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New member and hasselblad owner

Phase One was NEVER working on the firmware for the H3D-II so their backs could be used on the camera.

The question was whether they would do so for the new H2F ... and the answer I have finally received from one of their technical specialists is NO. I suspect that this is because there are not enough of the H2Fs to justify the effort, and there are still plenty of H2s in the marketplace.

If you want long exposures, then Phase is the only game in town. But to be clear ... if you make a 5 minute exposure, you must make an equally long second dark slide exposure. Personally, I have zero need for anything longer than 20 or 30 seconds ... but understand those that do need that feature.

As to the original question on lenses:

I do not understand the recommendation to get a shorter 35-90 zoom if the interest is in Still Life and portrait work? I also don't grasp why you would pay this much money for all that resolution then toss it out with big crops?

The 80 is the least used lens in every single H photographers bag that I know. I've used mine once. I wish Hasselblad would leave that lens off in the digital bundles and provide a credit toward a 100/2.2 which out-performs the 80 in every regard.

The Macro lens mentioned is also quite large and heavy, so getting that over the 50-110 zoom doesn't help in terms of size/weight. It is also the last HC lens I'd use for portrait work. It's highly corrected for flatness of field at closer distances.

As an interesting side note on optics ... just about all Hasselblad C type V lenses ever made can be used on the H with full auto stop down coupling, focus confirmation, and even full recognition of all the CFE Ziess lenses built right into the H camera's firmware. The ingenious CF Adapter allows this.
 
and which CFE Ziess lenses will you recommend ? I'd like a 50mm and maybe a 100 or 120 (macro or not)

... long exposure is not a feature at all , without it you stop shooting outside at 4 pm in winter ... or very early morning
 
Of the lenses you mentioned only the 120 Makro Planar was once available as CFE lens.

I see no advantage to get a 100 mm Planar over the 100 mm lens for the H series other than that a 100 mm Planar can be found for less money.
Of course you still need the adapter at around 900 euro.

The adapter was meant to persuade owners of Zeiss lenses for the V series to buy a H body and continue using their lenses.
 
erick said:
and which CFE Ziess lenses will you recommend ? I'd like a 50mm and maybe a 100 or 120 (macro or not)

... long exposure is not a feature at all , without it you stop shooting outside at 4 pm in winter ... or very early morning
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Erick, the CF adapter can be had for about 600 euros in the US. I paid about $800. each for two demo units. Brand new they are $1,100. here in the U.S. (about 825. euros.)

The savings come with being able to use C, CF, CFi or CFE Zeiss optics on the H cameras ... IF you already have some of these lenses (I did), or if you seek out used lenses ... some of which are very good bargains these days.

The real advantage is in filling out prime focal lengths not available in the HC line-up of lenses ... or to achieve a particular character produced by some of the Zeiss offerings.

For example the nicely compact Ziess 65/3.5 CFi, which is an incredibly sharp lens, has no counterpart in the HC prime line-up ... it jumps from 50 to 80mm. The 180/4 CFE is another example of a legendary lens with no focal length counterpart in HC ... and trust me the HC 150 and 210 have a different character to them compared to the Zeiss 180/4 which is biteningly sharp with beautiful Bokeh. These lenses can be had for 1/2 the price of HC lenses. I also use the Zeiss 30mm fisheye on the H camera for special effects.

Then there are the Zeiss SA optics ... which have no counterpart anywhere in Medium Format ... but are not for the faint of heart when it comes to cost.

I tend to use my Zeiss line-up for shooting B&W film on the H2F ... there is just something about the Zeiss look that I still prefer when shooting film.

This is a photo of my H2F with the CF adapter mounted using a Zeiss 100/3.5 CFi ... while the HC system offers a 100mm focal length, the Zeiss 100 produces a different signature ... so for me it was worth it to keep both lenses for use on the H cameras.
 

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the Ziess 65/3.5 CFi seems interesting but where can I find it in Europa ??
I have actually only HC 35,80 and 210

you say there is just something about the Zeiss look do you think it will be the same with the new Zeiss lenses for Nikon or Canon compared With Canon L or Nikkor lenses ?


thank you
 
erick said:
the Ziess 65/3.5 CFi seems interesting but where can I find it in Europa ??
I have actually only HC 35,80 and 210

you say there is just something about the Zeiss look do you think it will be the same with the new Zeiss lenses for Nikon or Canon compared With Canon L or Nikkor lenses ?


thank you
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Well Erick, I can't help with European places to buy used Hasselblad/Zeiss lenses .... but here in the USA almost every internet dealer has a good stock of V lenses. Some will ship to Europe I think.

The question becomes whether it is cost effective to buy the CF Adapter for just one lens like the 65/3.5. I have 14 Medium Format Carl Zeiss lenses in the V mount, and 10 of them will work on the H camera with the adapter (the other 4 are 200 series lenses without the central shutter in the lens for use on the focal plane shutter Hasselblads.) So, it made sense for me to get the CF adapter.

I think it's worth it for use of two or three V lenses that aren't available in the HC line. The Zeiss 40/4 IF, 65/3.5, 100/3.5, 180/4, and 250SA are examples of legendary optics not found in the HC line-up. Most all of the lens accessories for the older Hasselblad V system will also work with the CF adapter. The 1.4X, 2X and 1.4XAPO extenders work and are listed in the choices on the H camera grip menu when you mount the CF adapter.

The "look" of Zeiss optics is a much discussed topic amonst die-hard Hasselblad fans. However, I do not subscribe to the notion that one is better than the other, just different.
The difference isn't the same as comparing a Nikon 50mm against the Zeiss ZF 50/2 Macro for example .... where there is an IQ difference in color, contrast and micro-detail.
The HC lenses are not inferior to the Zeiss, just different. It is that difference that I personally like ... especially when shooting B&W film.
 
I am rather shure , you are talking about the CARL ZEISS CF 3,5/60 (not 65) DISTAGON . A fantastic lens .
It is fairly often offered on xbay in Europe and the U.S.
 
Erick

The CZ DISTAGON CFi 4/50 FLE and the CZ CFi DISTAGON 3,5/60 are still available as new . It all depends on what you are able to spend .
There are also quite some used 50 + 60mm DISTAGONs available .

You could also contact polypal (Paul) , to see if he has an idea .
 
jotloob said:
Erick

The CZ DISTAGON CFi 4/50 FLE and the CZ CFi DISTAGON 3,5/60 are still available as new . It all depends on what you are able to spend .
There are also quite some used 50 + 60mm DISTAGONs available .

You could also contact polypal (Paul) , to see if he has an idea .
Click to expand...

Yes Jurgen, my error ... LOL!
 
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