What proportion of Hasselblad V series users use XPan

[pascal]

Not really. Compared to the latest Leica glass the Fuji Xpan glass can't reach that level, especially wide-open. At the smaller f-stops, however, the Fuji lenses are very good. But the images obtained with the Xpan are outstanding, generally speaking, for the impression they create and which would otherwise not have been possible using the standard 35mm format.
Since I had the Xpan I started to look at what I had previously always dismissed, which is the MF format as presented by Hasselblad. This got me to buy a H1 system since it offered additional functions over what I already had in terms of Leica and Xpan. Since then, however, I tend to use the H1 more often ;-)
Do I like the H1? Yes, it is a great photographic tool, and well-made for that. It is one of the most ergonomical systems I have ever used. The picture quality is outstanding. What I do like less, and I don't want to beat a dead horse but it needs to be said, is the fact that there are no Zeiss or Schneider lenses available for the H series. The Fujinon lenses are good performers but they feel a little too plasticky in terms of their exterior finish, and certainly compared to Leica lenses to which I am used. Also, it somewhat hurts to use a Hasselblad with non-Zeiss lenses, but this is subjective of course

 

[simonpg]

I understand Pascal.

I suppose the comforting factor is that under the H1 body and Fujinon lens casings, there are top quality metals etc..

While I agree with your comments on the Leica lens comparison, I find that my XPan lenses are not too far behind my Leica-M lenses. Of course the Leica design philosophy is to maximise wide open performance which is not Fujinon's (nor Zeiss') design philosophy. All the same so far my wide open XPan lens shots have not let me down for the print sizes I make.

It sounds like you should get the Zeiss/Hasselblad V series lens adapter for your H1 to allow you the joys of Zeiss glass!

If you don't already own any V series Zeiss lenses, the used market is very favourable now.

 

[pascal]

Hello Simon,

the CF adaptor for use of Zeiss lenses on Hasselblad H may be a good idea for those with an existing stock of manual lenses but I don't think it is a very practical solution (working diafragm, no couplings, no autofocus, etc)...
At least buying HC lenses supports the only major company that still cares about film-based products, which is Fuji
Pascal

 

[simonpg]

I understand Pascal - different horses for different courses.

With regard to Fuji, I think the company has always made high quality gear in general - at least at the pro level. And yes it deserves some loyalty in favour of its commitment to film - and even in this digi-dominated world, Fujifilm's best film products have arguably been released since the digi-revolution began.

I actually hold Fujinon lenses in high regard - I just like the tonality and performance (some have wonderful out of focus characteristics) in the medium format and large format ex&les I have used.

 

[polypal]

Some history on the subject Carl Zeiss lenses for the H cameras.
At the beginning of the nineties Carl Zeiss engineers had developed an auto focus system for the V series.
They presented these lenses in Germany to Hasselblad executives that made a visit to the Carl Zeiss factory.
The Hasselblad engineer thought the system was too complicated, the marketing man thought the market was not ready for it and the financial specialist thought it was much too expensive.
The Hasselblad people left the Germans probably while steam was getting out of their ears.

After that the Contax 645 was presented the first MF camera with autofocus and Carl Zeiss lenses.
These lenses were reserved exclusively for the Contax 645 camera.
Later when Hasselblad was ready for autofocus Carl Zeiss could not offer autofocus lenses for the H series from Hasselblad.
A few years after the introduction of the H series production for Contax 645 cameras was ended.

Germans are quite polite. Zeiss simply states that they could not offer suitable lenses for the H series.
Of course they could but they were not allowed to according their agreement with Contax.

 

[fotografz]

Pascal, there are many practical uses for the existing Zeiss optics when used on an H camera. I know, I use both the Hasselblad/Fuji and Hasselblad V lenses on two H cameras.

The CF adapter is a fully coupled device which provides stop down metering and shooting ... and all CFE lenses communicate with the camera. C, CF and CFi lenses do not have the data bus, but the H camera is programed to accept them. You have to input which lens is being used and wether an extender or tube is being employed on the grip menu.

For many people the issue of AF is a non-issue since a tripod is often employed with MF work like for landscapes, commercial tabletop, location shots, and usually portraits. The H camera still provides in-viewfinder focus confirmation which isn't available with any V camera. For action shots of course, the Fuji AF options are there.

In effect, the huge range of the Zeiss lenses expands the practicality of the H system ... I use the fish-eye for effect, the 65, 180 fill out missing focal lengths in the H series and all the other accessories like the bellows can be employed. Add a 250SA and 40-IF to that mix and it expands even more.

It all adds up to a nice system.