Hasselblad lens pricing (CF Series)

etn · Dec 27, 2020

RalphLambrecht said:
the 180 is asupersharp lens and often overlooked.

Ralph is spot on here.
It is smaller than a 250mm, performs better, and has max aperture of f/4 (the 250 has f/5.6).
If I could have only one out of 150, 180, and 250, I would choose the 180. It is also the one I take when traveling. Obviously it is the most expensive of the 3 but good deals should still be possible. FWIW I paid 650€ for mine in very good condition.

mshchem · Dec 27, 2020

Kodachromeguy said:
That is the standard internet cliche. Can that really be demonstrated in online posted pictures or optical prints? Most of this xxx is "sharper" than yyy is a bunch of online nonsense.

I think you need to evaluate your opinion. In light of the pandemic disease sweeping the globe. Facts are proving to be the solution. These curves are facts. If you wish to ignore them ,so be it.
Best Regards
Tony Fauci

Kodachromeguy · Dec 27, 2020

mshchem said:
These curves are facts. If you wish to ignore them ,so be it.

I am not ignoring the curves. In this case , the MTF curves do show that the 100mm lens performs better than the 80. But my original statement is still correct: Most of this xxx is "sharper" than yyy is a bunch of online nonsense. The internet is full of this kind of drivel that does not contribute to real photography, just bragging rights or brick wall photos.

BrianShaw · Dec 27, 2020

I always ask 2 things: are the curves really (statistically) significantly different and are the curves really (practically) significantly different.

mshchem · Dec 27, 2020

I love pictures of brick walls. I still have stocks of Forte Polywarmtone Art. Bricks look amazing on that paper toned in Kodak rapid selenium toner 1+3.

Sirius Glass · Dec 27, 2020

Kodachromeguy said:
I am not ignoring the curves. In this case , the MTF curves do show that the 100mm lens performs better than the 80. But my original statement is still correct: Most of this xxx is "sharper" than yyy is a bunch of online nonsense. The internet is full of this kind of drivel that does not contribute to real photography, just bragging rights or brick wall photos.

Ok take a close in portrait of your wife with the 100mm lens and then print an 11"x14" and show it to her. When you show it to her, please time the interval between showing her the photograph and her using her bare hands to rip out those things be your legs.

Arthurwg · Dec 27, 2020

GLS said:
I own both lenses and it is definitely not nonsense. The 100mm is a noticeably better performer, especially outside the center of the frame, and has much lower distortion. The 80mm also suffers from horrendous coma at wide apertures. Does all of this make the 80mm a bad lens? No, it is still quite capable of making stunning photographs. But the 100mm *is* technically a much higher performer, and no amount of scoffing will change that.

Not to mention that I can hand hold the 100 with a great deal of confidence, but not the awkward 180. ...

fdonadio · Dec 27, 2020

Good... now I am thinking about changing my kit. I like the 50mm, I have the CF FLE... so, instead of getting the 80mm and 150mm, maybe I should go for the 100mm and 180mm. And, if I need a really long lens, I can go straight to the 350mm, instead of the 250mm.

Sirius Glass · Dec 27, 2020

fdonadio said:
Good... now I am thinking about changing my kit. I like the 50mm, I have the CF FLE... so, instead of getting the 80mm and 150mm, maybe I should go for the 100mm and 180mm. And, if I need a really long lens, I can go straight to the 350mm, instead of the 250mm.

I found that 150mm and 180mm is too close to the 80mm lens, to go to the 250mm so there is a 1:3 jump. I have two different approaches I recommend:

50mm, 80mm, 250mm
50mm, 100mm, 250mm

Personally I have 30mm Fisheye, 38mm SWC, 50mm, 80mm, 100mm, 150mm, 250mm and 500mm lenses. I use the 80mm and 100mm interchangeably. My least used lens is the 150mm, in fact a rarely use it especially since I do not take portraits very often. For vacations depending on where I am going and what I am doing so I use 50mm, 80mm and 250mm or SWC, 50mm and 80mm.

Deleted member 88956 · Dec 27, 2020

Kodachromeguy said:
I am not ignoring the curves. In this case , the MTF curves do show that the 100mm lens performs better than the 80. But my original statement is still correct: Most of this xxx is "sharper" than yyy is a bunch of online nonsense. The internet is full of this kind of drivel that does not contribute to real photography, just bragging rights or brick wall photos.

+ 1

As life proves it time and again, what cannot be proven in real results can sure be proven in a lab. I have nothing against Hasselblad or Zeiss lenses, own few of the latter too. Final answer always lies in the visual proof, not within curves or chain reaction progressions.

A man once tried to scientifically prove how pizza dough is better when slow fermentation in low temperature is allowed to take over (and it is). Then the results come out of the oven and end up anywhere from meh to wow.

And I will say this: watching too many curves really puts ones mind on a different trajectory of reason. There are countless cases of curvy things making individuals lose their heads.

eli griggs · Dec 27, 2020

Arthurwg said:
Not to mention that I can hand hold the 100 with a great deal of confidence, but not the awkward 180. ...

I've found that the Hasselblad flash hand grip, makes holding the 250, CFI the 150, CF/C T*, And 180 CFI, an easy hold in the left hand, with the exception in handling, being the ridge position of the vertical hold, difficult on any 'twisting' of the wrist.

It's generally for use of longer lenses that I keep this in my outing bags, no the flash unit function.

Most of the time, I'll hold a flash above my head or to the side, in my free hand and otherwise do no use the flash bracket in my usual work.

GLS · Dec 28, 2020

etn said:
If I could have only one out of 150, 180, and 250, I would choose the 180

Exactly, and that is in fact what I did. Not only does it focus closer, the 180mm is also a more recent design than the other two, and is the better performer. Yes you read that right, scoffers

etn · Dec 28, 2020

fdonadio said:
Good... now I am thinking about changing my kit. I like the 50mm, I have the CF FLE... so, instead of getting the 80mm and 150mm, maybe I should go for the 100mm and 180mm. And, if I need a really long lens, I can go straight to the 350mm, instead of the 250mm.

50, 100, 180 is a good combo. (FWIW, at some point I replaced the 50 by 60 in "daily use" mainly for its lower size & weight)
If you expect only an occasional use of the 350mm, get a X2 teleconverter (the Hasselblad one) and use that with your 180.

EDIT: or forget about the 100 and go straight to the 120 - the most useful lens of all in my opinion.

GLS · Dec 28, 2020

etn said:
EDIT: or forget about the 100 and go straight to the 120 - the most useful lens of all in my opinion.

I think it is valid to buy both. They excel in different applications.

I agree about the 50 / 100 / 180 combo though; that is what I typically carry.

etn · Dec 28, 2020

GLS said:
I think it is valid to buy both. They excel in different applications.

Definitely. The decision becomes "which one to get first" and this is a completely different debate.
I remember writing in many posts that every Hassy owner will eventually get all lenses. This is getting increasingly with the fast rising prices... glad I found mine before the big hike.

Sirius Glass · Dec 28, 2020

Old Gregg said:
BTW a much cheaper way to discover your perfect lens is an app similar to artist viewfinder. I have all relevant Hasselblad lenses added to it so you can quickly see the difference in FOV between them.

I merely reprogrammed my brain. More cost effective and it does not use up batteries.

letchhausen · Dec 29, 2020

I have a borrowed 80mm and for my urban shots, it was a little too long, but for my landscape shots it was perfect. While I hemmed and hawed over getting a 60 (which was cheaper then), the prices went up quite a bit. The 50mm was budget-priced comparatively like a year ago. Now they're all crazy town. As I'm getting older I started to realize that I need to buy the lenses that I need and put that kit to bed. My 4x5 kit is complete, along with my 35mm. I own the 150mm and thinking I'll get the 80mm and the 250mm and call it good. I was thinking, "I'll settle for a C lens" but that doesn't work anymore since the price differential has closed. I'm not sure why this is happening shouldn't everyone be using their cell phones and leaving this gear alone?

Sirius Glass · Dec 29, 2020

letchhausen said:
I have a borrowed 80mm and for my urban shots, it was a little too long, but for my landscape shots it was perfect. While I hemmed and hawed over getting a 60 (which was cheaper then), the prices went up quite a bit. The 50mm was budget-priced comparatively like a year ago. Now they're all crazy town. As I'm getting older I started to realize that I need to buy the lenses that I need and put that kit to bed. My 4x5 kit is complete, along with my 35mm. I own the 150mm and thinking I'll get the 80mm and the 250mm and call it good. I was thinking, "I'll settle for a C lens" but that doesn't work anymore since the price differential has closed. I'm not sure why this is happening shouldn't everyone be using their cell phones and leaving this gear alone?

I found the 60mm is too close to the 80mm lens. The 50mm lens is great for urban shots. So is the SWC, but that requires Sirius Money [a relative of mine].

Hasselblad lens pricing (CF Series)

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