Hasselblad 80mm Planar or 60mm Distagon CF for urban documentary project

[RezaLoghme]

Which 60mm?

 

[Philippe-Georges]

Which 60mm?

In the street (*): the cheapest...

(*) is 'in' or 'on' the street?

 

[Don_ih]

is 'in' or 'on' the street?

Mostly "on" but "in" is often understood in the same way, if you assume a figurative concept of "the street".

Nice photos in that little book, Philippe.

 

[RezaLoghme]

So then....10 Ilford rolls arrived today. Because of decision fatigue I did not pull the trigger - the lens would not have arrived in time. I am taking my 50mm C Distagon in black, so be it.

 

[chuckroast]

So then....10 Ilford rolls arrived today. Because of decision fatigue I did not pull the trigger - the lens would not have arrived in time. I am taking my 50mm C Distagon in black, so be it.

I think we may sometimes forget how lucky and spoiled we all are. The horror - having to take a Hasselblad camera and lens on a trip ...

 

[RezaLoghme]

Yes and especially in light of where I am going.

I consider myself very lucky, and my little family of Hasselblads is part of my happiness.

 

[RezaLoghme]

No way to really answer this for another person. Me, I'd do the 60. I like the slight wide angle and I am not a fan of so-called normal perspective because I find it too tight but not tight enough. Ara Güler seems to like wide and showing the environment around people, etc.

Thanks! After re-reading lots of Hasselblad and 3rd party data, I believe the CF 60 is what I need. It also seems to be somewhat lighter than the 50. And I found the ergonomics of the C 50 really cumbersome; I am not such a fan of the early "cast iron feel" lenses.

 

[chuckroast]

Thanks! After re-reading lots of Hasselblad and 3rd party data, I believe the CF 60 is what I need. It also seems to be somewhat lighter than the 50. And I found the ergonomics of the C 50 really cumbersome; I am not such a fan of the early "cast iron feel" lenses.

You will love the 60mm. It's tack sharp, an the angle of view is perfect for any number of situations. Here's something I shot handheld with mine, a few weeks back. Scan of silver print:

 

[RezaLoghme]

Thank you! Is already on my watch list - just need to pull the trigger.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I use that 80mm lens the most. I found that the 60mm lenses is too close to the 80mm lens to be of much use. Therefore I use the 50mm lens with the 80mm lens as a pairing. I own the 30mm C Fisheye, 38mm 903 SWC, 50mm CF, 80mm CF, 100mm CF, 150mm CF, 250mm CF, 500mm C and the 2XE extender.

 

[RezaLoghme]

I will use the 150mm and 60mm CFs from now on.

 

[Arthurwg]

I am still torn between CF and CB

The 60mm CB lens is my favorite for most things Hasselblad. This lens is optically identical to the CF version, lacking only a few minor features. I do think you'll find it easier to use than the "C".

 

[Arthurwg]

I will use the 150mm and 60mm CFs from now on.

You might consider the 120mm. CF as an alternative.

 

[RezaLoghme]

too late - i have bought both 60 and 150 as CF and am happy (so far)

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I am still torn between CF and CB

I don't think there is a difference optically. So, for simplicity, choose CF if your other lensesare CFs too; otherwise CB because it's newer.

 

[RezaLoghme]

I have bought (and received) 2 CFs now

 

[mrosenlof]

I took my Blad to Japan last year for a walking pilgrimage trip (shikoku). I took the 80CF, chosen because it was lighest.

Pick one and don't look back. You'll adapt.

 

[RezaLoghme]

My new go-to lens will probably be the 60mm CF now.

 

[Philippe-Georges]

I'm always pleasantly surprised to see how much you can do with a (simple) standard lens...

 

[RezaLoghme]

Yes it forces you to engage a bit more with the subject and scenery.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

So then....10 Ilford rolls arrived today. Because of decision fatigue I did not pull the trigger - the lens would not have arrived in time. I am taking my 50mm C Distagon in black, so be it.

that's a good lens for the project. The 50mm CF is better for near-focus, but your project will have little of that.

 

[RezaLoghme]

Thanks Ralph. The handling/ergonomic alone are such a difference. I dont know why I bothered to usee the C lenses for so long...

The new 150mm is the same as my old one, but the 60mm Distagon just feels right, less narrow than the 80mm Planar and not as fish-eye-y as the 50mm. Could make a good "one lens" lens.

 

[Axelwik]

All my Hasselblad lenses are C, and all but one has the T* coatings. I prefer the moving depth of field markers on the C over anything later, and for most shooting I use a 60 distagon or the 120.

 

[Arthurwg]

The new 150mm is the same as my old one, but the 60mm Distagon just feels right, less narrow than the 80mm Planar and not as fish-eye-y as the 50mm. Could make a good "one lens" lens.

Yes, the 60m is my "one lens" that I use almost all of the time. When I travel I also bring the 120mm, just in case, but that's it. Still, I would never call the 50mm "fish-eye-e." I just used mine for a project just to test it, shot maybe 50 exposures with it. Perfect and sharp, but sometimes too much empty foreground.

 

[RezaLoghme]

I went on a short excursion to exercise my new 60mm CF Distagon and can only say that it really qualifies for the "one lens" award. I am now thinking about what to do with my chrome Planar 80mm...