Hasselblad 2000?

[abruzzi]

Specifically the 2000FC, 2000FC/M, and 2000FC/W. What is the general consensus on these cameras? do they have major flaws? are they serviceable? I wouldn't mind a medium format camera with a 1/2000 top shutter speed. I heard the early focal plane Hasselblads (1000, 1600) had serious reliability issues.

I understand that you can mount a C series lens, set the shutter to B and use the focal plane shutter. Can they go the other way and disable the focal plane shutter and shoot the leaf shutter?

 

[Sirius Glass]

My Hasselblad repairman at Samys advises against the 2xx and 2xxx series because the focal plane shutters are fragile [a finger poke can take one out] and because some shutter repair parts and not available. Samys will not let him touch one much less service one. I am very happy with the 503 CX.

 

[Karl K]

My experience was bad with the 2000FC.
The shutter was unreliable and too expensive to repair.
Yes, you could mount a C lens and use either shutter, but the value of 1/2000th second shutter speed really only became useful with electronic flash.
In that case, you had to use the focal plane camera shutter.
Unless you are shooting electronic fill flash outdoors in bright light or shooting sports or birds, why would you need a shutter speed above 1/500th second?

 

[gorbas]

I have 2000 FC/W. As I understand there is just one guy somewhere in EU who can still can fix them. No issues for me, so far! Now I jings it! You can use either C lenses shutter (C setting-no need for B) or its own focal shutter.

 

[Pieter12]

My experience was bad with the 2000FC.
The shutter was unreliable and too expensive to repair.
Yes, you could mount a C lens and use either shutter, but the value of 1/2000th second shutter speed really only became useful with electronic flash.
In that case, you had to use the focal plane camera shutter.
Unless you are shooting electronic fill flash outdoors in bright light or shooting sports or birds, why would you need a shutter speed above 1/500th second?

I didn't think you could sync electronic flash at that speed with a focal plan shutter.

 

[abruzzi]

Unless you are shooting electronic fill flash outdoors in bright light or shooting sports or birds, why would you need a shutter speed above 1/500th second?

flexibility--for more control of DOF. Where I shoot is rarely darker than sunny 16. If I shoot 100 speed film, then 1/500 more or less tops me out at ƒ8. 1/2000 would allow me to shoot at ƒ4 if I wanted to.

 

[itsdoable]

I have & use a 2000fc/m, which works fine. No issues, it's been reliable. I also have a fc/w and and old fc body as backup/parts, just because I like fiddling with them.

As people mentioned, the foil shutters of the 1600/1000f & 2000's are prone to damage if you poke them when the back is off - its not that different from 35mm SLR shutters, but there you are less likely to drop something heavy (like a film back) on it. Pros working fast were more prone to pushing the corner of a film back into the shutter, and in a shoot, you can change that back a lot! However the foil shutters are what allowed the 1/2000 speed in that small body.

The current part that is not replaceable in the body is the magnetic release and coil, which are no longer available. Shutter curtain are still available (not from Hasselblad) but the cost of putting one is exceeds a used replacement (unless you do it yourself, then it's about the same price...).

The 2000's are quite loud and sharp when the shutter is released. In "C" mode, it works like a 500C. In "F" mode (set on both lens and body) it works with the focal plane shutter. Older "C" only lenses "can" be uesd in "F" mode by setting the C-shutter to "B". However, Hasselblad warns you that the timing may be off if the lens has not been recently serviced - basically if the lens is too slow opening into B, the FP shutter may trigger too early.

Just for the record, I also use a 203fe (my favourite) and an really old but working 1000f (which is surprisingly nice), my 500cx gets the least amount of use.

 

[4season]

Hasselblad 1600 and 1000 use a different lens mount, believe they are compatible with original Kiev 88 helical mount, but I have never tried either.

I liked my 2000FC/M when I had it. Yes, super-versatile, plus it gives you access to the 110/2 which has no shutter of it's own. I'm a pretty careful user and experienced no problems, nor did I feel paranoid when handling it. Agree that the shutter sound is peculiar, like a whip-crack I thought.

 

[abruzzi]

Thanks for the responses. Something to consider. The cost of lenses usually puts me off of Hasselblad, but it’s still worth keeping in mind.

 

[guangong]

I my 2000FCM from Ken Hansen when his shop was on 34th st in Manhattan. Have never had a broblem with camera. The big advantage for me was that I could continue to use my Kilfit, Leitz and Zeiss 180 and 300 Olympic Sonnars. t that time I couldn’t af Hasselblad lenses. Since then I bought a 500 CM and Hasselblad lenses, waiting, like Wotan, for the death of my 2000 FCM. Until then, I’ll continue using it. Great camera but for reasons already mentioned, I would not buy one now.

 

[guangong]

Thanks for the responses. Something to consider. The cost of lenses usually puts me off of Hasselblad, but it’s still worth keeping in mind.

The cost of used Hasselblad lenses is only a fraction of what the cast when new...thanks to depreciation due to digital. My choice of 2000 FCM was made in light of their high cost and I could use lenses I already owned. Even n APUG classified Hassy outfits are quite reasonable in cost, although for big ticket item I would go with a reputation dealer.

 

[Scott Micciche]

Another 2000 fc/m owner here and it's been flawless so far. I have no idea on the internal lubrication points and nobody does CLA on them that I can find, so I'll use it until it dies.