Which lens for Hasselblad ?

durr3

Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2011
Messages
141
Format
Medium Format
I have a 500 C/M with a CZ80/2.8 C lens. Which lens would you add for portraits? 150mm f4, 120mm f5.6 or 100mm f3.5? Any experience with these? thanks
 

frank

Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2002
Messages
4,359
Location
Canada
Format
Multi Format
150 is the classic portrait lens. Add a 16mm extension tube for tight head shots.
 

Amfooty

Subscriber
Joined
Apr 6, 2014
Messages
180
Format
Multi Format
The 150mm f/4 is a crazy lens. Also has corrected parallels if you are in to that kind of thing.
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,356
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
I have the 38mm [SWC], 50mm, 80mm, 150mm, 250mm and the 2X extender. I do not shoot portraits and I could easily do without the 150mm lens. The 60mm lens is too close to the 80mm lens worth having.
 

Luis-F-S

Member
Joined
Sep 19, 2013
Messages
774
Location
Madisonville
Format
8x10 Format
I hated the 150 which is why I have the 135 w the variable extension tube for focusing. Much sharper lens.
 

bdial

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 2, 2005
Messages
7,463
Location
North East U.S.
Format
Multi Format
The 150.
I don't do a lot of portraits, but it's the usual go-to for that. I do lots of other stuff with it though, it's my favorite.
 

Alan Gales

Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2009
Messages
3,253
Location
St. Louis, M
Format
Large Format
150 is the classic portrait lens. Add a 16mm extension tube for tight head shots.

Like Frank says!

The 100mm is razor sharp and is used as a normal lens like your 80mm. A lot of people who own the 100mm also own the 180mm for a portrait lens.

The 150 is plenty sharp for portraits and you may even want to tame it a bit with a Softar 1 soft focus filter. Women of a certain age do not appreciate tack sharp pictures of themselves.
 

Richard Man

Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2005
Messages
1,301
Format
Multi Format
On the Hasselblad, I use the 150/2.8, although many people swear by the 120 as well. 150 would be the "classic" focal length, FWIW.
 

jspillane

Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2012
Messages
240
Location
Brooklyn, NY
Format
Medium Format
The 120mm 5.6 S-Planar is my personal favorite Hasselblad lens - it is great for portraits, although it is extremely SHARP (some feel too much for conventional portraiture). I prefer it to the 150mm for a few reasons, mainly that I don't have to get a tube on it to get reasonably close. I use it for a lot more than just portraits, but it fills that niche comfortably.

The 150mm is a bigger difference from your 80mm though, which probably makes it a more useful kit unless you also want the 120mm for macro / still life, which is really what it is made for. I have 60/80/120/250, and I probably use the 60mm and the 120mm 75% of the time.

80 and 100 are very, very close in focal length, so you won't see a huge change there. I haven't used the 100, but I suspect for most applications the advantages it gives you will be academic (the 80mm is already great).

Honestly, the 80mm with a tube works well for portraiture as well. Or even without a tube! Many of the greatest portraits of all time where taken with a Rolleiflex with a similar 80mm Planar. Never under estimate the power of a good normal lens.
 

Slixtiesix

Subscriber
Joined
Jul 31, 2006
Messages
1,407
Format
Medium Format
I can recommend the 180/4 lens, if funds permit. Maybe add a 8mm or 10mm tube. I like this one over the 150mm because it gives a more flattening perspective for tight headshots and can focus very close. If the 180mm is out of your reach, go for the 150/4. It´s a sharp lens with nice smooth bokeh, cheap and readily available. I like the 120/5,6 S-Planar as well, one of my favorite lenses, but find it too short for really tight portraits.
 
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…