Hasselblad lens choice - 80 vs 60 vs 50 vs 40mm

[Kayo]

Hello everyone. Recently I've acquired a Hasselblad 500EL/M together with a 150mm CF lens. As I plan to return home over the summer I have already decided on converting the elm into manual by a friend, sending everything for a cla afterwards, but am struggling to decide on what lens to choose... I have only been shooting film for a few months, and before this was more used to zoom lenses. So although I'd like to think I understand the full frame equivalent vs medium format, I am still not certain what focal length I should be asking for with my preferences towards landscape and nature photography, or what lens would best compensate for the 150mm. I lean towards the 60mm as I have heard talk that it's sharper with less distortion compared to the 50. But every lens seems to have its own charm. 80mm has speed and light weight. 40mm for true wideness. The 50mm has a lower market value (perhaps useful for searching out later versions).

The 100mm is also not completely out of the question, since I understand it has a very strong reputation. But I am hesitant because it may sit too close to my 150mm, and the prices are also rather high.

Thank you very much in advance for reading, and for any advice you may kindly give.

Edit: I have now purchased a nice-condition CT 60mm from a fellow forum member. Thank you all very much for your kind advice. I have learned quite a lot as well!

 

[BrianShaw]

Congratulations! The 150 is my favorite but you can’t beat an 80! Don’t overthink it…

 

[Pieter12]

I like the 60...but that's me. Don't sweat it. Go out and shoot some film with what you have. BTW, is the conversion/removal of the motor drive on the ELM a common procedure? I would think you would have to cobble together some sort of manual film advance/shutter cocking control.

 

[mshchem]

Don't buy anything yet. Don't mess with the motor. Square format is awesome. I would get a tripod, a couple extension tubes and try some nature macro work with the 150mm.

50mm should be plentiful.

 

[mshchem]

EL/M can be run off a 9V transistor radio battery with a cheap adapter

 

[mshchem]

Look for something like this MINT from a good dealer, I like the chrome version but black is nice too

https://www.ebay.com/itm/137292853359

 

[Kayo]

EL/M can be run off a 9V transistor radio battery with a cheap adapter

One was included with my purchase, machine works, just wanted to be without the moter weight

 

[Kayo]

I like the 60...but that's me. Don't sweat it. Go out and shoot some film with what you have. BTW, is the conversion/removal of the motor drive on the ELM a common procedure? I would think you would have to cobble together some sort of manual film advance/shutter cocking control.

I would ask a friend back home to do the conversion. He has done many of them over these past few years, and has refined the process. The camera would look almost the same as a 500CM, with a genuine advance lever everything worked out..

 

[Kayo]

Don't buy anything yet. Don't mess with the motor. Square format is awesome. I would get a tripod, a couple extension tubes and try some nature macro work with the 150mm.

50mm should be plentiful.

I have already made up my mind to remove the motor completely through an experienced friend. There is some corrosion in one part of the motor’s battery section, and even though it works as it should, I cannot seem to trust it entirely. The weight is still my main concern. As the 500EL/M came to me for only around $100, adding another $100 or so in parts for the manual conversion feels, in my heart, like a reasonable thing to do.

I will be sure to look out for some extension tubes. As for a tripod, I already have one that should be sufficient. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Kayo]

Look for something like this MINT from a good dealer, I like the chrome version but black is nice too

https://www.ebay.com/itm/137292853359

Being only a poor college student, to be fair, I do not care much about cosmetics. Some scratches, or such are also fine with me, as long as the optics are good. I will most likely buy one back home, of course, perhaps camera stores in person, since prices from US dealers especially with 10% tax feel a little high for me. Thank you very much for the reminder.

 

[Kayo]

Congratulations! The 150 is my favorite but you can’t beat an 80! Don’t overthink it…

I still have about a month or so to overthink it, so I am sure I will continue turning it around in my head for a while. It will also depend on what happens to appear on the sites back home.

Most of these lenses, except perhaps the 50mm lenses, seem to appear at rather similar prices where I'm looking. I do appreciate the light weight of the 80mm...

 

[MattKing]

What other cameras do you use, if any?
Which focal length's suit your vision on those cameras?

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Hello everyone. Recently I've acquired a Hasselblad 500EL/M together with a 150mm CF lens. As I plan to return home over the summer I have already decided on converting the elm into manual by a friend, sending everything for a cla afterwards, but am struggling to decide on what lens to choose... I have only been shooting film for a few months, and before this was more used to zoom lenses. So although I'd like to think I understand the full frame equivalent vs medium format, I am still not certain what focal length I should be asking for with my preferences towards landscape and nature photography, or what lens would best compensate for the 150mm. I lean towards the 60mm as I have heard talk that it's sharper with less distortion compared to the 50. But every lens seems to have its own charm. 80mm has speed and light weight. 40mm for true wideness. The 50mm has a lower market value (perhaps useful for searching out later versions).

The 100mm is also not completely out of the question, since I understand it has a very strong reputation. But I am hesitant because it may sit too close to my 150mm, and the prices are also rather high.

Thank you very much in advance for reading, and for any advice you may kindly give.

as you seem undecided, I would have sent you towards a normal 80mm to get started, but after reading your ntire post, including the lines in between, I suggest you get started with the 60mm. It's close enoough t normal and is also close to the 50. It's not wide-angle yet, but working with that for a while,iwill give you a better understanding of where your journey should take you, and maybe you will end up, in a few years, with the holy trio (50, 80, 150) as most of us did.

 

[mshchem]

I have a 553 ELX, I use a Hasselblad left hand grip. I use a grip with the non-motor bodies too. Kinda weird on my part but I've always used a grip. By mint I mean the glass.

 

[mshchem]

I still have about a month or so to overthink it, so I am sure I will continue turning it around in my head for a while. It will also depend on what happens to appear on the sites back home.

Most of these lenses, except perhaps the 50mm lenses, seem to appear at rather similar prices where I'm looking. I do appreciate the light weight of the 80mm...

Where are you now and where are you going? Everyone is always looking for a Hasselblad repair technician. I inherited a 500C/M, I sent it to KEH for CLA and a minor repair, best $375 I have spent. Works great. I love cameras!

 

[Alexander6x6]

You will ruin your ELM if you would try to convert it.

 

[tcolgate]

I have the 150, 80 and 50 v series lenses. If weight is your issue then an 80mm is your friend. I love the photos from the 50mm, but I have the older, cheaper version, and it weighs an absolute tonne. Carrying all 3 primes is doable, but not exactly good for my back.

 

[Kayo]

Where are you now and where are you going? Everyone is always looking for a Hasselblad repair technician. I inherited a 500C/M, I sent it to KEH for CLA and a minor repair, best $375 I have spent. Works great. I love cameras!

Now in Santa Cruz, going to Nagoya, CLAs are quite a bit cheaper there.

 

[Kayo]

You will ruin your ELM if you would try to convert it.

Yes, I agree. I would probably, so that is why I am sending it to someone else.

 

[Kayo]

as you seem undecided, I would have sent you towards a normal 80mm to get started, but after reading your ntire post, including the lines in between, I suggest you get started with the 60mm. It's close enoough t normal and is also close to the 50. It's not wide-angle yet, but working with that for a while,iwill give you a better understanding of where your journey should take you, and maybe you will end up, in a few years, with the holy trio (50, 80, 150) as most of us did.

Thank you very much for the advice. May I ask why you would not recommend the 100mm? From what I have seen, both in measured specifications and in market prices, it seems to be one of the more highly sought-after Hasselblad lenses, too close in purpose with 80/150?

 

[Kayo]

I have not had much experience using a grip at all. Medium format is still rather new to me. I may look for a wooden grip, or something of that kind, since I have seen some handmade custom ones that seem quite lovely, thank you for the advice.

 

[Kayo]

What other cameras do you use, if any?
Which focal length's suit your vision on those cameras?

In terms of medium format, I have enjoyed a 110mm on the RB67, currently, with my preferred medium format option rolleiflex 2.8f the fixed 80mm lens on it feels quite natural to me.

For 35mm film, such as with my Nikon F3/T, I would say 40mm best suits my vision. Before getting into film, I mostly used zoom lenses, such as a 24-70mm, so I am still not completely sure what my real fixed-lens preferences are yet as I haven't tried every length especially not in medium format which is a whole other experience.

 

[mshchem]

I have a RZ67II, I put a Nons Instax back on it several weeks back, what a blast. I use Mamiya's left hand grip, mostly 110 2.8

 

[Kayo]

I have a RZ67II, I put a Nons Instax back on it several weeks back, what a blast. I use Mamiya's left hand grip, mostly 110 2.8

Nice! I have not tried any instant backs on cameras yet, should try one someday. I have only played a bit with Polaroid instant film before.

 

[Dan Daniel]

So you have some history with zooms on digital cameras? That most likely means that you have a data set of what focal lengths you like to use. Go through files and look at the zoom setting for shots that you like. Look over months. Patterns will emerge. When I shot a lot of digital I was surprised to see that I shot at around 35mm equiv. for maybe two-thirds of my favorite shots. Recent gathering of images over the last year or so led to almost all my favorites being shot with either a Rollei Wide or a 60mm on a Hassy. And I hadn't used these very much. So look back and see what lenses have worked for you.

With Hassy lenses, I wouldn't get too obsessed with which is sharper, etc. They are all very good. My experience with a 50mm on a Hassy is that it is at that point where it introduces a tendency to go wide angle wonky if you aren't paying attention. Nothing severe and not hard to control at all, but still... The 60 is a wide normal, while the 50 is a wide angle, if that makes sense. Since you know the 80 on 6x6 already, the issue is if you want to try something different in focal length, or same focal length but different camera style. Me, I considered the main reason to use a Hassy over a Rolleiflex being the different focal length options.