Hasselblad 203FE Problem with Shutter, Help needed.

Ed/Toronto · Jul 2, 2020

I have been enjoying my Hasselblad 203FE for over a decade and yesterday it suddenly jambedup. No fall, no bump, it h just jambed. I would the camera and the shutter button will not depress. The Double exposure button will not depress. I changed to a new battery and no difference. The lens can be removed like nothing is wrong and the cocking indicator in the body is at the correct position. The mirror returned OK after the prior shot. I contacted my Local and now retired Hasselblad tech who replied he does not fix the 203FE. If anyone has experience with fixing this easily or who I can send this to for service I need some help and advice. I was using my loved 110mm f/2.0 for family pictures on Canada Day when this happened.

itsdoable · Jul 3, 2020

If the lens can be removed, then the camera is cocked.

Shutter button can be locked out by the back, does it depress with the back removed?

Does the meter power up?

(With the lens removed) can you trip the shutter in full mechanical mode (set to "C" with the batteries removed)

Ed/Toronto · Jul 3, 2020

meter works fine Back comes off and even then the shutter and the double exposure button are frozen and will no t depress. I switched batteries , I tried another back I tried another lens, Yes it is cocked and the mirror is down in correct position. no noises came from the camera when wound to this cock. I turned it upside down and on each side to see if something ws stopping the shutter. There has to be an interlock that has stuck, either a spring broken or something. The camera is always in 65 to 74 degree indoor heat.

Ed/Toronto · Jul 3, 2020

itsdoable said:
If the lens can be removed, then the camera is cocked.

Shutter button can be locked out by the back, does it depress with the back removed?

Does the meter power up?

(With the lens removed) can you trip the shutter in full mechanical mode (set to "C" with the batteries removed)

i did go to manual mode and no result I did go to C and no result. I have a second 203FE body and examining all the outward contacts and "things" they look the same. No obvious things sticking out too much or not stacking out. I believe it is in the winding mechanism. not the electronics. I even swapped the winding handles.

guangong · Jul 3, 2020

Unfortunately, like Wotan and the other gods awaiting their doom, I expect that eventually my 2000 FCM will suffer the same fate. Not to speak of repair, I can’t even find anyone willing to do a CLA. Luckily, I have a 500CM, but when the FCM dies, I won’t be able to use my Zeiss, Leitz and Nikon long lenses.

itsdoable · Jul 3, 2020

I'm glad you have a spare so you can still use those lenses.

It does sound like a mechanical jam, especially if the shutter button will not move, so it's probably rectifiable, The current fatal electrical failure for the 2000 bodies is the electromagnets that released the shutter, they are used in all modes except "C" with the batteries removed. If the batteries are in the camera, the electromagnets are still in use. They do not fail often, but when they do there are no spares, and are not economic to re-manufacture.

There use to be a technician in Hamilton that would look at the mechanical side of electronic MF cameras, but unfortunately he passed away a few years ago. You should be able to find someone in TO though.

Ed/Toronto · Jul 4, 2020

New Jersey said it would fix it. So I sent it off to then and asked that if they make it work to adapt it for the CFV50c. There goes my wallet. Yet in the prior two weeks I shot 16 rolls of Provia and sent that to the Borealis Lab in Montreal for processing.

mitrajoon · Jul 4, 2020

Had the same thing happen to my 203FE. Dennis (the only certified 203 tech in NA ) at Hasselblad NJ HQ, fixed it. In my case it was a piece of the light tight seal that came loose. Hope yours is as simple to repair.

Ed/Toronto · Jul 4, 2020

I hope it is a simple as that. Thank You fortelling me.

itsdoable · Jul 4, 2020

Let us know if they were able to add the circuit for the digital CFV backs, I ask NJ many years ago, and they replied that they had no parts for that conversion.

Ed/Toronto · Jul 4, 2020

They say they can make the conversion , $450.

Richard Man · Jul 4, 2020

Ed/Toronto said:
They say they can make the conversion , $450.

First, I had my shutter replaced by Hasselblad NJ for ~$1000. It was an accident entirely of my own doing.

Second, if you are going for the CFV- II 50C, the latest firmware no longer requires 203FE to be converted!!! Too rich for me, but it makes the dream a wee bit more realistic ;-)

Ed/Toronto · Jul 4, 2020

I have the first CVF50c, not the newest.

itsdoable · Jul 4, 2020

Ed/Toronto said:
They say they can make the conversion , $450.

That is sweet news to me!

The wake and trigger the the darkslide pin on the CFV50cII (and some older CFVs) works, but is a little touchy, you have to have good technique - the pin wakes up the back for a second, and you have to trigger the exposure before that timeout - which means if you press very slowly, you may not get an exposure.

Ed/Toronto · Jul 28, 2020

I sent it to Hasselblad in New Jersey, Fixed in a week! Now awaiting return shipping. And the conversion for the CV50C all done clean and easy. They are the Greatest.

Hasselblad 203FE Problem with Shutter, Help needed.

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