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

logan.egbert · Oct 12, 2016

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!

Terry Breedlove · Oct 12, 2016

I have the 50mm and the 150mm a perfect one two punch for me . I don't see much reason to buy the 180mm since it is so close to your 150mm. Unless you are just wanting to add to the collection.

dasBlute · Oct 12, 2016

spend the money on a photo vacation instead, bring lots of film... you get the idea

MattKing · Oct 12, 2016

Compare the close focus distance and minimum field of view between the 150mm and 180mm options. If the 180mm offers an advantage, consider acquiring it.

By the way, APUG is not the place to go if you want to be convinced not to buy something .

Theo Sulphate · Oct 12, 2016

I have the exact same four lenses you do, plus a 250mm C. Having the 150mm, I don't see any compelling reason for a 180mm (other than collecting, which is fine).

Conceivably, there could be those few shots where the little bit of extra reach and shallower DOF of the 180mm is perfect. Maybe for (tight) portraits.

The one lens we're both missing is the wonderful 100mm.

ac12 · Oct 12, 2016

IMHO, the 180 is too close to your 150 to own both.
- Buy the 180, then sell the 150, or
- Don't buy the 180.

The 180 was significantly more $$$ than the 150, which is why despite wanting the 180, I went with the 150.
It is also heavier than the 150, if that makes a difference.

Leigh B · Oct 12, 2016

The 150mm and 180mm lenses are definitely not the same.
The diagonal angle of view is 29 degrees for the 150mm vs 24 degrees for the 180mm.

I have both lenses. The difference is noticeable.

The lenses have the same base speed, and the aperture range is the same.

These comparisons are from the CF datasheets. I believe the C specs are the same.

- Leigh

BrianShaw · Oct 12, 2016

Do not buy a 180. It will ruin your life. Buy a 250 instead!

jchabalk · Oct 12, 2016

I've never used the 180mm but i've had the 250 for a long time and it's a great lens. I also had the chance to get a 350mm a while back. It's a bit of a bear to lug around and it makes me a little nervous hanging off the end of the camera - but it's a great one too.

(i don't know if my bringing up the 350 is helping you out any though )

logan.egbert · Oct 13, 2016

Leigh B said:
The 150mm and 180mm lenses are definitely not the same.
The diagonal angle of view is 29 degrees for the 150mm vs 24 degrees for the 180mm.

I have both lenses. The difference is noticeable.

The lenses have the same base speed, and the aperture range is the same.

These comparisons are from the CF datasheets. I believe the C specs are the same.

- Leigh

Leigh,

Thanks for this response! What situations do you find yourself going for the 180 vs. the 150 and vice versa?

logan.egbert · Oct 13, 2016

ac12 said:
IMHO, the 180 is too close to your 150 to own both.
- Buy the 180, then sell the 150, or
- Don't buy the 180.

The 180 was significantly more $$$ than the 150, which is why despite wanting the 180, I went with the 150.
It is also heavier than the 150, if that makes a difference.

This is actually the other thought I've had, thank you for bringing it up. I'm not trying to collect lenses for the sake of collecting, I've just seen some very wonderful portraits done on the 180 so it's a tempting proposition. I think of how different the 120mm Makro and 150 are, with just 30mm between them and it's pretty substantial. Now, obviously the 120 makro is a very unique lens in the lineup, but I think the point still stands.

logan.egbert · Oct 13, 2016

MattKing said:
Compare the close focus distance and minimum field of view between the 150mm and 180mm options. If the 180mm offers an advantage, consider acquiring it.

By the way, APUG is not the place to go if you want to be convinced not to buy something .

I believe they both focus down to the same distance, but the 180 has the longer focal length. And yeah, you're probably right about that last part

logan.egbert · Oct 13, 2016

jchabalk said:
I've never used the 180mm but i've had the 250 for a long time and it's a great lens. I also had the chance to get a 350mm a while back. It's a bit of a bear to lug around and it makes me a little nervous hanging off the end of the camera - but it's a great one too.

(i don't know if my bringing up the 350 is helping you out any though )

How dare you, good sir!

I think the 250 would be as long as I could ever imagine using for portraiture. That's very tight, even more so with an extension tube. Would likely be very nice indeed for detail shots that aren't strictly portraits.

logan.egbert · Oct 13, 2016

Theo Sulphate said:
I have the exact same four lenses you do, plus a 250mm C. Having the 150mm, I don't see any compelling reason for a 180mm (other than collecting, which is fine).

Conceivably, there could be those few shots where the little bit of extra reach and shallower DOF of the 180mm is perfect. Maybe for (tight) portraits.

The one lens we're both missing is the wonderful 100mm.

What situations do you most often find yourself picking up the 250? I'd be very interested given that we have the same lenses aside from that one.

logan.egbert · Oct 13, 2016

BrianShaw said:
Do not buy a 180. It will ruin your life. Buy a 250 instead!

What if i'm just a glutton for punishment? Do go on, I'm curious why the 180 will destroy me!

Leigh B · Oct 13, 2016

logan.egbert said:
Thanks for this response! What situations do you find yourself going for the 180 vs. the 150 and vice versa?

Hi Logan,

I don't know if I could answer that. I have the whole range of Hasselblad lenses, and use all of them.

I have a long history of shooting 35mm slides, so I'm accustomed to framing an image exactly as I want.
I tend to use exactly the same technique when shooting B&W even though I know there's an option later.

It's often not possible to change the camera position in order to accomplish this with only a few lenses.

- Leigh

Ai Print · Oct 13, 2016

The 180mm Sonnar is one of the best lenses made for Hasselblad. I would sell that 150 in a hot second and get one. For the record, I have a 40mm CF/FLE, 50mm CF/FLE, 60mm CFi, 80mm CF, 100mm CFi, 120mm CF Makro, 180mm CF, 350mm CF and a 1.4XE.

The lenses I use by far the most are the 60mm and 100MM CFi and 180 CF which will also eventually be replaced with a CFi.

180mm all the way baby!

Theo Sulphate · Oct 13, 2016

logan.egbert said:
What situations do you most often find yourself picking up the 250? I'd be very interested given that we have the same lenses aside from that one.

I've used it for landscape and cityscape photos. With it I've made some nice photos of Seattle from across Puget Sound.

Additionally, I've got a SWC, which has a 38mm lens. It is amazing and I've used this camera far more often than I thought I would - especially considering that I generally don't like wide angle shots.

Slixtiesix · Oct 13, 2016

I have the 120/5,6, 150/4 and 250/5,6 for my SL66 and the 180/4 for my Hasselblad. I use the 120mm and the 180mm most. The 180/4 is a very sharp lens that can be used for a lot of tasks, from portraiture to landscape and architecture to close up work (it is pretty good at close distance). I like this focal length very much. I must admit that my 150mm and 250mm lenses have not seen any use since I bought the 180mm. Thus I would not recommend to own both the 150/4 and the 180/4. Either you sell the 150mm or you refrain from buying the 180mm.

etn · Oct 13, 2016

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!

RalphLambrecht · Oct 13, 2016

logan.egbert said:
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!

I did buy the 180 even after already having the 150 for portraits.It's well worth it; it puts that comfortable extra distance between you and the subject and is pinsharp;alsogreat for fashion and product photography.Then I did get the 250 later but it is used the least.

etn · Oct 13, 2016

Ai Print said:
180 CF which will also eventually be replaced with a CFi.

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!

Leigh B · Oct 13, 2016

etn said:
I decided that for me the sweet spot in features, handling & price were CF lenses.

Same here. All my lenses are CF except for the 350mm, which is a C IIRC.

- Leigh

guangong · Oct 13, 2016

A 180 is a handy lens to have for some situations. I have an Olympic Sonnar 2.8 and the even heavier Nikor 2.5 copy, both of which have been adapted for my Hassy fcm. Neither lens is suitable for a liesurely walk in the park. I have not used the slower 180 Hassy lens but those extra stops on the Olympic and Nikor increase potential use. However, I don't see any real advantage of these lenses for portrait. For portraits I use the 80 and 150. I agree with several previous commentators...use the money for film and a trip.

logan.egbert · Oct 13, 2016

RalphLambrecht said:
I did buy the 180 even after already having the 150 for portraits.It's well worth it; it puts that comfortable extra distance between you and the subject and is pinsharp;alsogreat for fashion and product photography.Then I did get the 250 later but it is used the least.

Thank you for your input, Ralph! I think I'm going to try to trade out the 150 for the 180.

Also, I LOVE your book. The best darkroom related book I own and I own a few

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

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