Hasselblad 40mm vs 50mm for interior shots

david b · Jul 19, 2006

I am about to receive a 40mm lens that I am planning on using for some interior shots.

Will the 40mm be that much different than the 50mm?

BTW, both are the FLE models.

thanks...

David A. Goldfarb · Jul 19, 2006

Not a Hassy shooter, but I find quite a big difference between a 40mm and 50mm lens on 6x6. A 50mm feels like a 90mm on 4x5" or a 28mm on 35mm to me--as wide as you can get and still feel like everything is normal. 40mm really feels like a wide lens, handy for tight interiors, but it might make the space look unnatural.

André E.C. · Jul 20, 2006

I have used both and find the 40 quite tricky to use ( at least for me), maybe due to a slightly exagerated perspective?
Anyway, it`s the optic for interiors and architecture photography no question about it, the broad angle of view is certainly a great thing about this optic for such applications.
They are different in the angle of view already, the 40mm has a diag./horizontal of 88°/67° and the 50mm a diag./horizontal 75°/57°.
I prefer the 50, but if you can, give both a try and see which one you like most.

Cheers

André

david b · Jul 21, 2006

Well I just got the 40mm and it is wide but I like it.

I am going to do some test shots and see how it is.

thanks.

naturephoto1 · Jul 21, 2006

david b said:
Well I just got the 40mm and it is wide but I like it.

I am going to do some test shots and see how it is.

thanks.

Hi David,

Good luck with the lens. Just remember it is only 2mm longer than the 38mm on the the SWC series. Those are wide lenses. Just like my Mamiya 43mm for the Mamiya 7II. You will probably find it easier to control lines and perspective on a tripod. Lenses in this focal length range for 6X6 and 6X7 cameras will render straight lines straight when level. Otherwise, remember what happens to horizon lines and such when using something like a fisheye lens.

Rich

arigram · Jul 21, 2006

I had the same dilema. In the end, I got the 40 because it wasn't a matter of money really, after all the big difference is economics. I have used it succesfully in interiors, exteriors and even portraiture. Its a wonderful lens.

david b · Jul 22, 2006

Well the lens arrived on Friday morning. Like new in the original leather bag and box. Man oh man this is a nice lens. It is a 40mm CFE FLE.

I did some shots around the house and in the back yard and then this morning I took it out to the local flea market and did some "environmental portraits" with some of the characters there. I love this angle. I used a monopod and squared things up.

Any way, I paid $1000 for the lens. Yep, one thousand dollars. This is why I am going to keep it. I will put the 50mm up for sale. So if you are looking for a beautiful 50mm CF FLE lens with the box and bag, let me know.

Lee Shively · Jul 23, 2006

Hi, David. Congratulations on the new lens. I know you will love using it and the price you paid sounds like a bargain for that lens in like new condition.

Not being a Hasselblad owner, I can't really comment on that particular lens. I would hold onto the 50mm if I were you. I use Pentax 645 and I have the 35mm and 45mm lenses which are roughly the equivalent focal lengths for 40mm and 50mm on the Hasselblad. I do love the 35mm/40mm perspective but I have a tendency to overdo it. I try to restrain myself these days. For a lot of subjects, 45mm/50mm turns out to work better.

twopointeight · Jul 25, 2006

I use the 40mm sometimes. It is not as sharp in the corners as the 38mm except at the optimium apertures of f11/f16. Its not really useable at wide apertures in my opinion. Sometimes I use it with a 6X4.5 back and eliminate the far corners. That works well.

RJS · Jul 26, 2006

40 mm

Anyone know where I can obtain a 40 for the Rollei SL 66?

Mike Kovacs · Jul 26, 2006

In SL66 mount they are pretty rare and I am told by Cornelius Mueller of Carl Zeiss AG that they are of the same design as the older Hasselblad C lenses.

The older ones are single coated and marked "Carl Zeiss", the later HFT (Multicoated) models are quite rare and fetch a huge premium. Good luck, I'd love to have one!

david b · Jul 26, 2006

How do you attach the haze filter to the lens? I just bought it (3051411) and don't see threads for it.

André E.C. · Jul 26, 2006

david b said:
How do you attach the haze filter to the lens? I just bought it (3051411) and don't see threads for it.

You need a step-up ring (3040693) for it, I think!

Cheers

André

Jose A Martinez · Jul 26, 2006

David, if you aren't in a hurry don't sell the 50, you would need it in the future.

I been using both for a while and I'm sure that I use the 50 more frecuently, of course this in my kind of work.

david b · Jul 27, 2006

I just put up a couple of prints in the standard gallery. Have a look.

Hasselblad 40mm vs 50mm for interior shots

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