The 500mm F8 lens for Hasselblad

[ted_smith]

Hi

First post for me for a while. Family life, young kids etc has meant little time for my beloved hobby.

Anyway, I was recently looking at longer Hasselblad lenses for my 501CM over my 80mm and 120mm lenses. I discovered that there's a 500mm lens and was expecting it to be VERY expensive. But was therefore quite surprised to find one like this one for £450 : http://ffordes.co.uk/product/13102910355881 And this for £500 : http://ffordes.co.uk/product/14032509191631

I note the f stop is just f8. So it will obviously not be ideal in low light. Is that why there are not expensive? Are they actually good lenses (I know all Carl Zeiss lenses are good compared to mainstream lenses but you see my point)? I recall reading once that the faster the lens, and pretty much for every f stop increase in speed, the quality of the glass had to be exponentially better. So a 2.8 lens vs a f4 lens, for example, might only have one stop extra but the glass quality might be 5 or 6 times better. My 120mm for example, was about £350. So I expected a 500mm to be about 10 times that, but then with an f stop minimum of f8, I can see why many folks might not want one because unless you're taking photos in a studio or a sunny beach, it might be rather restrictive. But other than that, how does the lens quality compare to the other lenses?

 

[MattKing]

Check the dimensions of the lens and its closest focus distance to see if it meets your needs.

And consider how big the front element of a 500mm f/4 lens would have to be.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

Get a cheap but wonder 250mm lens and the Rokunar 2x converter. Great results will be had.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Hi

First post for me for a while. Family life, young kids etc has meant little time for my beloved hobby.

Anyway, I was recently looking at longer Hasselblad lenses for my 501CM over my 80mm and 120mm lenses. I discovered that there's a 500mm lens and was expecting it to be VERY expensive. But was therefore quite surprised to find one like this one for £450 : http://ffordes.co.uk/product/13102910355881 And this for £500 : http://ffordes.co.uk/product/14032509191631

I note the f stop is just f8. So it will obviously not be ideal in low light. Is that why there are not expensive? Are they actually good lenses (I know all Carl Zeiss lenses are good compared to mainstream lenses but you see my point)? I recall reading once that the faster the lens, and pretty much for every f stop increase in speed, the quality of the glass had to be exponentially better. So a 2.8 lens vs a f4 lens, for example, might only have one stop extra but the glass quality might be 5 or 6 times better. My 120mm for example, was about £350. So I expected a 500mm to be about 10 times that, but then with an f stop minimum of f8, I can see why many folks might not want one because unless you're taking photos in a studio or a sunny beach, it might be rather restrictive. But other than that, how does the lens quality compare to the other lenses?

From experience, I can say that you can buy from fords with confidence and have an easy return if not satisfied

 

[jeffreyg]

Ted,

Chances are the lens is quite old perhaps 40 years. Not that that would be a problem but the old long Hasselblad lenses had a large format type shutter which may not be to your liking. About ten years ago I bought a then 30 year old 350mm for $750 that was in excellent condition and functioned and still functions perfectly well. I tend to agree with Richard S. to buy a 250mm and 2x. that would give you essentially two lenses with the 500 capability having the close focus of the 250 although you would lose two stops. I have the 250mm as well and the Hasselblad Mutar 2x which I just took on a trip and was happy that I did. The 500 is going to weigh in at about 4 lbs. which might also be a consideration although the 250 at about 2 lbs. plus it will take the same size filters as your other lenses and the 500 will need 93mm filters that can be quite costly.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

 

[benjiboy]

Nice to see you posting again, I think the Question I would ask myself Ted is how much I would actually use a 500 mm lens, what for ?, and how much I would want to lug it about with the necessary tripod ?.

 

[RobC]

The 500 lens used to be very expensive. However I really think the answr is that they simply aren't in demand these days. The wildlife photographers who used them have long since gone digital and the lens is so specialist that what would you use it for. The occasional landscape, maybe the occasional wildlife shot and what else? And the age comes into it as well.

 

[ic-racer]

are not expensive?

It is a Tele-Tessar. Quite far a way from an APO telephoto one might be used to in 35mm. In US dollars that is $776.38 which I think is pretty expensive. I can see how a lens like that might be fun for $300 USD. But, in terms of quality, Tmax100 and a 35mm camera, medium format tripod, with something like a modern design APO-300mm might give sharper prints.

 

[Sirius Glass]

The 500 lens used to be very expensive. However I really think the answr is that they simply aren't in demand these days. The wildlife photographers who used them have long since gone digital and the lens is so specialist that what would you use it for. The occasional landscape, maybe the occasional wildlife shot and what else? And the age comes into it as well.

Rob is right. I have the 250mm lens and I have only used it once with a tele-extender just to see what it can do. I have been tempted many times to buy the 500mm but I have non given in so far. Mainly because I personally just do not have a great need for it. It is a really great lens. I also have the 150mm lens so the 80 to 150 to 250 to 350 ratios will not make the 350mm much of an increase in focal length. If you will use it and enjoy it then you should buy it. You can allows sell it for about what you paid for it.

Hasselblad has chosen to design the CF and higher lenses to use one set of filters for all their lenses. That is the reason the for the f/8 openings. Just use ISO 400 and ISO 800 film with the 500mm lens.

 

[whlogan]

I could not find any words to agree more. A 250 and a 2x doubler are we mere peasants ever might need. I am a mere Rollei SL66 user but am using the same lens kit the 'Blads use and had the great good fortune to take my 4 50+ year old kids to Monument Valley a couple of years back and the 250 with the doubler all used gear from K*H did the job perfectly well. Used such gear from them will serve you quite well and is usually a grade better than stated is right good stuff. If you got a bunch of money, then buy new, otherwise, buy used and most lenses at those focal lengths are are really good quality stuff.

Logan

 

[RobC]

I also think that you will find the 500 CF Tele Apotessar has a much better reputation and is quite a bit more expensive. i.e. The older 500 C Tele Tessar is not as desireable.

 

[RobC]

are not expensive?

It is a Tele-Tessar. Quite far a way from an APO telephoto one might be used to in 35mm. In US dollars that is $776.38 which I think is pretty expensive. I can see how a lens like that might be fun for $300 USD. But, in terms of quality, Tmax100 and a 35mm camera, medium format tripod, with something like a modern design APO-300mm might give sharper prints.

Maybe this will put it into perspective for you:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mint-Hassel...0-F5-6-Hood-/311295956755?hash=item487aaf5713

 

[itsdoable]

A 500mm ApoTessar sold last month on the E-vil site for $600US. It was not labelled and ApoTessar on the listing, but the pictures clearly showed it was - I was extremely tempted, but it is not a lens I would use much. They typically list around 3K~5K, but those are not moving at that price (the 350mm Apo metnioned by RobC typically lists for much much more!). If you are shooting colour, and you really want a 500mm, that is the one I would get.

 

[Nokton48]

I have had two of them, and, returned them for refund both times. The compur Hasselblad shutter requires special Hasselblad tools to work on them. I have had repairmen say "Sure No Problem" then back out and return the lens. My main Hasselblad repairman is David Odess, and he dosen't have the special tools, and he told me he won't work on the lens.

I have the Hasselblad C 350mm F5.6, and I have used it a lot. I can handhold the lens and do so quite often. Actually I love this lens. However in my experience the 500mm F8 is NOT hand-holdable, although I do have the Hasselblad Shoulder Stock. Try using that in a big city . Bottom line is that the Hasselblad 500 F8 requires a tripod to get sharp exposures. And it is an OK but not great resolution lens. So it depends on what you want to do with it.

I've decided I don't need the 500mm.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Hand holding a 500mm lens would by rule of thumb use the slowest shutter speed of 1/500 second. That means the camera and lens would need to be tripod mounted. That was one of the reasons that I never bought one.

 

[RobC]

Hi

First post for me for a while. Family life, young kids etc has meant little time for my beloved hobby.

why does your website link in your signature take me to a chinese/japanese website?

 

[RalphLambrecht]

why does your website link in your signature take me to a chinese/japanese website?

beam me up Scotty

 

[RobC]

beam me up Scotty

Dead Link Removed isn't much better

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Dead Link Removed isn't much better

because you need to go to www[URL="http://way beyond monochrome.com"]http://way beyond monochrome.com

 

[RobC]

because you need to go to www[URL]http://way beyond monochrome.com

Well that one doesn't work properly in IE11. Don't know why but it flashes up content and then it diappears just leaving empty background graphics.

 

[MattKing]

Well that one doesn't work properly in IE10. Don't know why but it flashes up content and then it diappears just leaving empty background graphics.

The Way Beyond Monochrome link in Ralph's signature line does work - he has copied it incorrectly in his separate post.

 

[RobC]

The Way Beyond Monochrome link in Ralph's signature line does work - he has copied it incorrectly in his separate post.

Please pay attention to what was written from which I think its clear that the site displays but not as its meant to on my system. Now that could just be my system but also since its only this site I have problems with it could very well be the site itself which has problems. e.g. the javascript errors it throws.
I'm not going to spend time on looking into why so don't worry about it.

 

[ted_smith]

Thanks all for the details, and to Ian who replied via PM.

Your comments echo what I expected\assumed but I wanted to check. I don't actually have any intention of buying one becasue, as has been asked, I don't really have a need. I used to have an 80-200mm Nikon lens until it was stolen and I loved it but buying another one of those for my F5 is proving too costly - £500-£600 on average. I was just surprised to see a Hasselblad lens of that length for comparatively little money compared to usual Hasselblad kit.

I think the 250mm might be a good compliment to my 80 and 120 lenses. When I get enough cash I might try and buy one of those as has been suggested.

As for the website - I need to update my profile (in will do after posting this). I closed my website down about 8 months ago because it was costing money to host annually, work to maintain (security updates etc) and I was finding my pictures hosted elsewhere. So I figured that I could do without it as I don't really earn money from photography anyway.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

Ted, I bought mine, an old chrome one, from KEH, bargain-grade. Terrific performer! They have one now, only $115 USD, if you can believe it:

Dead Link Removed