What's new
Medium Format Forum

Register a free account now!

If you are registered, you get access to the members only section, can participate in the buy & sell second hand forum and last but not least you can reserve your preferred username before someone else takes it.

203FE with a problem. Any advice ?

bladdered

bladdered

Member
My recently acquired and out of warranty, used 203FE has developed a problem.

After being left for a few hours, the first firing of the shutter results in an extended exposure, say 10 seconds. Follow on frames are fine. Although it's not filling me with confidence, I can remove the back for the first firing of the shutter each time, but that's not right for me.

I've submitted it for an estimate to Hass UK and they tell me it needs to go to Sweden for a full estimate and it's likely to be expensive. After prodding them, the UK gave me a very high quote naming several parts which approach £1,000 in cost each. There's no way that would be viable.

There is a chance that it's just a problem with magnets and the cost might be an affordable few hundred pounds. That would be OK as my MF kit is built around the 203FE. If repair costs kill this unit off, I won't be buying another 203FE and that mens selling my 110 f2 and 60-120mm zoom, both of which are terrific. The cost of an estimate from the factory is £200 incl postage.

My question is, has anybody seen a problem like this before; was it fixed and what was the eventual cost ? I'm ready to pay £800, say, to return this to excellent working condition, but there's no point funding the estimate if it's a non-starter.

Gary
 
(?)

Hum, in witch mode does it happen ?

Does it happen even if you make a "wake up !" with left bouton to make a new measure ?
 
Hi,
Happens in Auto and Manual Mode. TBH, can't specifically remember pressing the meter button in advance. Maybe yes, maybe no .... ?

Can you, or someone else, do a quick test for me and see if it has that effect. Hasselblad confirmed there was an intermittent fault.

Would be great news if it was idiot operator error, but fear not.

Thanks.
 
In manual mode it never arrived with my 203FE.
With D mode, it's possible that the body does not remember the metering after hours.

I remember that sometimes the shutter close and nothing. I needed to reload with clutch and then ok. When It arrived, the battery counted it's last days of life.
 
Not sure what you meant by this :"In manual mode it never arrived with my 203F"E. Never se D, just A and M.

When I first noticed a slow exposure, about 1 month ago, I changed the battery. Seemed to be OK, but it's had near zero use in the past 9 months since I bought it.

It's in very clean condition, near mint, no signs of damage or maltreatment. Been negotiating addition of a CFV-39. Hey-ho.
 
It worked okay after replacing the battery?

If I recall, that camera weakens batteries when left untouched. If you aren't using it, remove the battery. But put the battery drawer back in so you don't lose it ... they are very expensive to replace.

-Marc
 
fotografz said:
It worked okay after replacing the battery?

If I recall, that camera weakens batteries when left untouched. If you aren't using it, remove the battery. But put the battery drawer back in so you don't lose it ... they are very expensive to replace.

-Marc
Click to expand...


No , Marc
It is the 201F which weakens the batteries in a very short time .
Mine does and I know of three other guys having the same trouble .
My 203FE still works perfectly even when the batteries are installed for 1/2 year . That was the result of a test I made to proof , that the 201F has an issue .
As you say , removal of the battery when the camera is not used , is the best way to handle that issue .
 
Thanks, guys.

I've asked Hasselblad to send it to Sweden for a quote. Prices are crazy for the 203FE, so with luck it will be my best option.

Marc, this isn't the 203FE I bought from you; that went with the sale of the CFV. I replaced yours with this one to continue with the FE lenses, especially the FE110 f2.0

If I don't repair this one, I'm more likely to resign myself to the 503 Series without meter, E tubes, E backs, winder and zoom, or step away from Hasselblad altogether after 30 years. :-(

Gary
 
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.
 
Thanks for that.

So, you weren't in doubt whether it was worth repairing or not. I'm not aware of what a 203FE body will cost to replace. Don't think mine has had a hard like because of the general condition, but maybe age is an issue with the early electronic components.

Think I'd rather get this one repaired than risk an unknown body off ebay.

Gary
 
I've used a 205tcc body that chewed through the batteries and experienced the same issue you describe when the batteries were low. The batteries in that camera depleted even when not in use, as Marc has pointed out. Is the fcc different in that regard?
 
Well, it'd be nice if that is the issue as that's lowest cost. I had recently replaced the battery because it was doing the same thing with the previuos battery, but my replacement wasn't fresh, although it was new and within time.

The body has now gone back to Sweden for an estimate, cost £200 inc pp. I did however ask the UK to check the battery wasn't the source, so somebody will be embarrassed if it is.

Does anybody know if the Estimate price, £125, is deductible from the repair bill ?

Surprisingly, I've gone from - if it's expensive, it's scrap, to, I want this repairing at any reasonable price. Four things have caused that:

I've been a Hass V shooter for many years and in spite of having very fine digital gear on hand, I want the Hass to be central to my future shooting

I don't want to dispose of the 110 F2 and 60-120 FE lenses and buy a 503, nice as they are. I want to retain TTL and E auto extension tubes.

I really don't like the H Series form, although I'm being encouraged to get over that and AF would be handy.

The value of a faulty body is near zero; factory serviced is high. So the repair is self-funding, providing it stays working.

Gary
 
perspective

Keep in mind the 203FE was an expensive body, RRP was about 6000 euro.
With bodies over ten years old and in some cases hard professional use a well deserved service is often overdue.

A full CLA job excluding parts will be around 500 Euro + VAT.
Only Hasselblad service centers are qualified to service these complicated bodies.

A smart repairman without factory training and subsequent experience stays clear of these cameras.
 
polypal said:
Keep in mind the 203FE was an expensive body, RRP was about 6000 euro.
Click to expand...

I didn't know that. I was aware they were much more expensive than the 500 Series, but that's a big jump. It's not surprising though,Hasselblad is the best MF provider and this was the best of the line, 205 excluded of course.

Mine's a 1999 unit and in good general shape, unmarked. I've got big plans for it when it returns. Unfortunately, they clash with my big plans for other cameras. Ha !

How long does the factory take to do an estimate ? How long for a repair ? Have a feeling this is not a quick service. Still, no pain if it gets done 100% and they sort it for another 10+ years. I have no idea how thorough they are, but anticipate a professional service. Any experience here ?
 
Hasselblad service is quite good.
Worst part of this service is their poor communication with clients.

After sending your camera to Sweden it takes about six weeks for the service department of Hasselblad to start examining your camera.
Total staff of Hasselblad is now down to about 70 well motivated people.
That includes R&D, software development, production, service and sales departments, administration and management.

Long gone are the days when Victor Hasselblad wrote a personal letter to clients to confirm safe arrival of their camera.
He once excused himself for a delay of servicing a troublesome 1600F body to an American owner.
The camera arrived just before the Mid Summer festivities.
Victor decided it was better to start work on this camera after his staff returned from the mid summer break.

It takes 8 hours for an experienced repairman to disassemble the body, clean and inspect the parts and assemble the camera.
Due to the amount of work and subsequent cost low cost essential parts like shutter springs are replaced irrespective of their condition.
After approval of the estimate by the owner ot takes a couple of days to carry out the service.
You can expect the camera back in 5-10 days.

Compared with the service a well known manufacturer of 35 mm cameras offers Hasselblad is faster and less expensive.
To quote one of this forums highly respected users:
Whenever I send my camera to Solms I guess it is gone for a long Holiday at a Spa.............
 
Communication is not the best in class.

I sent an email asking for a visit to Sweden. No more feedback. Don't even know if the email landed. Whilst I'm looking forward to it's return, I'm not in any hurry, but I don't have a clue whether it can be repaired, or is affordable.

My SWC/M is also at Hass UK having a new focus barrel fitted so I can read the distance marks. Thought that would be a couple of days. It's also AWOL. Wonder if they will change springs and lube whilst it's in pieces. Be a shame to send it back in six months for a sticking shutter. I am really looking forward to the return of this body. Got myself a mint Voigtlander VF for it. Crystal clear.
 
Pleased to say it has been repaired and returned. Back in action in the next few days.

Thanks for your interest and comments. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top