What to expect, Hasselblad 50mm F4 Black Distagon-CF

ChrisBCS · May 30, 2017

So this is on the way, and was bought for us as a gift for our Honeymoon for me to shoot with (Cook Islands). I have read everything from glowing reviews of the f4 to lackluster disappointments. This is the 1982-1989 version with the straight barrel, and I believe the Prontor shutter, and it will be used for nothing but landscapes, no close focus work is really anticipated.

Leigh B · May 30, 2017

Here's the Zeiss datasheet for that lens (I think), including operating instructions:
http://www.atwaterkent.info/Images/Zeiss_Distagon_4_50mm_CF_104908_e.pdf

That's an excellent lens. I'm sure you'll like it.

- Leigh

Slixtiesix · May 30, 2017

Enjoy this lens and do not worry! Great for landscapes. Best use it at f5,6-f11 and it is a very sharp lens. Resolution only suffers dramatically if it is used at close range and wide open at the same time.

Chris Livsey · May 30, 2017

Given that I find it difficult to tell apart the results from my chrome 50C and my FLE CF 50mm lenses any disappointment you will have will be down to lens variation in production, which is minimal, and lens physical damage moving alignments over its life and of course you may share my main barrier to superb results: the person pressing the shutter.
It depends what you are comparing to of course if you regularly shoot the 100mm f3.5 almost anything will struggle until you hit the 180mm then the apochromat. The close range correction only kicks in below 4m which is pretty close and I rarely find myself using it. I would suggest that "lacklustre disappointments" may stem more from unfamiliarity with wide angle lenses the popular misconception is this is a 35mm ,focal length lens equivalent, when based on the diagonal it is around 28mm which needs more skill to execute effective compositions, I don't like running those comparisons as correctly the frame ratios mess up these calculations but its good enough to explain the point, I hope.

ChrisBCS · May 30, 2017

Thank you everyone! I'll be doing b&w and wanting to use both red/orange and polarizing filters. I'm guessing both of those, Hasselblad original, stacked, would be cause for vignette concern on a 50mm?? Should I be think Lee 4x4 holder instead? I can find both original Hasselblad bay 60 red and polarizing together on EBay for what the Lee polarizing plate alone costs, much less the whole kit.

Eric Rose · May 30, 2017

I use the Cokin Pro 4x4 holder and combine filters + pol with no problems.

Slixtiesix · May 30, 2017

Yes I think two stacked filters will vignette on the 50mm. This is the reason why Hasselblad changed to Bay 70 filter mount with the 50 CFi.

Alan9940 · May 30, 2017

The only issue I ever had with my 50mm CF (and it was me not the lens) is that you have to watch the close foreground corners carefully for acceptable focus. It took me quite a few frames with the 50 to realize I needed to focus much closer to myself than what I may have thought, based on using other lenses and cameras.

Good luck and enjoy your new lens!

Sirius Glass · May 30, 2017

In addition to the usual usage, I have taken my 50mm CF f/4 lens to Europe for month long trips and always found the lens to be a performer. All the f/4 50mm lenses are all the same optical prescription from the C through the CFE.

ac12 · May 30, 2017

You could put a Bay60 to 72mm adapter on the lens. Then use the larger 72mm filters.

Sirius Glass · May 30, 2017

B60 filters work well on the f/4 50mm lens.

jspillane · Jun 3, 2017

Great lens. The boring thing about Hasselblad lenses is that, essentially, they are all great lenses.

Issues with it are very, very overstated and only occur with close focus. I doubt you would see a difference with an FLE version unless you were using it for something relatively close-up.
It feels quite wide in the square format, maybe more than one would expect. It balances well on the camera for handheld use, unlike the 40mm.

I have an beater chrome C version and the images from it are killer. I should use it more, but I prefer the 60mm so it rarely makes it in the bag unless I have a specific application for it in mind. Are you pairing it with other lenses for the trip?

etn · Jun 4, 2017

Have you seen any bad Hasselblad lens? the least regarded of them are already excellent. A great photo is made by the photographer, not by the camera. You will enjoy that lens, but be aware that it has some learning curve. Be sure to run a dozen rolls through it to get used to its characteristics and field of view before your trip. It is a great complement to the 80mm if you own it. Add a 150 or 180mm to it and you'll be (loaded like a mule) ready for any photographic situation.

Slixtiesix said:
Yes I think two stacked filters will vignette on the 50mm. This is the reason why Hasselblad changed to Bay 70 filter mount with the 50 CFi.

Yes, this was my understanding as well. On the other hand, B60 filters are more readily available, less expensive, and can be used with most other Hasselblad lenses. Definitely an advantage of the CF versions of the 50mm.

RalphLambrecht · Jun 5, 2017

ChrisBCS said:
So this is on the way, and was bought for us as a gift for our Honeymoon for me to shoot with (Cook Islands). I have read everything from glowing reviews of the f4 to lackluster disappointments. This is the 1982-1989 version with the straight barrel, and I believe the Prontor shutter, and it will be used for nothing but landscapes, no close focus work is really anticipated.

I own two of thesevery lenses.They are both fantastic performers!

ChrisBCS · Jun 5, 2017

I'm crushed. Lens arrived with a totally broken aperture interlock. The way it was packaged it did not happen in shipping. The button is practically hanging off the barrel with the spring visible. Grrr. Back to buying from Keh.

Sirius Glass · Jun 5, 2017

You will save yourself a lot of grief if you just stuck to shopping at KEH and when there is a problem they will work with you to make it right.

ChrisBCS · Jun 5, 2017

Lesson learned. Fool me once.

Sirius Glass · Jun 5, 2017

Was it listed as "rare" and "hard to find"? Just return it and start over.

BrianShaw · Jun 5, 2017

If possible, that's really the best available advise... especially if you can see the damage in the ad's pictures.

Terry Breedlove · Jun 5, 2017

I own two and they are very good. I don't shooting anything close with them though just landscapes.

ChrisBCS · Jun 5, 2017

Thank you Brian and Sirius. That is certainly what I will try to do. It was from an otherwise reputable camera company with a long history as an eBay storefront and nearly perfect feedback despite tens of thousands of transactions. So it wasn't a private seller with flashy BS, and it was advertised as working, so we'll see what happens. I'm not naive enough to think sending for repair would be enjoyable for the patience or the wallet.

etn · Jun 6, 2017

Yes, definitely send it back - unless you got a very, very good deal on that one it's not worth repairing it. 50mm lenses are not rare enough, you can find one in decent condition for a good price. Try local stores too. (I personally don't like to buy lenses or cameras online)

RalphLambrecht · Jul 12, 2017

Leigh B said:
Here's the Zeiss datasheet for that lens (I think), including operating instructions:
http://www.atwaterkent.info/Images/Zeiss_Distagon_4_50mm_CF_104908_e.pdf

That's an excellent lens. I'm sure you'll like it.

- Leigh

I'm sure, you'll like it just as much as I do mine; if not,I'm happy to take it off your hands.

darkprints · Jul 14, 2017

Sirius Glass said:
All the f/4 50mm lenses are all the same optical prescription from the C through the CFE.

According to KEH, the C T* has 7/7 elements/groups, and the CF has 9/8

outwest · Jul 14, 2017

The 50 does require some care in composing. You're going to have a lot of foreground in the image and sometimes you have to work to get something interesting in there. Like jspillane I usually prefer the 60.

What to expect, Hasselblad 50mm F4 Black Distagon-CF

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