Hasselblad 150 and 180 lenses

[nickandre]

So I understand there to be about 5 optical design lenses in this category:

1. 150 f4 CF ($375)
2. 150 f4 CFi ($500)
3. 150 f/2.8 F(E) ($600 for F, $800 for the E)
4. 180 CF ($500)
5. 180 CFi/E ($1000 CFi to $1500+ for CFE...CFE ain't cheap lol)

I currently have the 150 f/4 CF original which I've loved. Now suited up with a focal plane setup I'm wondering what people's thoughts are on this set. I've heard some people express that though the 150 was more common, the people shooting the 180 preferred it over the 150.

 

[GLS]

The CF and the CFi/CFE models all use the same optical formula. Apart from the externally redesigned barrel the CFi models added an improved focusing helicoid which feels substantially smoother. They also upgraded the shutters with supposedly longer lasting material for the spring, and added some kind of internal barrel coatings to reduce flare. The CFE added electronic contacts for use with in-camera metering systems etc.

As for the 180 vs 150: the 150 isn't bad by any means, but the 180mm is the better lens. Higher optical performance, and will allow a larger maximum magnification of the subject, enabling a tightly framed headshot without the use of extension tubes (for example).

 

[Sirius Glass]

I have the 150 CF. I do not use it much because I do not shoot portraits often. I use the 250mm more. I have been told that the 180mm is better for portraits.

 

[Grim Tuesday]

Don't forget about the 150 F4 C T* ($150-$200 -- the cheapest Hasselblad lens) It has the same glass as the CF and the same coatings as the CF if you get the black version. The silver version is great too because it's a sonnar lens there are only 3 lens groups so the reflections that coatings are neutralizing are not a big deal and the difference between 97% reduction and 99% reduction is minuscule (on the other hand, it's a bigger deal with the distagons with 7 groups).

Everyone says the 180mm is better but I find my 150mm to be one of the sharpest lenses I have ever used on any camera system. I don't abide bad lenses, and obsess over it way too much for my own good, but I truly feel no need to upgrade it to the 180. I have a CF that I got for cheap because it's missing the plastic part of the aperture stop down switch. Theoretically the CF lenses are more reliable but unfortunately after taking it outside last winter its aperture is now slow - I think some condensation occurred when I took it back inside and it will need to be taken apart and cleaned. On the other hand there are still plenty of the chrome 150s still kicking around after years of use in studios. I imagine if you can find one without much wear on it it will last another lifetime. I know this is Hasselblad sacrilege but I'm actually thinking of switching it out my CF C T* because my ideal two lens kit is 60/150 and my 60 is C T* not CF.

 

[Sirius Glass]

The chrome C lenses are less ergonomic and require harder to find B50 filters, so one saves money with the C lens, suffers with the controls and has to invest in another set of filters. Not really a cost savings.

 

[Grim Tuesday]

The chrome C lenses are less ergonomic and require harder to find B50 filters, so one saves money with the C lens, suffers with the controls and has to invest in another set of filters. Not really a cost savings.

It only becomes cheaper if you only have CF lenses. Otherwise you have to buy both! I agree with you on controls though.

 

[nickandre]

The chrome C lenses are less ergonomic and require harder to find B50 filters, so one saves money with the C lens, suffers with the controls and has to invest in another set of filters. Not really a cost savings.

Plus I had a C T* 50mm and due to age it was starting to act up. IMO if you can't prove a C lens was serviced recently, you have to add the cost of a CLA to the purchase price.

And since I'm shooting with an F body I'd prefer to avoid C only lenses due to mediocre F compatibility.

 

[Arthurwg]

My favorites to carry are the 60 mm CB and 120mm Cfi. The 180 is indeed heavy and awkward to use.

 

[GLS]

The 180mm is a sharp lens you always leave behind. But that's me

Funny, I almost never leave without it in the bag. My standard three lens set is the 50mm, 100mm and the 180mm.

I also own the 80mm and 120mm Makro-Planar, but use them far less often.

 

[Grim Tuesday]

I have the 50FLE, 60mm, 80mm, 150mm and 250mm. I had, but sold the 100mm and the 120mm, because they were not appreciably sharper than the 80mm or 150mm. At least for my samples and tests. I find the 60mm and 150mm to make a perfect walk-around pair. So much so, that I haven't used the 50mm or the 80mm in over a year. I should probably sell them and use the funds to buy a SWC...

 

[sterioma]

I have the 50FLE, 60mm, 80mm, 150mm and 250mm. I had, but sold the 100mm and the 120mm, because they were not appreciably sharper than the 80mm or 150mm. At least for my samples and tests. I find the 60mm and 150mm to make a perfect walk-around pair. So much so, that I haven't used the 50mm or the 80mm in over a year. I should probably sell them and use the funds to buy a SWC...

Hope the OP will not mind going a bit on a tangent and asking you what kind of bag you use? I am looking for some shoulder bag to carry around my hasselblad with the 80mm plus one extra lens and meter (and maybe one extra back). When I go for longer walks I use a backpack + tripod, but I would love something more convenient for photo walks. The Domke I use for 35mm is just too small.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I found that a shoulder bag was not good for my back because it throws the back off. I use backpacks that load from the top instead. I take off the backpack and put it down rather than twist around. Consider that.

 

[sterioma]

Thank you both. I agree that one 500 body + extra lens is borderline heavy, and I have been guilty of trying to carry too much stuff in the past. I was not aware of the "load from the top" back packs, they look like a brilliant idea.

 

[DonW]

There has probably been more money made with the 150CF than any other lens made in the last 50 years.

 

[itsdoable]

The 150 is probably one of the best deals in Hasselblad lenses, it is sharp, renders nice, and inexpensive (comparatively). That's probably why so many people have it.

It's only negatives are it's focal length (if that is not your focal length), and how plentiful it is (one of the reasons it's inexpensive). It also doesn't focus that close - if you want a head-shoulder shot, you need a Proxar.

 

[nickandre]

Hope the OP will not mind going a bit on a tangent and asking you what kind of bag you use? I am looking for some shoulder bag to carry around my hasselblad with the 80mm plus one extra lens and meter (and maybe one extra back). When I go for longer walks I use a backpack + tripod, but I would love something more convenient for photo walks. The Domke I use for 35mm is just too small.

I've been using a Peak Design shoulder bag. I think I have the middle size 10L. It fits the 203FE, two spare backs, lots o' film, the 110mm mounted on the body, 80mm, and 150mm seamlessly.

Although the 50mm f/2.8 is quite a bit bulkier; I can't fit the 150mm and the 50mm in the third pocket. Probably should have gotten the larger size or make do with only two lenses at a time. I find I don't use the 80mm that often with the ubiquity of normal focal length cell phone pictures making it less "interesting."

I've had two hasselblad bag strategies that have each been foiled by new lens acquisitions now...

 

[Grim Tuesday]

I've been using a Peak Design shoulder bag
I find I don't use the 80mm that often with the ubiquity of normal focal length cell phone pictures making it less "interesting."

Interesting that you say that, my phone (google pixel 3a) has a wide angle lens (I think 28mm 35 equiv/50mm 6x6 equiv) and it definitely reduces my proclivity to carry wide angle lenses. I'd rather take something a bit longer (even a 'normal') lens just to have something different! Out of curiosity what phone do you have that has a normal lens on it? Almost all that I looked at had wide angles.

 

[nickandre]

Interesting that you say that, my phone (google pixel 3a) has a wide angle lens (I think 28mm 35 equiv/50mm 6x6 equiv) and it definitely reduces my proclivity to carry wide angle lenses. I'd rather take something a bit longer (even a 'normal') lens just to have something different! Out of curiosity what phone do you have that has a normal lens on it? Almost all that I looked at had wide angles.

I use the iPhone 12 pro max. The longer focal length is the most important one for portraits. For a while I shot exclusively with the Nikon 135mm f/2 DC under the assumption that it precluded most boring holiday family pictures, which seemed to work. It's got a wide lens, normal, and telephoto, and of course everyone's favorite fake bokeh mode.

There's something pretty unique about the Hasselblad shots regardless though. I can't put my finger on it -- I thought a 50mm would look boring but it didn't. I'm not sure if it's the film or what. Wandering around the backyard still produces interesting pics:

Though I will say I'm partial to the 110 (if I can learn to focus it...):

 

[Arthurwg]

I've been using a Peak Design shoulder bag. I think I have the middle size 10L. It fits the 203FE, two spare backs, lots o' film, the 110mm mounted on the body, 80mm, and 150mm seamlessly.

Although the 50mm f/2.8 is quite a bit bulkier; I can't fit the 150mm and the 50mm in the third pocket. Probably should have gotten the larger size or make do with only two lenses at a time. I find I don't use the 80mm that often with the ubiquity of normal focal length cell phone pictures making it less "interesting."

I've had two hasselblad bag strategies that have each been foiled by new lens acquisitions now...

Thanks for pointing out the Peak Design bag. Are you using the original 10L or the V2 bag?

 

[warden]

I have the 50FLE, 60mm, 80mm, 150mm and 250mm. I had, but sold the 100mm and the 120mm, because they were not appreciably sharper than the 80mm or 150mm. At least for my samples and tests. I find the 60mm and 150mm to make a perfect walk-around pair. So much so, that I haven't used the 50mm or the 80mm in over a year. I should probably sell them and use the funds to buy a SWC...

I also use the 60 and 150, and like you leave the 80 home. ;-)

 

[rulnacco]

I have both the 150CF and the 180CFi. That may not seem to make much sense, being as they're so close in focal length in a range where such differences are nowhere near as major as at the shorter end of things. But they have their purposes!

The 180 *is* the better lens. Slightly, slightly--but there's something about it that just gives that extra bit of actually discernible definition and quality with portraits. So I keep it in a case (actually, one of those beastly old 40mm leather Hasselblad cases which are totally extravagant but really cool nevertheless which I got for free as a throw in on a trade at a second-hand camera shop in London) in my studio and bring it out when I'm working with someone extra special where I might want to print really large (I normally use it with a 553ELX and an old, 22-megapixel digital back). I use the 150 on a day-to-day basis in my portrait studio, and as it's so much lighter than the 180, it's my carry-around long lens when I'm walking about.

So do I *prefer* the 180? Well, if we're talking about when I want the ultimate in optical quality for particular shots, the answer is yes. But the 150 is really, really good indeed, it's not *far* behind the 180, and it is lighter, smaller and easier to carry around in a small bag. So for *most* things, I simply prefer to use it for convenience and ergonomics. And, if budget is a consideration--I spent several years accumulating my kit--the 150 wins on price, too. Bang for buck, you can make the case that it gives better value than the 180 overall when the disparity in price is factored in. If I ever got in the straits where I had to sell gear to eat, I'd part with the 180 simply because it would bring a higher price, but I could still get along fine and quite happily with the 150.

Now, I don't know about the construction of the 180CF, but one problem with the 150CF, which seems to be fairly common, is that the hard plastic ring behind the focusing ring appears to be prone to cracking and breaking; and when that happens, the rubber focusing ring tends to slide backward with use. I got mine really cheap because it had that problem. The previous owner had tried to epoxy the ring back together, but it kept giving way after I bought it. So finally, I went to a professional 3D printer in South London and had them make me a replacement ring (after David Odess quoted me a price of nearly $130 for a simple piece of plastic!). It's not as refined or glossy as the original part, but it doesn't look out of place--and it's worked brilliantly the past 6 years.

 

[nickandre]

Thanks for pointing out the Peak Design bag. Are you using the original 10L or the V2 bag?

The Peak Design 10L "everyday sling" is the one I have. Although the 50mm f/2.8 is too massive to fit well if mounted on the camera. It will fit:

1. the 203FE with the 110 mounted in the center
2. Two spare film backs on the side.
3. An 80 and a 150
4. Plus about 8 rolls of film in the top compartment and a 5 roll holder next to the film backs.

It’s a bit tight/heavy with the third lens unfortunately — for a while I used it with just the 110 and the 80 and that works well. With the 50mm mounted I think the lens competes with the rolls of film and it won’t quite zip shut.

I also grabbed an older Tamrac Velocity 9x bag with a little more space. It’s more suitable as a travel bag — a bit heavy for normal use. Ideally I’d settle on two lenses at least at a time, lol. I can do a video of how it fits if that's helpful.

 

[sterioma]

I can do a video of how it fits if that's helpful.

I'd love to see that.

 

[eli griggs]

St

The chrome C lenses are less ergonomic and require harder to find B50 filters, so one saves money with the C lens, suffers with the controls and has to invest in another set of filters. Not really a cost savings.

Step-up/down, rings and hoods that allow the larger filters to mount onto the smaller hoods are simple solutions that should be considered, IMO.

 

[Slixtiesix]

I have both Sonnars, the 180mm for Hasselblad and the 150mm for Rollei SL66. I prefer the 180mm but I mainly bought this for landscape, architecture and macro shots. This is where it really outperforms the 150mm. Hasselblad also marketed the 180mm as a longer alternative to the 120mm. If you mainly shoot portraits, it is rather a matter of taste. Longer vs narrower field of view. The 180mm is a bit sharper wide open indeed, but with these lenses, it can be hard to hit focus when shooting wide open anyway.