Hi,
you can determine the mfg year of all Hasselblad equipment (except lenses, use Zeiss numbers) by the following formula:
VHPICTURES
1234567890
All serial numbers start with 2 letters, e.g. UI 155768 where UI=74 (mfg 1974), a serial number with ET=96 i.e. 1996 etc. Good to know when you're shopping around.
Note that the film mags are numbered on both the "insert" and the "shell", these numbers should MATCH, no matter if someone tells you differently.
I previously posted this point-of-view, I have used both 500 and 200 series extensively for 10+ years:
I would fullheartedly recommend the 201F body - even if you use it only with C/CF lenses.
Why? First of all, it's a more modern design and different mirror mechanism, which means you get the full view regardless of focal length - I use the CF350 with 2x extender, no problem.
You also get much more solid mechanics (compared to the 500 body) when attaching a Winder F, if you would like to do that in the future.
You also get a self timer built in. Great in some pinches.
Last but not least, you can use the central shutter in the C/CF lenses (setting the time dial on the 201F to C) which is what I do most of the time to reduce vibrations etc, just as with a 500 body.
But you can also choose to use the 201F's electronic shutter, where you set the CF lens in the "F" position and then the shutter speed on the 201Fs time dial. This gives you shorter shutter speed (1/1000) and more importantly, the mirror bounces back directly after the exposure so that you only get a brief "blackout", as in a 35mm SLR. Especially for fast shooting conditions (wildlife, motorsports, etc) but also great when taking portraits since you get more time to react to the subject and also to focus. The 500's go black in the finder until you cock the shutter, which is fine too in most situations.
And you get the TTL and option to use the great F lenses as well (a 50/2.8 and 110/2 and 2x extender will be a very compact and high performing kit).
Last but not least, the 200 bodies do not lock up like the 500 bodies can do - it's a mechanical jam that can happen when you change lenses, especially if the body or lens are older or worn. It's fixable in the field by detaching the film mag and turning a small screw inside the body at the bottom, just below the lens, while carefully turning the lens until it un-jams. Not a big deal, but one less potential problem to think about. (If this happens during normal shooting, the body or lens needs servicing since the rotating shaft that communicates between the body and lens needs a cleaning and lubrication, since they will get out of sync.)
In my opinion, the 201F is the perfect MANUAL Hasselblad body with the best of both worlds. The 203 and 205 bodies are fine too, but way too complicated in my opinion, and the electronics really need you to go for an all-out "FE" system including lenses and film mags - much more expensive. And even then they are a bit complicated to work with. Use your money on good clean CF lenses, a bright matte screen and a good finder - the PME45 is unbeatable.
BTW, "C" stands for Central shutter (in lens), F for Focal plane shutter (in body), E stands for Electronic (eg communicates data to FE bodies' built-in meter) - so a CF lens can use both its own shutter as well as the one in the body; an F lens has no shutter and relies on the body shutter.
Regards,
/Henrik
