Tell me I don't need this... 205TCC + 110mm f/2

[RalphLambrecht]

Gang,

Munich has the particularity that a large photo store is conveniently located next to the post office. So after shipping out my Photrio Blind Print Exchange assignment yesterday, I obviously had to stop at the photo store. Coming to the point, their 2nd hand department currently has a Hasselblad 205TCC in very good condition, sold together with the legendary 110mm f/2 lens. Everything works well and it looks like it has hardly been used. Price is about average for this I would say, no bargain but not unreasonably high either. Manufacturing year 1992.

I am a happy owner of a Hasselblad 500 kit with more or less every lens in the "sensible" range (i.e. no 500mm or 30mm fisheye, which I would hardly use.) I use the 120mm a lot, for macro as well as for portraits. So far I stayed away from 200 series Hassys for a reason - they are said to be unreliable and unrepairable, and your $3k camera can suddenly be turned into an expensive paperweight. Or so they say.

I could unload some other stuff I own and get this. But the real question is, would it really bring me anything compared to what I already have? Or in other words, is that 110mm lens so extraordinary different that it justifies getting a 200-series body, with the inherent risk, to use it? Is the risk of getting an expensive paperweight really that high? Are other (later?) models preferable to the 205TCC? In your eyes, are those 2 stops difference (compared to the 100mm f/3.5 or 120 f/4) really worth that much money? etc. etc.

Please shoot me your opinions, thanks!

You don't need this;I do and will give them a call

 

[RezaLoghme]

Are the 200 series really that fragile or is it just a story being rehashed again and again in some photo forums?

 

[etn]

Folks,

This is an old thread from 2018... that 200-series Hasselblad and the 110mm have been gone for a long time. (And no, I did not buy it! Sticking to my trusted 503CW.)

As a side note, the photo store mentioned in this post still exists, but has been acquired by Calumet a few years ago. Since then, their second-hand department has been a shadow of its former self. The following is pure speculation from my side: maybe they send all the "cool stuff" they acquire to a central Calumet 2nd-hand inventory somewhere to feed the Calumet online shop. Or they just don't acquire as much stuff as previously. I don't know. All I see is that the 2nd hand department has dwindled terribly. (In a pure selfish way, it's as good, as it represents much less temptations to me )

 

[RezaLoghme]

That - unfortunately - has happened many times...

 

[Chuck1]

Folks,

This is an old thread from 2018... that 200-series Hasselblad and the 110mm have been gone for a long time. (And no, I did not buy it! Sticking to my trusted 503CW.)

As a side note, the photo store mentioned in this post still exists, but has been acquired by Calumet a few years ago. Since then, their second-hand department has been a shadow of its former self. The following is pure speculation from my side: maybe they send all the "cool stuff" they acquire to a central Calumet 2nd-hand inventory somewhere to feed the Calumet online shop. Or they just don't acquire as much stuff as previously. I don't know. All I see is that the 2nd hand department has dwindled terribly. (In a pure selfish way, it's as good, as it represents much less temptations to me )

Calumet still exists?

 

[dokko]

Calumet still exists?

yes, they have several stores in germany and a rather large second hand selection, including quite a decent amount of analog gear at reasonable prices.

 

[dokko]

Are the 200 series really that fragile or is it just a story being rehashed again and again in some photo forums?

I was using 500 bodies in the beginning because I was worried about the possible failures of the 200 series.

I'm now using exclusively 200 bodies and much prefer them over the 500 equivalents. I find the handling much more enjoyable, and the extra stop on the 50mm and the 150mm, plus the lovely 110mm are a significant benefit to me.

My rationalisation is that at some point I might have to deal with the fact that a body dies and can't be repaired, but in the mean time I'll just have a better time (and hopefully better photographs . I was also lucky to get my bodies at a time when analog cameras were unwanted and therefore cheaper.

 

[RezaLoghme]

As with any other camera - you can always buy a 2nd body. The modular concept of Hasselblad is cool, you "only" need to replace the body.

Although I seem to believe that most bodys sold "on their own" are 500 C/M and its decendands, not 200 series, which mostly seem to come as a kit.

 

[dokko]

As with any other camera - you can always buy a 2nd body.

to be fair, the 200 series bodies are quite expensive, specially these days, so understandably people are concerned of the possibility of the camera dying.

I bought a 202FA rather cheaply as a backup when everybody seemed to ignore them, and recently a 2000 body as a backup of the backup for the long term, so I can still use the lenses if the prices keep rising and I cant afford to get a "new" 203 or 205.

 

[Richard Man]

I paid ~$2300 for my 203FE body. I believe they were equivalence of $7000-$8000 when new at that time. So "quite expensive" is relative.

 

[RezaLoghme]

If you can sell it for the same price, what does it matter?

And if it give you pleasure....

 

[Don_ih]

If you can sell it for the same price, what does it matter?

Perhaps not everyone has the money to spend on a second body.

There's also no guarantee it can be sold to recover the money. Especially after you drop it.

 

[RezaLoghme]

Well that can be said about many cameras. If you are already using such a complex and expensive camera AND its important to you to have a backup body, you can chose to buy 2nd one.

Or, in case the 1st one breaks, you can still sell all parts individualls, including the broken body. Often a better deal than selling a kit.

So, bottom line, the delta is not high.