanks again and I like this more serious forum but wish there were more picture posts of samples from CFVII and 39 -- especially portraits.

BC

 

[fotografz]

You should be made aware that the 500 series lenses with leaf shutters can be used on the 200 series cameras ... they can be set to F to use the focal plane shutter in the 200 camera, or the camera can be set so you can use the 500 series lenses as leaf shutters. In all cases the in-camera meter can be use ... but when using the Leaf shutter lenses you will have to transfer the reading to the lens manually.

So, you most certainly can use the 40mm on the 200 camera.

Also, while the H lenses cannot be used on the V camera, the 500 series Leaf shutter lenses can be used on the H camera via the CF adapter ... which is fully auto aperture ... the benefit of the H camera used this way is in-camera metering AND focus confirmation in the viewfinder.

 

[polypal]

Not all lenses with leaf shutters have the option to use F mode.
This goes only for leaf shutter lenses from the CF, CFi and CFE series.

Quite a lot of "C" series lenses are still in daily use.
These do not offer F mode but can be used with the focal plane shutter of the camera by selecting "B".


Paul

 

[bcphoto]

Polypal

Can the 202fa be converted to digital? Is it more advanced than the 203fe or 205? Or just a different metering set up? It appears the manual function of the 202 is electronically selectable and not done with the mechanical ring like the 203/205.

Will my Pm51 prism work with these bodies? I noticed that there is a lcd readout above the ground glass.

Thanks,

BC

 

[polypal]

The 202FA is basically a economy version of the 203FE.
It can only be used in aperture priority mode.
Fastest shutter speed is 1/1000 s against 1/2000 for the other 200 series bodies.

The 202FA allows only for lenses with F mode i.e. F, FE, CF, CFE and CFi lenses
C series lenses can not be used.

The 202FA can be converted to digital.
The PME 51 fits all 200 series bodies, it has twin blue stripes!

 

[bcphoto]

Polypal

On Ebay there is a nice looking 202fa but in the description the seller explains that there is 1/12 stop shutter increments in auto mode and 1/2 stop shutter increments in manual mode -- that is why I thought it had manual but was controlled by the digital display rather than the shutter speed ring which it doesn't have.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Hasselblad-202F...ERAS?hash=item33554d45ef&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Per your info I will set my sights on the 203FE -- eventually.


Thanks again,

BC

 

[polypal]

The seller is right.
We often refer to the 202FA as the automatic camera because the large selector for shutter speeds is missing.
In manual mode the cameras shutter can be adjusted with half stops increments by using the blue arrowed dip switches at the side of the body.

What does the 202FA not have that you wil find with a 203 FE?

Auto bracketing, 1/2000 shutterspeed, no leaf shutter operation.
The focal plane shutter allows only for 1/90 s highest shutter speed with flash



Paul

 

[Thomas73]

HERE is Indianapolis, Indiana, USA -- a town that used to have 2-3 stores displaying Hasselblad and Leica and now has none. Nikons, Canons, Sony etc abound -- the world here is 35mm style. It is understandable though since this is a big racing/sports town for shooters and all the large product studios have collapsed. I've been shooting with toy cameras for the last 7 years and I can no longer stand it.
BC

Hello,

What about Robert's Distributor? I traveled through Indianapolis several times and remember their store in the downtown is pretty wide. But I must admit I do not remember if they had Hasselblad gears for demo...

Anyway, I own a 203FE but use it for films only. I did not have it converted for digital (MF digital backs are very expensive - I am not a pro - & I did not want to lose the ISO setting transfer between E back & body). It is a wonderful camera with FE & CFE lenses. FE 110/2 & 60-120/4.8 are outstanding lenses. I use it with a PME-45 finder. So, I have a full range of light metering methods. The only critic I make is about the FE winder dedicated to 200-series cameras : the ergonomy is poor and have nothing to do with the CW winder. That is the only reason why I sometimes wonder if a 503 CW would not have been a better choice!

According to me, the 203 is a better choice than the 202. At first, I hesitated to get the 205 but I thought the 203 light metering would be more polyvalent and had an opportunity for a nice used one first. Maybe I will get a 205 as a second body if I encounter a good trade on a nice one...

Actually, 503 CW could be a better choice from an economic point of view :
pros
- fully compatible with digital backs
- all mechanical (could be more convenient for maintenance in the future)
- add a PME finder and you get 3 light metering modes
- needs CF/CFi/CFE lenses that could be used with an H-series body
- optional winder with nice ergonomy (!)

cons
- not compatible with FE lenses that offer wide apertures and do not have equivalent version in CFi/CFE brand (110/2 & 60-120/4.8).
- fully manual
- needs a PME finder to get an integrated light meter

So, I think the real question is : 203FE or 503CW?

I would answer :
- 203FE if you plan to stay with films and want a system close to 35mm SLR,
- 503CW if you plan to move to digital soon.

But... the replies could be reversed!

 

[bcphoto]

Thomas73

Thanks for the info.

Roberts Imaging did sell Hasselblad, Contax at one time but they dropped all medium format. The last MF I saw there was the Mamiya AFD camera and back as a package -- nice setup for the money at that time. They don't deal in used MF either. Basically they are now a store for journalists, wedding, amateur shooters.

I own a barely used 503CW/winder/PM51 that I bought at Roberts back in 2000. So I'm familiar with what it offers and doesn't offer. My conclusion is that I need to buy a 203FE body and maybe the 110 f2 for it. Also I need to buy the 40mm CFE to add to my old C 80mm and 120 S-Planar. That may change depending on what digital back I buy.

The CFVII is very attractive price wise -- but has that crop factor problem causing me to really need the 40mm. The CFV39 has the 1.1 crop and is at least twice the money but worth it and maybe I could go for a 50mm with that.

Complicating the issue is the Phase One P25+ back (refurbished price) that has 9 micron pixels and 1.1 crop -- both of those would be nice in one package. The Phase back mount I believe will also allow a rotation of the back.

A new Hasselblad back is the better deal and has no sync wire. It is a shame though that Hasselblad didn't incorporated a back rotation for the 39mp.

BC

 

[polypal]

None of the Imacon/Hasselblad DBs offer rotation as feature.
It may have to do with their opinion about engineering and stability.

It would be nice to hear the reason why there is no rotating back.


Paul