Hasselblad 180mm Sonnar - Talk me in/out of purchasing it

[logan.egbert]

Depends. Do you have the money? then go for it. Life is short. Hasselblad gear does not depreciate much those days. And it's not as if the 180 was a lens which is to be avoided at all cost. If you're on a tight budget, put the money in something else (e.g. film, photo vacation, etc.)

If my life is of interested to anyone, I was in the opposite situation. A friend lent me a 150mm and I thought, not really my cup of tea. I decided to go with the 180 instead, found a pretty good deal and never regretted it. It's one of my most used lenses, if not THE most used. Really awesome piece of glass. Then I found a nice condition 150mm at $250... too good to pass, so I have a 150mm too. Definitely a different lens. I tend to use it more for portraits and such. The 180 is very good if you're into landscapes/cityscapes photography. Internet reviewers go on for hours that the 180 is front heavier than the 150, which is more balanced bla bla bla. In practice, I don't see much difference in handling. If weight is a problem shoot a 35mm rangefinder or an OM-2, not a Hasselblad.

That's interesting! I actually got the 150 with a half-way serious bid that I figured would be WAY too low and won, so I feel like no matter what I'll be able to get my money back out of that lens. I think I'm going to snag up the 180 and sell my 150, which actually got a full overhaul here in town because I got it for so cheap.

 

[chrisaisenbrey]

Just in case you don’t know this website jet:

http://www.hasselbladhistorical.eu/HW/HWLds.aspx

it shows many datasheets for Hasselblad lenses.

 

[sharpnikkor]

You should be able to find a 180mm Sonnar at a decent price. I find it bridges the gap between the 150mm and the 250mm.

Quality wise you'll have no complaints, it's a stunning lens.

 

[etn]

That's interesting! I actually got the 150 with a half-way serious bid that I figured would be WAY too low and won, so I feel like no matter what I'll be able to get my money back out of that lens. I think I'm going to snag up the 180 and sell my 150, which actually got a full overhaul here in town because I got it for so cheap.

On the other hand, 150mm are plenty and therefore cheap. If you can afford to keep it, it could be worth it.

To react to other comments about portraits, I realized that I very much like the 120mm for portraits.
It is a bit more convenient than the 150mm, as it focuses closer, so no need for extension rings.
I also like its rendering very much. (ha ha, I have yet to find a Hassy lens which I don't like!)

 

[dorigatti]

Depends. Do you have the money? then go for it. Life is short. Hasselblad gear does not depreciate much those days. And it's not as if the 180 was a lens which is to be avoided at all cost. If you're on a tight budget, put the money in something else (e.g. film, photo vacation, etc.)

If my life is of interested to anyone, I was in the opposite situation. A friend lent me a 150mm and I thought, not really my cup of tea. I decided to go with the 180 instead, found a pretty good deal and never regretted it. It's one of my most used lenses, if not THE most used. Really awesome piece of glass. Then I found a nice condition 150mm at $250... too good to pass, so I have a 150mm too. Definitely a different lens. I tend to use it more for portraits and such. The 180 is very good if you're into landscapes/cityscapes photography. Internet reviewers go on for hours that the 180 is front heavier than the 150, which is more balanced bla bla bla. In practice, I don't see much difference in handling. If weight is a problem shoot a 35mm rangefinder or an OM-2, not a Hasselblad.

Here an example with an extension ring (can't remember which one exactly) and Fuji Fortia SP. Shot at f/5.6-8 if I remember correctly. Hope you guys like it!

View attachment 165273

Great, great picture; and it's not often I see one I like so much that I stop to offer my appreciation!

 

[outwest]

Now throw in a 60 and a 100....

 

[logan.egbert]

Now throw in a 60 and a 100....

You trying to kill me?!

I actually had the 60 a few years ago when I had a Hassy and LOVED it as an all-around lens. For portraits, mounted on a tripod, it's not really exactly what I'm looking for. That 100 though....

 

[Sirius Glass]

Hi all,

I just recently got back into the Hasselblad system after a few years of shooting 8x10. I've put together a really nice little kit of a 503cx and a 553elx with the following lenses:

• 50mm FLE
• 80mm CF
• 120mm Makro CF
• 150mm Sonnar CF

I also have the 8, 16, 21 extension tubes. I'm using the camera almost exclusively on a tripod and for portraiture. Even though the kit has been really great for covering a lot of situations thus far, I've seen a 180mm Sonnar that I think I can grab at a really good price and I'm debating getting it. Either that or maybe a 250mm.

Given what I'm using the camera for, does anyone have some personal experience to add as to whether adding a 180mm lens is foolhardy or just kind of a good idea? I'd love to hear what anyone here has to say!

Thanks!

The 180mm is too close to the 150mm, you should consider the 250mm lens. I have the SWC [38mm], 50mm, 80mm, 150mm, 250mm, 500mm, 2XE, and extension tubes.

 

[etn]

Great, great picture; and it's not often I see one I like so much that I stop to offer my appreciation!

Thank you Sir!

 

[etn]

You trying to kill me?!

I actually had the 60 a few years ago when I had a Hassy and LOVED it as an all-around lens. For portraits, mounted on a tripod, it's not really exactly what I'm looking for. That 100 though....

Ha ha you'll end up having them all eventually... just for kicks and for the sake of trying them.
No, not immediately, but then your path will cross the way of a good condition, low price opportunity.
All my respect if you can resist that. (I couldn´t )

Coming back to the 60 and 100, the 60/100/180 is a GREAT combo! very well balanced in terms of
focal length and rendering. I generally take those 3 on trips (by car) or nature shootings.
Unexpectedly, the 100 is the one I use the least of the 3.
Don´t sell your 120 Makro, you will regret it if you do. My 2 cents

 

[logan.egbert]

Ha ha you'll end up having them all eventually... just for kicks and for the sake of trying them.
No, not immediately, but then your path will cross the way of a good condition, low price opportunity.
All my respect if you can resist that. (I couldn´t )

Coming back to the 60 and 100, the 60/100/180 is a GREAT combo! very well balanced in terms of
focal length and rendering. I generally take those 3 on trips (by car) or nature shootings.
Unexpectedly, the 100 is the one I use the least of the 3.
Don´t sell your 120 Makro, you will regret it if you do. My 2 cents

I certainly don't plan on selling the 120, it's my most used lens. It's so insanely versatile and the rendering close up is crazy good.

No, at this point I'm pretty sure I'm going to sell my 150 and get the 180. If anyone is interested in a recently overhauled 150mm Sonnar CF, let me know

 

[baachitraka]

I have 180mm Sonnar for Pentacon Six and in 35mm equivalent it is 100mm and 150mm equivates to 85mm.

I just love this focal length and it is so good for tight portraits. But if you have tight workplace I may look for 120mm.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

If I may ask, what are the reasons which make you want to upgrade to CFi?
Not to talk you out of it by any means, but as far as I am concerned, I decided that for me the sweet spot in features,
handling & price were CF lenses. The only thing that would make me change is the smoother CFi focus ring,
but it's not worth the extra cost to me. Besides, I like the CF looks better
I am always interested to hear different opinions!
Thanks!

No,I'm with you.Ialso like the look of the CF lenses the best.There is something about using lenses with the same feature set and handling;avoids some mistakes!

 

[johnielvis]

My opinion--don't ask other's for their opinions. Form you own opinion about what is best for you. Buy the 180 and use it along with your 150. Keep the one you like or keep both if you find you like both or sell both if you like neither. Everybody has their own needs and yours are different from those who opine.

OR--buy a 2x teleconverter on the cheep to see what longer lenses can do for you and to provide double your options for very little investment.

HEY--don't forget the 160 cb TESSAR! maybe 150 is TOO SMALL and 180 is TOO BIG, the 160 will be JUST RIGHT.

 

[jchabalk]

No,I'm with you.Ialso like the look of the CF lenses the best.There is something about using lenses with the same feature set and handling;avoids some mistakes!

One of the benefits i really like with the Hasselblad system is the consistency of filter sizes between the lens series. I started with an 80mm C lens and then later had a couple of CF lenses. Trying to deal with Bay50 vs Bay60 was a pain. Now i can carry as many of my lenses as i want and the same set of filters - and compendium hood if i want.

Then you get to the 40mm and 350mm, much larger filters but consistent across the 2 lenses.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Rather than juggling B50 and B60 filters, just stick with CF or newer lenses and then one set of B60 filters will cover [almost] all of them.

 

[jchabalk]

that's what i did. it's a great setup.

 

[Ai Print]

If I may ask, what are the reasons which make you want to upgrade to CFi?
Not to talk you out of it by any means, but as far as I am concerned, I decided that for me the sweet spot in features,
handling & price were CF lenses. The only thing that would make me change is the smoother CFi focus ring,
but it's not worth the extra cost to me. Besides, I like the CF looks better
I am always interested to hear different opinions!
Thanks!

My Hasselblad V system is one of my most used for professional advertising and landscape work, I use it with black and white film and a CFV50c 50MP d__ital back. I find the the inner baffling and coatings on the CFi lenses to handle the very optically demanding CFV50c a bit better and they also have a longer potential shelf life in-between servicing with the improved main spring. I also shoot in very cold weather quite a bit and the smoother focusing has really made a difference in handling there.

The 180CF is really good, I could probably get away with not replacing it but the prices are so good right now, I can't resist. I won't replace them all though, for example I will be keeping my 50 FLE CF because it is flawless and uses the same Bay 60 filter size as all the other lenses. The 80 CF I will probably go CFE as well as the rare 40mm CFE-IF and the absurdly expensive 350mm SA / CFE at some point.

Hassy is my favorite gear to use, seamless integration of film and digi, love, love, love it!

 

[etn]

My Hasselblad V system is one of my most used for professional advertising and landscape work, I use it with black and white film and a CFV50c 50MP d__ital back. I find the the inner baffling and coatings on the CFi lenses to handle the very optically demanding CFV50c a bit better and they also have a longer potential shelf life in-between servicing with the improved main spring. I also shoot in very cold weather quite a bit and the smoother focusing has really made a difference in handling there.

The 180CF is really good, I could probably get away with not replacing it but the prices are so good right now, I can't resist. I won't replace them all though, for example I will be keeping my 50 FLE CF because it is flawless and uses the same Bay 60 filter size as all the other lenses. The 80 CF I will probably go CFE as well as the rare 40mm CFE-IF and the absurdly expensive 350mm SA / CFE at some point.

Hassy is my favorite gear to use, seamless integration of film and digi, love, love, love it!

View attachment 165345

I understand better now, thank you for your explanations! It makes a lot of sense.
What you say about the 50 FLE is interesting. I never could find much info about the reason for the change to B70 diameter in the CFi version. The optical formula remained the same (as with all CFi lenses but one), and the datasheet of both CF and CFi are also identical. My guess is that the larger diameter helps reduce vignetting when filters are used. This was probably never of an issue for you with the crop-sensor of the CVF50c, though.

I agree with you that we have a buyer's market for Hassy 2nd hand stuff now. I have the impression that prices even tend to rise slightly, in particular for rare items (such as Acute Matte D screens with split + grid, new-style A12 backs with dark slide holder etc.)

 

[logan.egbert]

As an update, I found a Camera shop that is taking my 150mm in trade toward a 180mm. Very excited indeed to try it out. Thanks for all of your input!

 

[etn]

Good luck, have fun and show us your results

 

[Sirius Glass]

As an update, I found a Camera shop that is taking my 150mm in trade toward a 180mm. Very excited indeed to try it out. Thanks for all of your input!

I would have found the 180mm lens more useful that the 150mm that I own.

 

[redrockcoulee]

Rather than juggling B50 and B60 filters, just stick with CF or newer lenses and then one set of B60 filters will cover [almost] all of them.

I have the 50 to 60 adapter on my 100 lens and then can use filters, lens caps or hood of my Bay 60 lens.

 

[faberryman]

Buy the 180, and then immediately buy the 250. You've got to get it out of your system so you can get back to making photographs. It is amazing what a few dollars can do to give you real peace of mind.

 

[Charles S]

All this talk of the 180, made me get one . Too late to talk me out of it