Hasselblad 1992 C 150mm Sonnar Lens

Chris Livsey · Jun 24, 2017

Can anyone quote another source of information on these lenses from this date well into C/F dates?
(No connection to seller, also listed on the auction/roulette site BTW)

https://www.camleyphotographic.com/...-c-150mm-sonnar-lens-20060-condition-5e-4840/

Hasselblad 1992 C 150mm Sonnar Lens

Stated:This lens is VERY, VERY rare. It is serial number 7259351, which was made in 1992. There were seven small batches of these lenses made between 1986 and 1995, when the C lens had been replaced by the more modern CF lens.

jeffreyg · Jun 24, 2017

Chris,

I don't know if you are looking to collect or use. I have the 150 f4 cf ( serial#7118421) so I can't speak for the c version but I also have a 350 that from the photos on the link has a similar shutter arrangement. My 350 is probably approximately 40 years old and is excellent in near mint condition. If your intention is for the lens is use I would go with a later model such as the cf as it is easier to use. Also what size filter is called for since most of the cf lenses use B60 filters so if you have several of those lenses you can use the same filters.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

Chris Livsey · Jun 24, 2017

jeffreyg said:
Chris,

I don't know if you are looking to collect or use.

Dear Jeffrey, I don't want to do either I have three 150s of various vintages already and I am a shooter not a collector, although the number of lenses on my shelf may tend to the opposite interpretation.
it is purely "intellectual" interest, I had not come across this series before and was wanting to see if any more information was out there.
This serial should be a CF but the seller notes batches of C lenses were produced well into the CF period as "specials" I am interested if anyone knows what the demand was and if any other source mentions these.
Your reply is appreciated, my CF 150mm is 1989 serial beginning 7162 this lens for sale is a C lens 7259 which is dated as 1992, well out of series.

philipus · Aug 21, 2017

Hi Chris,

This is intriguing and after I read your first post I put the question to Hasselblad. Today I received the below reply:

There are at least two possible scenarios here. According to one book (Thiele), Zeiss actually made several batches (black and silver) of C 150’s between 1986 and 1994. Maybe as many as 400. The other version is that the lenses with a high serial number, actually had been in for repair and some parts with serial number were replaced. I think that only Zeiss knows the true story.

Best
Philip

Chris Livsey · Aug 21, 2017

philipus said:
Hi Chris,

This is intriguing and after I read your first post I put the question to Hasselblad. Today I received the below reply:

There are at least two possible scenarios here. According to one book (Thiele), Zeiss actually made several batches (black and silver) of C 150’s between 1986 and 1994. Maybe as many as 400. The other version is that the lenses with a high serial number, actually had been in for repair and some parts with serial number were replaced. I think that only Zeiss knows the true story.

Best
Philip

Philip. Most interesting your research is applauded and appreciated.
I tend to the first version and was not aware that C lenses were made as late as 1994. My reasoning is the firm date from the seller, a well established Hasselblad dealer, they will have taken the date from the barrel stamp I am sure as Zeiss serials are only tenuously connected to dates, obviously roughly right but not perfect whereas the stamped date code goes down to the month. I have read of and seen examples of repaired lenses getting a second date code stamp to identify the repair date usually when an element/s has been replaced rather than a new serial number.
More knowledge gained.

philipus · Aug 23, 2017

Thank you Chris. Yes it is curious. Having now received the contact info for Zeiss in Sweden I have passed the question to them.

Chris Livsey said:
Philip. Most interesting your research is applauded and appreciated.
I tend to the first version and was not aware that C lenses were made as late as 1994. My reasoning is the firm date from the seller, a well established Hasselblad dealer, they will have taken the date from the barrel stamp I am sure as Zeiss serials are only tenuously connected to dates, obviously roughly right but not perfect whereas the stamped date code goes down to the month. I have read of and seen examples of repaired lenses getting a second date code stamp to identify the repair date usually when an element/s has been replaced rather than a new serial number.
More knowledge gained.

Chris Livsey · Aug 23, 2017

philipus said:
Thank you Chris. Yes it is curious. Having now received the contact info for Zeiss in Sweden I have passed the question to them.

I look forward to the answer.
C

Sirius Glass · Aug 23, 2017

I much prefer CF lenses over C lenses. I have one C lens, the 500mm lens for a price I could not pass up, but I do not like the ergonomics.

Chris Livsey · Aug 24, 2017

Sirius Glass said:
I much prefer CF lenses over C lenses. I have one C lens, the 500mm lens for a price I could not pass up, but I do not like the ergonomics.

Indeed but there does appear to have been sufficient demand for new C lenses, at least the 150mm, as late as 1994 from Zeiss who obliged and they have never been difficult to buy S/H. AFAIK there is no optical difference, other than coatings, between the original C and the final CFi so why the demand?

Theo Sulphate · Aug 25, 2017

Well, that's a puzzle. The CF lenses have an improved shutter, easier and less painful focusing, and a far more convenient EV interlock between shutter speed and aperture. I always choose CF over C (though I got a 250mm C for a great price).

CF's don't have a self-timer, but one can always use the camera in pre-release mode and there are self-timers available for cable releases. My C lens self-timers work, but only because I exercise them.

The C lenses also have the moving depth-of-field indicators. OK - that's cool.

I think this 1990's C lens would be of interest only to collectors ...or to someone who just has the hots for how they look.

Hasselblad 1992 C 150mm Sonnar Lens

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