Hasselblad lens line up - any duds?

[Sirius Glass]

The 100mm CF lens is good for male portraits, but too sharp for a woman's portrait if you would like to be able to talk to her ever again.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

@VTLD what did you end up getting?

For now I'm sticking with SWC. Need to give it the love it seems to be asking for. Then I will look into other options.

Main reason I asked this question, was related to several 500 c/m kits available at the time with different lens each and of course at different price points. Two I paid more attention to went for relatively modest 1,3-1,5k, but that was around same time when I dove into SWC. All this info is good for future reference though, but frankly I need to complete my darkroom with this "new" Durst L1200 first.

 

[redrockcoulee]

There are no dud blad lenses, only dud photographers.

but this thread is not suppos ed to be about me.

 

[Greg Kriss]

In the past I have used pretty much of their lenses professionally, except for the 105mm f4.3 C UV Sonnar and the 24mm F/3.5 CF Fisheye Lens. Could never justify acquiring the UV Sonnar and I had no interest or use for the Fisheye. Two of my favorite Hass lenses have always been the 250mm f5.6 C SuperAchromat Sonnar and the all too common Carl Zeiss T* S-Planar 120mm f/5.6 C. As far a "duds" go... I'd hesitate to call them "duds" but the 60mm f/3.5 Zeiss Distagon and the 500mm F/8 that I acquired and used never equaled my other Hass lenses. My Zeiss Tele-Tessar 500mm f5.6 on my Rollei SL-66 definitely out performed my Hass 500mm F/8 and I have read that they are the same optics. All around favorite for general photography has always been the 100mm Hass lens.

 

[Arthurwg]

The 100mm CF lens is good for male portraits, but too sharp for a woman's portrait if you would like to be able to talk to her ever again.

I found the 100mm CF to have stiff focus and long focus throws, both of which bothered me.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I found the 100mm CF to have stiff focus and long focus throws, both of which bothered me.

Rather than fuss about it, I got used to it quickly.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

The 40 is optically not a dud, but it is inferior to the 38 in the SWC, and is massively heavy and quite large compared to the other lenses in the lineup. The only really good reason to get the 40 vs getting an SWC is that SWCs are now very spendy.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

Two of my favorite Hass lenses have always been the 250mm f5.6 C SuperAchromat Sonnar and the all too common Carl Zeiss T* S-Planar 120mm f/5.6 C.

Did you use the 120 for general purpose work or for close-up primarily? How did it perform overall? Thanks!

 

[BrianShaw]

Of the 3 Hasselblad lenses I use, CFE80, CF150 and CF250, I've not found any of them to be duds. But I sure found a Hasselblad accessory that might be considered a dud. Recently "upgraded" from the fixed lens hoods I've been using to a bellows lens shade. Being thrifty, bought one of the oldest versions (two silver bars underneath) but found that the adapter that fits the outside bayonet of the CF lenses is rare enough to be considered unobtainium. The shade works just fine using the inside filter bayonet with a Bay60-67 adapter though. But I wanted to be able to more easily change filters and use a lens cap. So bought a newer bellows lens shade that fits the outside CF bayonet, a 6093 Proshade, with the single wide side rail, and found that it fit as I desired but the bellows material is so stiff that it won't stay open at the 150 position (fully extended), and it's all plastic. Might be "good plastic" but nonetheless plastic. Apparently I didn't research enough because this was such a dud that Hasselblad later updated this product to resolve that stiff bellows problem. Fortunately the shade is likely to be effective even when not set fully to the 150 position.

 

[Arthurwg]

The 40 is optically not a dud, but it is inferior to the 38 in the SWC, and is massively heavy and quite large compared to the other lenses in the lineup. The only really good reason to get the 40 vs getting an SWC is that SWCs are now very spendy.

I can see the ability of the 40mm to focus and frame on the GG screen as am advantage to the SWC, but the way I use the SWC this doesn't seem necessary.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Of the 3 Hasselblad lenses I use, CFE80, CF150 and CF250, I've not found any of them to be duds. But I sure found a Hasselblad accessory that might be considered a dud. Recently "upgraded" from the fixed lens hoods I've been using to a bellows lens shade. Being thrifty, bought one of the oldest versions (two silver bars underneath) but found that the adapter that fits the outside bayonet of the CF lenses is rare enough to be considered unobtainium. The shade works just fine using the inside filter bayonet with a Bay60-67 adapter though. But I wanted to be able to more easily change filters and use a lens cap. So bought a newer bellows lens shade that fits the outside CF bayonet, a 6093 Proshade, with the single wide side rail, and found that it fit as I desired but the bellows material is so stiff that it won't stay open at the 150 position (fully extended), and it's all plastic. Might be "good plastic" but nonetheless plastic. Apparently I didn't research enough because this was such a dud that Hasselblad later updated this product to resolve that stiff bellows problem. Fortunately the shade is likely to be effective even when not set fully to the 150 position.

I am sorry that you have this problem. That will make me avoid that Proshade.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I can see the ability of the 40mm to focus and frame on the GG screen as am advantage to the SWC, but the way I use the SWC this doesn't seem necessary.

I have not problem focusing the SWC on the ground glass when I use the adapter and the PME or tower. Although the depth of field on the SWC is so wide, one wonders why someone would would need to check it.

 

[Rob Skeoch]

I thought there were two duds in the line-up. I used hasselblad for NBA remotes for years.
The CB60 and the CB165 were both duds in my views. They didn't make them long.
I thought the best lenses were the 120 macro, 180mm and 40mm. At least for basketball remotes. I also used the 250mm a lot, which was also good.

 

[Arthurwg]

I have not problem focusing the SWC on the ground glass when I use the adapter and the PME or tower. Although the depth of field on the SWC is so wide, one wonders why someone would would need to check it.

Yes I agree. But you can't use the SWC handheld with the ground glass and adapter. I've never had my SWC on a tripod.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Yes I agree. But you can't use the SWC handheld with the ground glass and adapter. I've never had my SWC on a tripod.

I never suggested that it was hand held. Simply because any hand held camera set up to view from ground glass will move when the film back is placed on.

 

[Arthurwg]

I didn't say you suggested the SWC could be used handheld with the ground glass set-up. Obviously not. I meant to say the 40mm lens could easily be used handheld and benefit from accurate framing for those who needed or wanted that. I'm perfectly happy without that.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I didn't say you suggested the SWC could be used handheld with the ground glass set-up. Obviously not. I meant to say the 40mm lens could easily be used handheld and benefit from accurate framing for those who needed or wanted that. I'm perfectly happy without that.

Do you have a truss?

 

[Arthurwg]

Do you have a truss?

Is the 40mm any heavier or more unwieldy than the 180mm? Well I guess you wouldn't try to use the 180 handheld.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I don't understand. Why have you never used a tripod with this camera?

I tripod is not necessary with a steady hand and fast enough film.

 

[Arthurwg]

I don't understand. Why have you never used a tripod with this camera?

Wide angle lenses are much easier to use handheld.

 

[Ai Print]

So bought a newer bellows lens shade that fits the outside CF bayonet, a 6093 Proshade, with the single wide side rail, and found that it fit as I desired but the bellows material is so stiff that it won't stay open at the 150 position (fully extended), and it's all plastic. Might be "good plastic" but nonetheless plastic. Apparently I didn't research enough because this was such a dud that Hasselblad later updated this product to resolve that stiff bellows problem. Fortunately the shade is likely to be effective even when not set fully to the 150 position.

I guess I have the newer one (6093T?) because I find it to be sturdy, easy to setup and no issues with the bellows being too stiff.

The 40 is optically not a dud, but it is inferior to the 38 in the SWC, and is massively heavy and quite large compared to the other lenses in the lineup. The only really good reason to get the 40 vs getting an SWC is that SWCs are now very spendy.

For some reason I thought the 40 CF FLE was big and bulky too so I held off for quite awhile in getting it. Then a great deal popped up and you know, in actual use it is not that bad. I have never had any interest in the SWC so the 40 was the logical choice in going wider than a 50, which in my work is pretty rare...

 

[BrianShaw]

I guess I have the newer one (6093T?) because I find it to be sturdy, easy to setup and no issues with the bellows being too stiff.

I used a spring clamp to hold it open to the furthest position for a couple of days and "trained" the bellows. I'm guessing that it will revert once collapsed for transport, though.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I guess I have the newer one (6093T?) because I find it to be sturdy, easy to setup and no issues with the bellows being too stiff.




For some reason I thought the 40 CF FLE was big and bulky too so I held off for quite awhile in getting it. Then a great deal popped up and you know, in actual use it is not that bad. I have never had any interest in the SWC so the 40 was the logical choice in going wider than a 50, which in my work is pretty rare...

If someone offered to me the 40mm CF FLE at the kind of prices I bought the 30mm C Fisheye and the 500mm C lens, then I could probably find a use for it. But you need to rent or borrow the SWC and use it for a few rolls to really appreciate what the rectilinear lens can bring to the party.

You could fly out here then we could swap lenses and travel around Los Angeles for a few days and see what each of us learn.