Finding a good Hasselblad 203FE camera

You're just all over the place, aren't you?

There is nothing like a "good 203FE" today. (or any 200 series as a matter of fact).
They are very fragile, fail often and are either impossible or very expensive to fix, needing to be sent back to Sweden.
They cannot take digital backs without being modified and then are no longer what they are supposed to be.
In addition, they eat their (expensive, not rechargeable) battery in no time which make them die in the field . . .
They (with the 205's) contributed to the decline of Hasselblad.
The very best Hasselblad is still the 503CW, this is why Hasselblad has discontinued all other models and not the 503CW. 203FE's have been discontinued a long time ago.

Rather over the top, that.

They still are excellently made, rugged machines.
They can take just about any digital back the 500-series cameras will take, but you will have to use leaf shutter lenses.
The modification (not a necessity) does not change them beyond recognition, just means you have to dial the film speed in on the camera, not on the back.
They did not contribute to the decline of Hasselblad.

You sound just like another Paul, who left PN in a bit of a huff a while ago, Paul.

Q.G.
Being "rugged machines" or not, having contributed to the decline of Hasselblad or not are subjective matters in which we disagree. History will decide who was right.
The cost of repairs, the extra cost for F lenses and E backs, the unavailability of repairs in the US, the cost of modifying a 203FE for digital back ($750.00 last time I checked) are facts you carefully avoid, making me wonder what's your interest in promoting these cameras to unaware potential buyers.
The last shutter fix on a 203FE I was involved with was more than $2,000 and took 3 months. A shutter fix on a 503CW can be done in many places in the US for $150.00. And 203FE shutters often fail, as well as their (not quality) electronics.
It is also a fact that if Hasselblad had among the best mechanical engineers, unfortunately, this was not the case for the electronics.
And, if you "downgrade" a 203FE to use it as a 503CW by forgetting its battery and not modifying it to accept digital backs, what's the point of buying it instead of a 503CW? The 503CW will still be much more reliable than a 203FE, even "downgraded".
Finally, I have no idea of what you mean by "You sound just like another Paul, who left PN in a bit of a huff a while ago". I am new in this forum and if somebody contradicted you before, it was not me!

Paul, I would have guessed that the demand for digital was what put screwed up the market for the Hasselblad film market. I would also note the 110mm FE lens is one of my favorite lenses made for MF film. Finally, having just purchased a 205, I hope you're wrong about the shutter curtains.

The weak point of any electronical camera or lens are the electronical spare parts, after a number of years! After a number of years, they are gone and cannot be re-made economically. They have to be taken then from other used spare parts collection. Therefore, I'd pick always at these days rather a fully mechanical camera and lens. They can be always repaired to be in use for the next coming 20 and more years, mostly without any problem. This statement is not growing on my pile, its an recommendation from an experienced camera/lens repair service man, and is valid not for Hasselblad cameras/lenses only.
Furthermore, I am personally not much interested on an expensive digital back. I am still like to use slide roll films and get them scanned by myself, or if required, from an professional scanning service for extreme large prints. So, I am keeping my anlogue MF cameras alive, and I still like to use them very much!
Cheers

Paul, you have any statistic number to support your statement? I have a 203 FE and am very satisfied with it, I bring it with me in any trip I do (from desert to the cold Iceland) without a problem 'till today. For me it's the best camera Hasselbald has made and would not eistate to buy it again.

Um, yeah, me too, the 203FE is a fabulous camera. And it uses Hasselblad lenses. Yes, mine did act up once, but, a hard reset and it has worked fine since. I would have no hesitation using mine, although I do take precautions of having spare batteries, and checking it out before my shoots. Same as I would do with any equipment.

I'm surprised about the unreliability of the 203FE. Guess I'm lucky that mine, in five years of ownership, has performed without problem.