Hasselblad Lenses :: My Favorites and Recommendations 

It's worth pointing out that the 28P and 45P, while they're both 'P' lenses, are very different. The 45P is a "cousin" of the old XCD lenses. It focuses externally, slowly, and loudly; it has a mechanically coupled focus ring; and it has a 62mm filter thread (and is the only XCD lens with that thread size). The 28P is a "cousin" of the XCD V lineup, built the same way, with a quick internal focus-by-wire mechanism, a 72mm filter thread, and it's the only XCD lens that is officially weather sealed with an IP rating. They're both great lenses and can credibly form a 2-lens kit on their own, but they feel *very* different to use.

I've been able to get away with using my old HC lenses with an XH 0,8 converter. Personally I think they're still fantastic with the added benefit of adding 3/4 stop of light, and the converter improves lens performance as well. A downside of course is the size and weight so portability takes a hit. Just recently as of a few months Hasselblad released a firmware update that made all of their HC lenses compatible with the IBIS in my X2D which makes my HC 80mm and HC 100mm night photography kings. If you already own HC lenses you should squeeze more life out of them with the XH 0,8 converter it's an absolute must in my opinion.

just received my 135 with 1.7 teleconverter today. ALmost no test on youtube, but omg what a fantastic lens. , the speed the bokeh the sharpenss are insane . I took some sunrise shots facing the sun, and not a flare, nothing, it s so clean.

Pretty nice summary. While the price and lack of security features of the X2D have made me hesitant to buy into it, it's the (un)availability of the lenses that has made it functionally impossible. For many months I truly intended to buy into it, but I thought it'd be silly to buy the body before getting the lenses, and, well... I couldn't get the lenses. They just don't sell them. If they're not gonna sell them, we're not gonna buy them.

Almost all reviews are on the V and P lenses; and certain models of the original lenses have been discontinued. However, there’s been feedback on various forums that the new V and P lenses are at best in some models, equal but in most cases inferior in IQ than the original models. Wish someone would do a head to head compare.

Hi! This was for me one of the best information you shared to us! I live in Sweden, and have been a Leica, Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, OM-System shooter, but I bought a Hasselblad XD1 type 4116, and I keep it forever. Not a fast camera, but it give so much back used the right way! And I can tell you all, that Im proud to use a Hasselblad camera!

Excellent review! A lot to digest but a video that I can come back to for additional reviews. Thanks!!

Excellent video. Thank you! The 38v is my EDC lens. 80% of what is shoot is through this superb piece of glass.

In Europe, the waiting time is usually about 1-2 months for the XCD lenses, so long, but still manageable (not as bad as I initially thought). Started with the incredibly versatile 38mm, then just got the 90mm, which is incredible, albeit a bit short (should have waited probably for the next 135mm XCD coming before YE), and the 25mm is on its way. With this trio (although I would wich for a longer focal length for what I do), I believe I will be covered for 90% of what I do (landscape, street photo, portraits essentially), .....and what amazing glass in front of that amazing sensor and associated tech.

Thanks for this run-through. I love the 45P, and the 80 1.9 is spectacular. But one of my favourites so far is an adapted Leica R-mount 80-200. I’m about to get the 35-75, which Hasselblad apparently claims is the best lens they’ve ever made.

The 38V and 55V are available right now at the hasselblad store. Thats where I got all my lens - same prices as everyone else. Just put in a stock alert request for the 25V.

Thanks for the video. I own the X1D version 1, along with the 45P and HC80mm with the adapter. I started shooting square and I find myself shooting all my images in that format. I forgot about the XPan so I will give it a go.

Pre-ordering is a great suggestion.

Since I see so many Hasselblad videos poping up, I get the feeling there will be a new X2D-2 coming out 🤔

Good video, for now I'm happy with my Pentax 645Z and mountain of 645 glass, both vintage and recent, for large format on digital. TBH, my K-1.ii with sensor shift enabled rivals if the scene allows for it... then again, some of my MFT gear rivals it if it's totally still, and I can use hires modes (handheld hires on a tripod makes for easy high quality astro shots on a relative budget, K-1.ii has Astro tracer too). I'm constantly on the lookout for a good used G9.ii, will be interesting to try handheld hires and tripod hires on it compared. I only mention those modes because architecture was mentioned in the video, and that's the primary reason I use it across my cameras. Well, more abandoned architecture with nature reclaiming, but it helps with capturing the fine details either in sharpness or color wise with my MFT, KP, and K-1.ii. I really wish Sigma would release an updated fp L that would support a new line of lenses with leaf shutters. Really I wish it would be closer to an SD Quattro body but cut down for L-mount and with a tilt screen and ibis, but that probably isn't going to happen. If it did, the current specs otherwise in the fp L would make an amazing camera with leaf shutter lenses. I always use eshutter if possible, so only having it wasn't really a drag (don't need flash sync out in the rural towns/villages I shoot in), but Sigma has the ability to make that system that's relatively affordable and high enough resolution to compete with medium format on the low end while being compact.

The other elephant in the room besides the long waiting times for lenses, is that you can’t use CaptureOne. I am heavily standardized on C1 and this would be a major change in my work flow. Besides that I love Hasselblad. I started photography on the 6x6 system. Love that 3:4 format of the new sensor.

Thanks for the great video. Very informative. If you ask what lens you should buy to enter the system, you are not ready to enter the system.

Worth pointing out that the 30/3.5 is still in the current catalogue, and because it is part of the older family of lenses (2016), it now comes at an attractive discount used. I mention it because optically its a super lens. I have it (along with the 38V and 55V). The manual clutch and faster, quieter autofocus of the 38 and 55 make them my most used lenses on this system. The 30/3.5 is slower, and the AF is noisier, but its focal length (24mm eq), means its more for considered compositions where speed is less important. Separate note on the road map, the 90V (I'm still waiting for one) seems to top out "versatility" + f/2.5 in my view in terms of longer focal lengths. I think they got that one right. What I'd like to see is a much longer P lens (f/4, or even f/5.6) - say a 150mm (120mm eq) or thereabouts, that keeps the weight down, but offers reach. The current 135mm (+ 1.7x teleconverter) is an f/2.8, and is necessarily large and heavy.

Just a shout out for the pre V XCC lenses - built like tanks and also have superb IQ. They don't focus that slowly is on their latest firmware and I actually like their shutter sound.

Fantastic video

My go to lens is 28p too, but i dont deny it, on certain occasions, the 38v will be my choice… while have a 55v is useful for portrait session, now im considering a 90v too, though right now im using the 90 3.2 when needed

Great stuff from Blad as always but availability and the long wait was the reason I did NOT get into this system.

I would love to see a similar video on current Leica M portfolio of lenses

I have the 38. Had the 28 on reserve until the 25 came out, which I just received. On reserve for the 90 now.

Great video, thank you! My specific question is "What is the sharpness like when comparing the 28P with the 25V when closed down to f16-f22"? As a landscape photographer, I would rather carry the lighter lens, but if performance is significantly different when closed down, I'll carry the extra weight of the 25V.

Can I just say it's nice to see a camera review for a high-end brand not inundated with pointless "iS tHiS cAmErA wOrTh iT" comments? Just a real chill look at some nice lenses. Thanks for keeping it chill, Ted.

So you prefer the 25mm or 38mm which is the best 2.5 lens ?

Hello and thank you very much for the helpful lens introduction. Would you help with a question? I use the XCD 21mm for astro and I'm thinking about switching to the 25mm V because of the larger aperture. Does it make sense? Or should the 25mm always be dimmed down a bit, for example to avoid coma? Thanks in advance. Best regards. Matthias

Forgot a lot of the old lenses- 80mm magic, versatile zoom lens

Have you looked at the XCD 35-75? Thinking of this as my first lens when I get my X2D. Thoughts??

Do you know if Hasselblad will expand their retail/service centres? Leica have stores and support in nearly every country. Hasselblad is limited.

how is it that Ted doesn’t have a million subs ?!? how !

Can you tell us Ted as to who and where manufacturers lenses for X2D cameras, to my knowledge Hasselblad never made lenses only camera bodies.

All I can hear is twelve minutes of Mr Krabs saying "money money money money" Great video in all seriousness!

Funny... but my fave is the 38mm SWC Superwide. Film.

Any thoughts on Lloyd Chambers' (diglloyd) evisceration of the V series over focus shift and/or field curvature? Everybody seems to love the lenses but him. Then again, few seem as detail-oriented as him.

question when it comes to the X2D and lenses, I am looking at portraits and versatility, which hassy lens would you look at ? I am currently looking at something to buy, a camera and lens for studio use for portraits, i mainly shoot black and white

can you tell an image quality difference between the 25v and the 28p?

When you do reviews of Hasselblad and phase one, who is your target audience. The price of these things and lenses for these is roughly equivalent to what I paid for my first home. So, I can't imagine that among your 841K subscribers there are many who cane afford these things. Don't get me wrong I would love to have one as they are great cameras. However, from youtube I would rather hear about the 'art of photography' than review of gear for the 10%. Oh well! I guess that is where the money on youtube is: equipment reviews. Watch statistics seem to indicate this. I suspect it is because so many people believe expensive equipment will make them better photographers so they achieve the "art of photography"

Man, yes, the new lenses are normal and light, but they are definitely worse in optical quality than the old optics. The only pluses are weight and focusing speed. The x2d body is great, but the new optics are not medium format professional quality at all. Personally, this really stops me from switching from Leica M

European companies + Phase One?

There is also the XCD21 too, if we're talking options for wide angle....

❤❤❤❤❤😊😊🎉🎉🎉🎉

I think there’s a good argument for recommending the original 45/3.2 lens as a “starter”. As a near 35mm equivalent it is quite versatile, it’s actually an exceptional lens (needed to be as it was the first for the system) and can be found secondhand at quite ridiculously low prices.

Lloyd Chambers really trashes this system. These are great reviews.

or just buy a GFX🤣😘

Not European. Chinese.

You talk really, really fast! Average word rate is about 160 wpm. You're in the 200+ range, `way beyond most people's ability to retain what you're saying. Please remember that punctuation - in written and in spoken language - is a courtesy for your audience. I'm a conference interpreter. I work in languages similar enough to English for your super-fast delivery to be just tiring. I wonder what my colleagues in the German, Arabic, Mandarin, Japanese, etc., booths would do. Probably excise about half of what you say. Please keep in mind: "less is more".