What happened to all the Hasselblad 200 series stuff?

rwboyer · Dec 19, 2009

Not that I am in need I still have a basically unused 200 series body from the early 2000's but in my occasional check of used equipment and the general state of affairs in film camera prices I have found that 200 series cameras are EXTREMELY rare nowadays.

I may be way out of it - I don't buy much MF film gear any more, I have enough MF to last a life time or six but I kind of remember that 200 series stuff what all over the place a couple years ago - for cheap.

What happened? Gone! There are like 2 on eBay and people want CRAZY prices for the stuff - almost as CRAZY as the original Hasselblad prices in the late 90's, early 00's

RB

dentkimterry · Dec 19, 2009

"and people want CRAZY prices for the stuff"

Wanting and getting are two different things. From what I've seen there is an increase in interest of Hasselblad 200 items. There wasn't that much of it made to begin with, compared to the 500 series. The prices of late though are somewhat depressed. This is good for me who has been filling out my collection! Most bodies and lenses can be had for quite a bit less than just a few years ago. Exceptions are the very rare lenses. I bought a 202fa on the bay for almost half of what it was not long ago. Some lenses I got also at a great discount. Now that it is no longer available everybody wants it!

Terry

rwboyer · Dec 19, 2009

dentkimterry said:
"and people want CRAZY prices for the stuff"

Wanting and getting are two different things. From what I've seen there is an increase in interest of Hasselblad 200 items. There wasn't that much of it made to begin with, compared to the 500 series. The prices of late though are somewhat depressed. This is good for me who has been filling out my collection! Most bodies and lenses can be had for quite a bit less than just a few years ago. Exceptions are the very rare lenses. I bought a 202fa on the bay for almost half of what it was not long ago. Some lenses I got also at a great discount. Now that it is no longer available everybody wants it!

Terry

I can understand getting a 202 for not a whole lot of money but the prices I have seen on 203 and 205 stuff are absolutely nuts. Like I said - I am not comparing anything to last months prices but a a couple years ago 203 and 205 gear seemed plentiful at half the cost. Now?

RB

Q.G. · Dec 19, 2009

What happened is that people hang on to them.
The crazy prices reflect how much other people want one.

I don't remember them being cheap, ever. If they ever had been, i would have quite a few too many of them by now.

Sim2 · Dec 19, 2009

Hi there,

Being UK based I can't comment on the US prices but over here there is quite a mix in prices. I have been on the prowl for F equipment and some is very expensive - but seems to sit on the sale lists for weeks, some is reasonable/cheap and goes quick. I just bought a mint 150 2.8 for 200 pounds(uk), to me that's a bargain!!

Still looking.

Sim2.

Q.G. · Dec 19, 2009

That is cheap, yes. Congrats!
But is it an FE lens?

df cardwell · Dec 19, 2009

I just bought a mint 150 2.8 for 200 pounds(uk), to me that's a bargain!!

Don't ask what they cost 23 years ago !

But I got to shoot Kodachrome with mine !!!!!!

dentkimterry · Dec 19, 2009

I'm not saying that they are cheap, just less expensive than they used to be. A week ago I saw a 205FCC go for $1826. Not long ago you needed $3500-4000. I bought a very nice 50mm f2.8 FE a couple of months ago for $700. The most popular 200 model is the 203fe. It is holding it's price fairly well at $1800-2300 in the U.S. Pricing in Europe seems to be somewhat higher.

Terry

Sim2 · Dec 20, 2009

Q.G. said:
That is cheap, yes. Congrats!
But is it an FE lens?

Ah, there's the rub. Admittedly an F lens not an FE.

Rational being that I am taking "baby-steps" with medium format/hass gear - not sure if it will suit my stye of shooting. So not willing to spring for a 203/205 and as I have shot with a spotmeter, I "settled" for the 2000 series. If I trade up to the 200s all I lose is the ttl metering capability (I think).

Anyhow, also did get an extension tube set (16E, 32E, 56E), totally mint for £150 but searching for a good condition 110 for a bargain price! :rolleyes:

Sim2

Q.G. · Dec 20, 2009

With your luck, you'll find one too!
Good buy as well, that set of rings.

You will not lose TTL-metering putting an F lens on a 200-series camera. But you will have to use stop down metering.
Not as nice as fully coupled metering, but you do get to use what the meter in a 200-series body can offer.

2000-series cameras are great though, and (provided that you take good care of the shutter curtains) you may never feel the need to "trade up".

DanielStone · Dec 20, 2009

aren't some of the digi backs able to be mounted to the 200/203/205 series bodies?

I know that most people who are using DB's are using the 500-series bodies, cause of the leaf shutters, but there are obvious reasons for wanting a focal plane shutter, 1/1000 at f/2or 2.8 is a tempting sales point, especially in high noon sun.

just wonderin

-Dan

Q.G. · Dec 20, 2009

The focal plane shutter is 'difficult', but some backs do work, yes.

Most 200-series cameras have a dataconnection on the back, normally used to get the ISO value from the back to th emetering electronics.
Hasselblad did offer to convert 203 and 205 bodies, changing the function of the contacts, so that instead, they are used to synchronize focal plane shutter and digital back.

But what?! Are we mentioning the "D"-word?!
Better quit right now.

Sirius Glass · Dec 20, 2009

Q.G. said:
The focal plane shutter is 'difficult', but some backs do work, yes.

Please expand on "The focal plane shutter is 'difficult' ..." I do not have any experience with the Hasselblad focal plane shutters. I do know that the Hasselblad 1600 and 1000 has failure and fragility issues. I do not know about the more resent focal plane models.

Steve

Q.G. · Dec 20, 2009

It has nothing to do with the quality of the focal plane shutters.

The tricky thing is that MF DBs are usually triggered by the flash synch, i.e. capture the image, in one go, when the shutter is completely open.
Focal plane shutters can do that, but only at speeds no higher than the (usually slow) synch speed. 1/90 on the focal plane shutter Hasselblads.

jordanstarr · Dec 21, 2009

I once saw a 200FE body, 50mm f2.8, 80mm f2.0 (or 2.8?) and 150mm f2.8 with a couple E12 backs go for $1100 on ebay about a year ago. I was pretty upset I never bid on it, especially considering I spent $500 in repairs to my 500cm body and a couple backs instead of buying this system in excellent condition. I doubt this would happen again for a while.

Sirius Glass · Dec 21, 2009

Hey, don't look at me! I am still buying 500 series bodies and CF lenses.

Steve

What happened to all the Hasselblad 200 series stuff?

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