Hasselblad 202FA1999

History

The 200-series focal-plane V-system began with the 2000FC in 1977 and was progressively refined through the 2000FCW, 201F, 202FA predecessors in the 203FE, and the flagship 205FCC. By 1999, Hasselblad was consolidating the V system as professional demand shifted toward digital and the H-system was in development. The 202FA was introduced as a simplified, more accessible focal-plane body alongside the existing 205FCC, offering the core focal-plane advantages — high shutter speed, F-lens compatibility, AE — at a lower price point by removing the zone-system metering hardware.

The 202FA was discontinued around 2004 as the V system's production wound down further. It represents one of the final V-system bodies introduced before Hasselblad's full transition to the H-system digital platform.

Why It Matters

The 202FA offers the most practical entry into the Hasselblad focal-plane V ecosystem. Photographers who want F-lens access and 1/2000s shutter capability without paying the premium for the 205FCC's zone meter will find the 202FA covers most real-world requirements. Aperture-priority AE and a center-weighted TTL meter are sufficient for the majority of professional and enthusiast applications.

The 202FA also represents an interesting endpoint of a long engineering tradition: it is among the last V-system bodies to be designed and produced before Hasselblad's platform shifted entirely. Used examples in good condition are fully capable medium-format tools, and the F-lens ecosystem they unlock — particularly the Planar F 110/2 — is otherwise inaccessible on the more common 500-series bodies.

Lenses & Accessories

Hasselblad V bayonet mount. Recommended F and FE-series Zeiss lenses: Planar F 110/2 T*, Distagon F 50/2.8, Sonnar F 150/4, Tele-Tessar F 350/5.6. Full backward compatibility with CF, CFi, CFE, and C-series leaf-shutter lenses — the leaf shutter in the lens can be used independently, or the focal-plane shutter can be set to govern exposure. Accessories: A12, A16, A24, A220 film backs; waist-level finder; PME-series metered prism; remote release.

Sample Photographers / Notable Use

• The 202FA was used by photographers seeking F-lens access at a lower body cost than the 205FCC, particularly for portraiture with the Planar F 110/2.
• Late adopters of the V system in the early 2000s purchased the 202FA as a final commitment to the V platform before the H-system transition made legacy V glass investment less strategically sound.

References

• Camera-Wiki: Hasselblad 202FA
• Wikipedia: Hasselblad 200 series