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Motor Drive for 203FE

bladdered

Member
Would anybody recommend the use of the motor drive on a 203FE with film.

One's been offered to me at a good price and I'm uncertain as to whether it is useful for use as an accessory for weddings, portrait and roadside (rather than typical street) shooting.

Any advice ? Thanks
 
Sure it can be useful for these applications. I happened to have two of these winders, so I sold one recently. They typically go for less than 100 Euros at the auction site. Ergonomically it is a bit funny, do not mistake it for a handgrip. But I am not a fan of the winder CW either.

Ulrik
 
The converted CW winder for use with 200 series cameras is the best I know.
That winder is very rare.
If I am correct a CW winder can still be converted to fit the 200 series.
It will not be cheap but it is by far the best solution.
The CW winder can be used as a grip.
The original 200 series winder is not to be used as a grip.


Paul
 
My answer is "Yes". The motor is really usefull for portraits, and is particulary well done.

Do like me: I had the chance to get a 203 motor at good price, so I tried it and think that I will not loose money if I resale it after a try.
I use it with film and CFV (be carrefull about the fact that CFV allows only 1 shot for 1.5 sec !) and have this motor with me but not allways on the camera.
Now I'm looking to a second (very) used 203 motor: I want to modify it to install a flash grip.


The goal with a Hasselblad is not to get speedy shots but the winder helps for concentration as you can continue your focusing job between these 0.8. This engine is particulary practical as no button, nothing is needed. Just put it on and go on. If you want to remove the engine, it's easy to do it and fast. With this motor you continue to focus with right hand.
BTW and very important with this motor you cann use the neckstrap as well witch is not possible with the 503CW motor.

I have the chance to have the 3 types of motor (ELX 503CW+ winder and the 203+ motor)
I far prefer the "203 motor". The 503CW is really a punishment on work: It realy take 1.3 sec between 2 shots and this is never said, your are blind for 1.1 sec ! Yes the miror take his place at the end. With the 203 the miror come home as fast as possible. To me 1 second of blind time is far enought to loose concentration. With the 503 you need a close table to put the camera when you explain the next picture and you cann not use the neckstrap when you change lenses ¨
BTW with lenses ! With the 503 motor type, you need to remove the lens to put or remove the motor. And what happens with finishing batteries ? If you succed to take a picture, then you are dead ! You can't remove the lens so not the engine. You need to change the batteries.
If you use normal batteries, it "bibs" and not allows to take a picture, but in certain case you can.
The 203 moror need only 5 batteries for 3'000 shots at 1.3 shot per sec.
The 503 motor need 6 batteries for 2'000 shot at 0.8 shot per sec.

No, I will never recomande the modified 503 motor for 203 ! Except for investisment or colectors.
With the 203 motor you can use the flash braket, the 503 motor grip, is good for AF camera.
 
Excellent, balanced response ! Read the first two and concluded that I'd leave it be. Then the third arrived.

Be best with 220 film, methinks. ?

Best of ten ?? Ha.

Sold my 203FE with CFV back, but bought a replacement mint 203FE within a week because I had seller's remorse and great FE lenses that I couldn't use on my 503Cx. Is this Hasselblad itch a life-long committment ? Only 24 years into it so far !

Gary
 
Sold my 203FE with CFV back, but bought a replacement mint 203FE within a week because I had seller's remorse and great FE lenses that I couldn't use on my 503Cx. Is this Hasselblad itch a life-long committment ? Only 24 years into it so far !

Gary

Do not worry, Hasselblad itch happens a lot more..........
 
My only thought is to make sure you get the newer version of the winder for the 203. I understand that Hasselblad made what *appears* to be the identical winder for the 2000-series cameras and they will, at times, cause the 200-series cameras to jam.

The way to tell is the winder has 2 blue stripes on it. Get the newer one and save the potential problems.
 
Winders for 2000 and 200 series cameras.

The difference between the early winder and the later one for the 2000 series is that early winders have contacts to avoid the loss of an image when the winder is removed and refitted to the camera.

Both winders can be used for 2000 as well as 200 series cameras.
I did not have any problems like jamming with either of these winders.


winders 2000-200 blue stripe.jpg

Left later winder with blue stripes.


winders 2000 and 200.jpg

Left early winder with contacts.


winder 2000 contacts.jpg

Contacts on early winder
 

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This was really interesting information which I didn't know. OK here comes the tricky question -

Rebuilding the 503CW winder - I guess that is basicly to change the fitting of the winder to the camera?

How much work is this for a skilled fine mechanics?

Are there large/other dissimilarities in functioning between the 200 winders and CW winder?

Cheers,

Ronald
 
Fascinating. Based on the positive info above, mine is already on it's way.

I know not whether it has blue stripes, but I suspect it has as the previous owner had immaculate equipment and it's where my 203FE and newer 80mm CFE came from.

Thanks for the info, chaps.
 
Hello Ronald,

No idea how much work it is and if there are any parts needed that have to be made up.

The rare factory converted winders are getting lots of money.
For some reason converted winders seem to take less time to cock the camera.
They are quieter too. That is not very difficult because the CW/CX winder will wake up a bear doing his wintersleep.


Paul
 
Hello Ronald,

No idea how much work it is and if there are any parts needed that have to be made up.

The rare factory converted winders are getting lots of money.
For some reason converted winders seem to take less time to cock the camera.
They are quieter too. That is not very difficult because the CW/CX winder will wake up a bear doing his wintersleep.


Paul

You might have saved my life then. I won't take a CW winder converted by myself next time I'll get into the bears den. They are usually very grumpy about being disturbed in their sleep :angry:

Ronald
 
I know not whether it has blue stripes, but I suspect it has as the previous owner had immaculate equipment and it's where my 203FE and newer 80mm CFE came from.

Pleased to say that the drive arrived today with the go-faster blue stripes.

Hadn't realised how 'un-grippable' it is.

Certainly leaves one with nothing to do but compose and focus.
 
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