Hasselblad 2000FC

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Hasselblad 2000FC/M image by Lutz Schramm (Image rights)

The 2000FC is a medium format system camera released by Swedish manufacture Hasselblad in 1977.

The Hasselblad 500 C cameras are very well engineered, but depending on the type of photography the leaf shutter system can have advantages as well as limitations. It was limited to 1/500 sec. which made non-studio type photography more difficult. For example, if more depth of field is desired in the photograph in sunny outdoor conditions, the shutter speed limitation may be incapable of producing the correct exposure.

This camera represents Hasselblads return to manufacturing focal-plane shutter based cameras. They had not manufactured a focal plane system in over 20 years. The previous one being the Hasselblad 1000 F release in 1952. It is compatible with F series lenses (lenses without shutters) or C series lenses (lenses with built-in leaf shutters). The body's electronic titanium shutter has speeds of 1 to 1/2000 of a second. Using the shutters in C lens will only allow the maxium speed of 1/500 of a sec. Flash synchronisation is at 1/90 of a sec. when using F lenses, but for C type leaf shutter lenses supporting all speeds of flash sync.

To use a C lens with the camera body's shutter, set the lens shutter speed to B and sync has to be set to X. To use the C lens shutter instead of the body's shutter, set the body's shutter ring to C and lock the shutter ring on the body.

The left hand side of the body has the sync connector, the battery drawer (for a 6V PX28 battery) and a leaver that can lock the shutter ring. The right hand side of the body contains the main folding knob crank that advances the film and cocks the shutter. In the center of the crank are mirror mode settings, this also acts as a button for double exposure. Below the crank is a switch for shutter pre-release. Pre-release can be cancelled by pressing the mirror button and advancing the knob. The front of the body has a lockable shutter release and a lens release.

The mirror setting 2 is for instant return mode. Setting 1 the mirror remains up and will be lowered when the crank is advanced and cocked. Setting 0, is mirror up mode. There setting can be changed with a coin.

The 2000FC/M released in 1981 is almost the same but has extra protection for the shutter when the magazine back is removed. In 1984, the 2000FCW was released, which has film winder compatibility. In 1988, yet another revision was released called 2003FCW with an improved Acute-matte focusing screen and improved internal reflective properties.

2000FCW with winder image by Alvaro Munoz-Aycuens Mtnz. (Image rights)

System

All backs from previous Hasselblad cameras will work with this body. The Polaroid Type 80 back is incompatible with this camera.

Links

• Hasselblad 2000FC / 2000FC/M / 2000FCW / 2003FCW manuals at Mike Butkus' Orphan Cameras
• Hasselblad 200 / 2000 series at Karen Nakamura's Photoethnography Classic Camera DB
• Hasselblad 500cm vs 2000fcw Part I / Part II - by mathomas1962 on YouTube