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question about using Hasselblad X1D/X2D with non-hasselblad lenses

H

hasselnico

New Member
Hi,

I am new to this forum. I have joined because I have decided to get into the Hasselblad X system.

My plan is to buy a used X1D or a new X2D however without lenses, for budget reasons first, but also becauseI plan to use my Leica M lenses and all my vintage lenses on it anyway.

What has stopped me so far from buying an X1D is that, so I have heard, it is almost impossible to use non-Hasselblad lenses, as the camera uses the electronic shutter and the sensor readout is appallingly low, which leads to blur in the pictures.

I have heard, but here is where I need you to help me to clarify a bit, that the X1D series got a firmware update, which somehow addresses the problem. On the X2D on the other hand the IBIS helps a lot to counter that problem.

Can you help to make clarity? This is actually the only reason why I have not yet got into this system.

Thank you
 
take a look on YouTube , here, Bo uses lenses from a number of manufacturers on the X1d and X2d
the link is to one video, but you can see all the others when you’re there…
 
I suggest you investigate the X1D II rather than the original X1D. I won't go into the reasons here because it's already been throughly reported, but I feel it's important.

The photos made with the electronic shutter when either camera or subject move is called "rolling shutter", which you also might like to investigate.

Rolling shutter is caused by a sensor characteristic. It's not subject to elimination by a firmware update.

I really, really seriously suggest you investigate renting before purchase.
 
I made the jump into the X2D 6 weeks ago. I have purchased a XCD 45mm f/3.5 lens for £950 mint used, and 3 XV & XH(used) adapters, an XH Converter and a Leica M adapter. I already owned 3 HC lenses, and several CFi/CFE lenses, a Leica 35mm Summicron f/2.0 "King of Bokeh" and a Voightlander 15mm Helios M.

My lens cover is from 15mm to 240mm. All work excellently; all work with IBIS; and all work with auto-exposure and the XCD 45mm works with auto focus and back-button auto-focus. The Leica 35mm is no match for any of the Hasselblad lenses and isn't satisfactory until f4.0 and not good until f5.6, but it and the adapter are tiny and lightweight. It might become my most used street lens, or I might sell it on. The Helios will stay because lightweight, good image quality and massively wide and it only cost £360 mint used.

My HCD 28mm is excellent and with the converter becomes a 22mm focal length. It's wider than my Hasselblad SWC camera and I think it might release that for sale In the near future, but no rush.

My HC 50-110mm zoom is excellent, but with the adapter, or converter it's big and damn heavy. It'll probably stay in my home studio, or very near the car.

My HC 80mm becomes a 66mm f2.2 with the converter and neither it or the 28mm are too big or heavy for an ex-500 Series user with tripod, who will rarely need a tripod now. Manual focus is easy and tbh is preferred in many cases where the autofocus spot has to be lined up with the focus point on an XCD lens.

My older Hasselblad lenses have excellent image quality from wide open, but they, like the Leica mounts have to use the electronic shutter and no flash. However, they can also be used with film and I already own them, so no additional expense and they're all worth more now than I paid for them.

I was tempted to buy the upcoming 907x 100C, but when I discovered it couldn't accommodate IBIS I swung to the recently released X2D with all mod cons and more to come. I don't hesitate to recommend it if you're an ex-500 Series, or LF shooter, landscapes, or portraits, but not for team sports. I've spent just under £10,000 and recovered £6,700 already on eBay sales with more to come. I've promised my wife that it won't cost me any money and I'll keep to that. What's more, I paid for everything on an interest-free credit card taken out for this specific purpose and I've got 17 months to pay it back, but I'm already more than half way there.

Hope that helps. :)
 
Last edited:
bladdered said:
I made the jump into the X2D 6 weeks ago. I have purchased a XCD 45mm f/3.5 lens for £950 mint used, and 3 XV & XH(used) adapters, an XH Converter and a Leica M adapter. I already owned 3 HC lenses, and several CFi/CFE lenses, a Leica 35mm Summicron f/2.0 "King of Bokeh" and a Voightlander 15mm Helios M.

My lens cover is from 15mm to 240mm. All work excellently; all work with IBIS; and all work with auto-exposure and the XCD 45mm works with auto focus and back-button auto-focus. The Leica 35mm is no match for any of the Hasselblad lenses and isn't satisfactory until f4.0 and not good until f5.6, but it and the adapter are tiny and lightweight. It might become my most used street lens, or I might sell it on. The Helios will stay because lightweight, good image quality and massively wide and it only cost £360 mint used.

My HCD 28mm is excellent and with the converter becomes a 22mm focal length. It's wider than my Hasselblad SWC camera and I think it might release that for sale In the near future, but no rush.

My HC 50-110mm zoom is excellent, but with the adapter, or converter it's big and damn heavy. It'll probably stay in my home studio, or very near the car.

My HC 80mm becomes a 66mm f2.2 with the converter and neither it or the 28mm are too big or heavy for an ex-500 Series user with tripod, who will rarely need a tripod now. Manual focus is easy and tbh is preferred in many cases where the autofocus spot has to be lined up with the focus point on an XCD lens.

My older Hasselblad lenses have excellent image quality from wide open, but they, like the Leica mounts have to use the electronic shutter and no flash. However, they can also be used with film and I already own them, so no additional expense and they're all worth more now than I paid for them.

I was tempted to buy the upcoming 907x 100C, but when I discovered it couldn't accommodate IBIS I swung to the recently released X2D with all mod cons and more to come. I don't hesitate to recommend it if you're an ex-500 Series, or LF shooter, landscapes, or portraits, but not for team sports. I've spent just under £10,000 and recovered £6,700 already on eBay sales with more to come. I've promised my wife that it won't cost me any money and I'll keep to that. What's more, I paid for everything on an interest-free credit card taken out for this specific purpose and I've got 17 months to pay it back, but I'm already more than half way there.

Hope that helps. :)
Click to expand...
That is a very artistic way to finance camera gear . Good luck for you , congrats and enjoy your X2D . I envy you for that camera .
 
hasselnico said:
Hi,

I am new to this forum. I have joined because I have decided to get into the Hasselblad X system.

My plan is to buy a used X1D or a new X2D however without lenses, for budget reasons first, but also becauseI plan to use my Leica M lenses and all my vintage lenses on it anyway.

What has stopped me so far from buying an X1D is that, so I have heard, it is almost impossible to use non-Hasselblad lenses, as the camera uses the electronic shutter and the sensor readout is appallingly low, which leads to blur in the pictures.

I have heard, but here is where I need you to help me to clarify a bit, that the X1D series got a firmware update, which somehow addresses the problem. On the X2D on the other hand the IBIS helps a lot to counter that problem.

Can you help to make clarity? This is actually the only reason why I have not yet got into this system.

Thank you
Click to expand...
Simply put, I think you would be making a grave mistake by purchasing an X body to use with M and other vintage lenses. You will end up frustrated and annoyed. Under no circumstance would I ever consider purchasing an X body solely for use with 3rd party lenses. Also, be aware that you CANNOT use flash or strobe lighting with the electronic shutter.
IMO, you would be better off purchasing an M11 body for your M lenses. I would buy an X2D body ONLY when you can afford XCD lenses. And FYI - there are plenty on the used market now.
 
I used to gag when I read that the reason to buy a Leica was to use Leica lenses. Fortunately there are a lot of LTM and M-mount lenses available for much more affordable prices. Hasselblad OTOH is another story. I have tried some CZJ-Sonnars and CZJ-Sonnar based lenses on the X2D and while they cover the sensor completely and give a good image they do stumble on occasion with the electronic shutter problems. Electronic shutters work OK on small sensors, like the Pixii which is APSC, but on a large 100MP sensor the readout is slower and prone to weirdness. And the HB lens I have, the XCD 55V, is plain killer. I have the Bertele Sonnar, the Cooke Amotal, a sweet CJZ 5cm f/1.5 and some good non-Leica 50's like old Canon LTM's, all very good lenses. The HB XCD 55V is a better lens, in my opinion. It has some magic to it. And it is a lens which was designed to work on the X2D. And you are not yoked to the electronic shutter.

Bite the bullet, get the HB len(es). You will be glad that you did.
 
Small aside on the electronic shutter. No ibis, but the CFV 50 (II) works well on the old hasselblad 500’s with the CF lenses. I shoot it with the shutter just like film, so I don’t get rolling shutter effects. IMHO it requires a tripod and stopping down, but I shoot landscapes, so I do that anyway. Focusing through the camera means the digital back doesn’t get too warm as I’m not using live view. You do need a mask because it’s not film size, but it does have 16 bit color even if only 14 stops of dynamic range and the 907 body that comes with it works with all the XCD lenses (One comes with the 45p free). So, I’ve bought the 38v and 55v to use with it and over time I’m now looking at the X2D. Different path there. (Side note, it does make focusing easier with the SWC )
 
You should get one Hasselblad X lens. you can use other lenses on it, and I do, all the time, but the rolling shutter makes it difficult to do anything not of a stationary subject on a tripod (you can do it, but it's a bit of a challenge). having one x lens gives you the option to use flash and also the option to take photos more quickly. You're limited to about 1 exposure every 2 seconds with the rolling e shutter.
 
michaelhcothran said:
Simply put, I think you would be making a grave mistake by purchasing an X body to use with M and other vintage lenses. You will end up frustrated and annoyed. Under no circumstance would I ever consider purchasing an X body solely for use with 3rd party lenses. Also, be aware that you CANNOT use flash or strobe lighting with the electronic shutter.
IMO, you would be better off purchasing an M11 body for your M lenses. I would buy an X2D body ONLY when you can afford XCD lenses. And FYI - there are plenty on the used market now.
Click to expand...
Its all right and important you wrote, but you forgot to mention that:
You cannot use any third-party lens on X cameras under artifical light without the banding effect.
To prevent the banding you must use without exception exposure times lower than 1/30 or better 1/15.
 
hasselnico said:
Hi,

I am new to this forum. I have joined because I have decided to get into the Hasselblad X system.

My plan is to buy a used X1D NO! or a new X2D Yesss! however without lenses, Nonono! for budget reasons first, Do you know the saying: If you can't afford the food, you shouldn't have a dog. but also becauseI plan to use my Leica M lenses and all my vintage lenses on it anyway. It's a very bad plan! You will regret it bitterly!

What has stopped me so far from buying an X1D is that, so I have heard, it is almost impossible to use non-Hasselblad lenses, as the camera uses the electronic shutter and the sensor readout is appallingly low, which leads to blur in the pictures.

I have heard, but here is where I need you to help me to clarify a bit, that the X1D series got a firmware update, which somehow addresses the problem. On the X2D on the other hand the IBIS helps a lot to counter that problem. None of all you heard is true! Sorry!
Click to expand...
 
Just a note on third party lenses with the X2D. I am hoping to spend some time this week with serious landscape work, but playing about I used the Novaflex X to R adapter and put a Leica R APO 180mm f/2.8 lens on. There is no vignetting and the lens is just as stellar as on my SL2S. Color is beautiful.

Novaflex suggests its for longer focal lengths, and I’m going to try the Leica R APO 90mm f/2 as well, but in general I think it is a great setup.
 
davidmknoble said:
Just a note on third party lenses with the X2D. I am hoping to spend some time this week with serious landscape work, but playing about I used the Novaflex X to R adapter and put a Leica R APO 180mm f/2.8 lens on. There is no vignetting and the lens is just as stellar as on my SL2S. Color is beautiful.

Novaflex suggests its for longer focal lengths, and I’m going to try the Leica R APO 90mm f/2 as well, but in general I think it is a great setup.
Click to expand...
Great to know! Thanks for sharing.
 
I use a TTArtisan adapter and it works just fine. I have used my Sonnar and Sonnar related lenses straight as their FOV covers the entire sensor. With other lenses I just run the 24 x 36 crop. It works fine. But the XCD 55v is just so good, . . .
 
Doc Steel said:
Its all right and important you wrote, but you forgot to mention that:
You cannot use any third-party lens on X cameras under artifical light without the banding effect.
To prevent the banding you must use without exception exposure times lower than 1/30 or better 1/15.
Click to expand...

Just LED lights. Incandescent and fluorescent are alright. At least I have done alright. But I will test under incandescant again tonight and let you know. Sonnar and electronic shutter.
 
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