Hasselblad chrome lenses with T* coating?

yashima · Jun 18, 2018

Hello everyone,

Is there a definite information on which chrome lenses received T* coating after it was introduced?

I have seen 80mm chrome with T* and 150 chrome T* however I have yet to see a 50mm or 120mm with T* marking.

I know that some later chrome lenses have multi-coating without the T* marking, but for simplicity, let's narrow it down with lenses with actual T* marking. Recently I'm trying to collect chrome lenses and just want to make sure what I need to look out for.

Thank you.

shutterfinger · Jun 18, 2018

A Lens Collector's Vade Mecum says From 1973 T* coating as multicoating.
The Millenium list for Hasselblad was:
Distagon f3.5 35mm CFi
Distagon f4 40mm CFi
Distagon f4 50mm CFi
Distagon f2.8 50mm FE
Distagon f3.5 60mm CB
Zoom f4.8 60-120mm FE
Planar f2.8 80mm CB
Planar f3.5 100mm CFi
Planar f2 110mm FE
Makro-Planar f4 120mm CFi
[Variogon f5.6 140-280mm CF from Schneider]
Sonnar f4 150mm CFi
Sonnar f2.8 150mm FE for 2000F series
Tessar f4.8 160mm CB
Sonnar f4 180mm CFi
Sonnar f5.6 250mm CFi
Sonnar f5.6 250mm CFi coded Superachromat
TeleTessar f4 250mm FE
TeleSonnar f2.8 300mm FE Super Achromat
TeleSonnar f5.6 350mm CFE Super Achromat
TeleTessar f4 350mm FE
TeleTessar f8 500mm CF
All are coded T*, and the FE lenses are for the 2000F camera with focal plane shutter- and lack blade
shutters. Blade shutters will be Prontors
Lens manufacturers used a code to indicate single coating for a few years then again for multicoating.
This list is Zeiss except where otherwise noted.

yashima · Jun 18, 2018

Thank you. I'm aware that lenses after 1973 are T* coating. However I'm asking about chrome lenses with T* coating, as I'm sure you know chrome lenses were discontinued shortly after T* coating were introduced.

Theo Sulphate · Jun 18, 2018

So, you are speaking of chrome C lenses with T* coating. There were also black C lenses with T* coatings. These T* lenses ranged from 1974 to 1982, though I don't know when the black C T* lenses superseded the chrome ones.

The black-only CF lenses began in 1982. They are all T*.

However, among the C T* lenses, both black and chrome, those were:

30, 40, 50, 80, 100, 120, 135*, 150, 250. 350, 500

* = (a lens-bellows configuration).

I would suggest The Hasselblad Compendium, by Rick Nordin for the fine details on chrome lenses.

itsdoable · Jun 18, 2018

Rick Nordin's Hasselblad Compendium mentions these transitions lenses, sometimes with related SN batches, but for the most part they are not well documented.

38mm f/4.5 Biogon C - hand full of non-T* black lenses 1969-72
50mm f/4 Distagon C - small percentage of transitional silver T*
80mm f/2.8 Planar C - Silver T* from 1972-73 in 525 and 551xxxx blocks
120mm f/5.6 S-Planar C - non-T* black version from 1973-75 plus hand full of silver T* (non-regular production)
150mm f/4 Sonnar C - non-T* black version common, silver T* rare
250mm f/5.6 Sonnar C - non-T* black versions common

mike c · Jun 19, 2018

I have a chrome 250mm with the T* coating.

yashima · Jun 19, 2018

Thank you. Looking around a bit harder I have found a limited number of 50, 150, 250 chrome T*. 80 chrome T* is quite common. However I have yet to see a 120 chrome T*, has anyone personally had one (or seen one) at all?

GLS · Jun 19, 2018

Did the chrome lenses which received the T* coating not get marked as such on the lens front?

4season · Jun 19, 2018

I once owned a chrome SWC with T* coatings.

itsdoable · Jun 19, 2018

Keep in mind that the Chrome and Black C lenses shared the same mechanics. Service centers (and Zeiss) could/would upgrade your lens to T* on request.

Theo Sulphate · Jun 19, 2018

GLS said:
Did the chrome lenses which received the T* coating not get marked as such on the lens front?

Most all lenses with the multicoating, both chrome and black, were marked as T*.

However I do remember reading eons ago that a small number of an initial batch was not marked.

Of course, during repairs at Han's Handy Hasselblad Hut, it's possible that the trim rings for lenses could become swapped.

mike c · Jun 20, 2018

The T* on my chrome 250 is stamped on the barrel.

Dmosher · Jun 20, 2018

I can confirm the 50mm chrome came in T*. I owned one about a decade ago.

yashima · Jun 20, 2018

Thank you all. After some further researching, indeed 38mm, 50mm, 80mm, 120mm, 150mm, 250mm chrome lenses all have come with T* coating at some point, with 120mm T* the rarest of all. The only chrome lens that never came with T* I think is 60mm f/4, a relatively rare lens by itself.

Hasselblad chrome lenses with T* coating?

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