Deep sigh, the end is near, 203FE died

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Vickko

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Deep sigh, the end is near, my Hasselblad 203FE died.

Even though it sat idle for a while, and only received exercising, while I was cycling it yesterday, one cycle felt "just a little too stiff". And then the shutter now fails to open. And looking inside, I find some piece of light shield hanging loose in the film chamber adjacent the shutter.

I can imagine that this is too expensive to fix.

I had always foreseen that this is going to be the fate of my electronic cameras .... hard to take actually experiencing it first hand.

.... another deep sigh.....
 
Fear not, it is a Hasselblad.
Folks have spares, the shutter is Compur!
The battery may be 1st culprit plus reqd. service.
It ain't gonna be cheap, but it is one of the best cameras.
Worst scenario if (doubtful) irreparable, lenses fit other Hasselblads.
 
Send it to David Odess for an evaluation and cost of repair estimate. Just because something has electronics in it doesn't mean that it is unrepairable. It sounds like a mechanical failure, not an electrical one, anyway...!

G
 
Try this first

Try this first

Hey OP, the same thing happened to me. A few years ago my 203FE had similar issues. I looked inside and there was a piece of black felt about 1/2" by 1.5" sort of hanging down. I very carefully wiggled it out and put it in a ziplock bag intending to bring it to the repairman. Strange thing is the camera worked right away and has been working great ever since. I still have the part in the ziplock in my camera bag.

My advise is to move very slowly and try to wiggle it out. Stop if you feel strong resistance. I love this 203FE and it's worth the effort to get yours back out there. Hope this helps you.
 
The piece of light shield was easily removed. But the camera won't advance unless I press the release button at the middle of the winder knob.

And when I advance it that way, the shutter doesn't open. Tried C setting, and other settings with the battery.

I noticed that before things jammed up, the advance was stiff, and stupid me, I continued to advance it. My guess is that a piece of something may be caught in a internal gear. But only a guess.
 
Godfrey said:
Send it to David Odess for an evaluation and cost of repair estimate. Just because something has electronics in it doesn't mean that it is unrepairable. It sounds like a mechanical failure, not an electrical one, anyway...!
Click to expand...

David Odess will only work on V system blads. I am not sure if Hasselblad USA will even work on them anymore possibly due to parts. Hasselblad across the pond might be another matter.
 
Vickko said:
Deep sigh, the end is near, my Hasselblad 203FE died.

Even though it sat idle for a while, and only received exercising, while I was cycling it yesterday, one cycle felt "just a little too stiff". And then the shutter now fails to open. And looking inside, I find some piece of light shield hanging loose in the film chamber adjacent the shutter.

I can imagine that this is too expensive to fix.

I had always foreseen that this is going to be the fate of my electronic cameras .... hard to take actually experiencing it first hand.

.... another deep sigh.....
Click to expand...

Have you considered Joe Viera (sp?) in the GTA. I haven't had any dealings with him, but speaking with him he seems knowledgeable...

here's his Kijiji listing https://www.kijiji.ca/v-view-details.html?adId=1078360584&requestSource=b
 
Call David Odess and ask him who works on them. If there's anyone should know. Hasselblad USA may know and suggest someone also.
 
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