Hi : ) !!! - Hasselblad 50 mm. Distagon C questions

igmolinav · Feb 11, 2013

Hi,

I am being offered a Hasselblad Distagon 50 mm lens, C version.

The serial number is 3879126. I wonder how old this lens may
be. I tried a webpage from a Historical Hasselblad Society, but
the website wasn't working and I didn't get a production year.

The other question I have, I wonder how good the performance of
such a lens may be on both a Hasselblad body, as well as on a dSLR?

Last, but not least, what would be an appropiate price for such a lens.
Please feel free to post a price in your currency.

Thank you in advance, kind regards,

igmolinav : ) !!!

Kevin Caulfield · Feb 11, 2013

Juts checked it for you. It is 1965.

igmolinav · Feb 11, 2013

Hi,

Thank you Kevin : ) !!!

Do you guys know how well would this
lens perform or its approximate price?

Kind regards,

igmolinav

cjbecker · Feb 11, 2013

Even though hasselblad ziess lenses are amazing they do not resolve the amount that a 35mm lens does. They do give a different feel then your typical 35mm lens though. I will say, if I ever get a 35mm again I will be using all my hasselblad lenses on it and only using them.

The only thing I would say to do us check keh.com for a good price. I'm on my phone so it all a pain in the butt to do.

igmolinav · Feb 11, 2013

Hi,

You mean, the performance on 35 mm. should be amazing?!

Thank you, kind regards,

igmolinav : ) !!!

cjbecker · Feb 11, 2013

It looks like a Bgn condition will run 300 and 500 for a good version. On a medium format camera I will be a good lens. Many great photographs were taken with that lens.

Slixtiesix · Feb 12, 2013

I have the old 50/4 Distagon for my Rolleiflex SL66 (same as Hasselblad) and once stopped down to f8 or f11 the performance really convinced me. I did not expect it to be that good. At f4 and f5,6 it is softer, especially when used for close ups. Used in the 1m range at full aperture it is very soft! Superbly sharp and contrasty if used at f8 or f11 at wider distance. I found it even better than my 80/2,8 for that. I was also amazed about the high contrast and colour saturation though mine is only single coated.
Have a look on my Gallery, there are some pictures taken with it.

igmolinav · Feb 12, 2013

Hi,

Thank you for your messages : ) !!!

It looks like a Bgn condition will run 300 and 500 for a good version.

You mean between 300 USD and 500 USD?

On a medium format camera it will be a good lens.

And on a 35 mm. dSLR?

Used in the 1m range at full aperture it is very soft! Superbly sharp and
contrasty if used at f8 or f11 at wider distance. I found it even better
than my 80/2,8 for that.

At f/4 for a sharply focused half-body or
full body portrait I assume that what one may have in focus will be tack sharp,
and the foreground and background very blurred! (This, I assume again but don't
know for certain, is perhaps regardless of the camera used, either a Hasselblad or
a dSLR).

Thank you again, kind regards,

igmolinav : ) !!!

Sirius Glass · Feb 12, 2013

The 50mm lens that you are thinking about is a C lens. C lenses use B-50 filters and are less ergonomic than the newer lenses. The CF and newer lenses use B-60 filters. If you buy C lenses and CF lenses you will need two sets of pricey filters, B-50 and B-60. I strongly recommend that you only buy CF or newer lenses and avoid the C lenses. The CF lenses are the most cost efficient lenses since later models add mostly electronics and some add a front end focus adjustment [FLE]. I have not found FLE worth the additional costs.

igmolinav · Feb 12, 2013

Hi,

If you buy C lenses and CF lenses you will need two sets of pricey filters, B-50 and B-60

I would only buy one UV filter to protect the lens. Will it be that expensive?

... and some add a front end focus adjustment [FLE]. I have not found FLE worth the additional costs.

Yeah, I saw that. What for is the FLE? What difference does it make?

Thank you, kind regards,

igmolinav : ) !!!

Slixtiesix · Feb 12, 2013

When used at close range even what is in focus won´t be as sharp as it would be with a Macro-Planar or the like. Have a look on my "In the Garden of Sanssouci" and look at the flower. Sharpness is really low with this lens if used wide open at close range. I find the bokeh to be particularly beautiful for a wide angle though!
There is nothing wrong with my sample in this regard I think, as I said, it performs superbly when used at infinity.
I think this is why Zeiss added the FLE in the later generation.

igmolinav · Feb 12, 2013

Hi,

Thank you for your message : ) !!!

Do you have another link to the
picture. I don't have enough
privileges to see the pictures here.

Thank you, kind regards,

igmolinav : ) !!!

Sirius Glass · Feb 12, 2013

igmolinav said:
I would only buy one UV filter to protect the lens. Will it be that expensive?

Hasselblad filters are expensive unless purchased used.

igmolinav · Feb 14, 2013

Hi,

Hasselblad filters are expensive unless purchased used.

Is there a dealer you may recommend to get the filter from? Yes, if I can
save some money, it would be cool!

Kind regards,

igmolinav : ) !!!

igmolinav · Feb 14, 2013

Hi Slixtiesix,

Thank you for your messages : ) !!!

Hi,

have a look on my flickr-stream! There are a lot of pictures made with the 50/4. It is one of my favorite lenses.

Best,

Slix

http://www.flickr.com/photos/42967632@N05/

Yes, I saw the flower taken at f/4(?). It is true what you say, it is in focus, but not as "crispy"
as one may want it to be! As you mentioned, in order to get it crispier, one has to stop down
around f/8.

Kind regards,

igmolinav : ) !!!

cowanw · Feb 14, 2013

Well you can easily get a bayonet to regular screw mount filter. They are not much and you can settle on a larger size screw mount for (possibly) several lenses. Say 52 or 55 or 58 or 63mm

Hi : ) !!! - Hasselblad 50 mm. Distagon C questions

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