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Author Topic: Which lenses for H4D-40?  (Read 8490 times)

ScubaZ

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Which lenses for H4D-40?
« on: May 06, 2012, 12:47:41 am »

I'm getting ready to purchase a Hasselblad H4D-40 and wondering what lenses to buy.  Main concern is for landscape, but will do some studio work.

I'm likely going to get the HCD 4/28 and HC 2.8/80 (I'll use the 80mm range a bit in the studio).

I'm debating whether to get something like the HCD 4-5.6/35-90; HC 4/210; or HC 4/120 II.  I shoot mostly wide for landscape, but thinking I need something a bit longer than 80mm.  How is corner sharpness on the zoom?  Should I go with the zoom and forget the 80?  5.6 isn't exactly a portrait lens, but probably ok (I still have my canon 85 1.2L).

When shooting landscape, what do you typically carry? 

Does anyone use the H 1.7x converter?  I bought one of Canon's converters a few years back and never used it because the loss in image quality was so bad.  Is there much quality loss with the Hasselblad one?

Any thoughts appreciated.

-Mike


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evgeny

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Re: Which lenses for H4D-40?
« Reply #1 on: May 06, 2012, 02:21:18 am »

The best H lenses are 28mm, 50mm II, 100mm, 120mm II and 35-90mm.

I have and very pleased with 50mm II, 100mm and 120mm II. I would rather buy 28mm than 35-90mm, which is very heavy. But if you shoot on tripod, it doesn't matter.

Evgeny
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design_freak

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Re: Which lenses for H4D-40?
« Reply #2 on: May 06, 2012, 04:32:57 am »

Hi,
It's hard to say.

My set:
HC 2.2/100
HCD 28
HC 2.8/80
Extension tubes
HTS 1.5.

HCD 35-90 is amaizing

But you should think about:
HCD 28
HC 50 MKII
HC 80
Hts 1.5
Extension tubes



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Quentin

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Re: Which lenses for H4D-40?
« Reply #3 on: May 06, 2012, 06:30:33 am »

I have the HCD 28mm, HC 50 II and 120 Macro (the Mark 1 original version)

First, the older 120 Macro is very good, pin sharp.  Might save a few pennies if you buy one of those instead of the MkII version - doubles up as a fine portrait lens. 

HC50II is probably the sharpest of my lenses, and a great upgrade to the original design, which was a bit soft.

Everyone says how good the zoom is but it is big and heavy.

As I have just three lenses, I lug them all around if I am out and about. 
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JV

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Re: Which lenses for H4D-40?
« Reply #4 on: May 06, 2012, 11:54:56 am »

I have the 35mm, 80mm, 100mm, 120mm, 150mm and 50-110mm lenses.

I mostly use the 35mm and the 100mm lenses.

I almost completely stopped using the 80mm lens when I got the 100mm lens.

The 50-110mm has great optics but is too heavy. 

I don't find the 35mm the greatest of performers but I have learned to live with it.  I hope though that Hasselblad one day will bring out a 35mm-II...

I would like to add the 50mm-II in the nearby future...

You can find images of all lenses on hasselbladdigitalforum.com:
http://www.hasselbladdigitalforum.com/index.php/board,20.0.html

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David Watson

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Re: Which lenses for H4D-40?
« Reply #5 on: May 06, 2012, 12:11:52 pm »

I have the 35, 50 Mk2, 199, 150 and 210.  I also have the 1.7x but do not use it that much because I do think that it reduces image quality.  I would prefer to have the 28mm which is a fabulous lens but it doesn't work so well with the H4D-60.  My favourites are the 50, 100 and 150.  I have owned both zooms but found them heavy and not quite as good as the prime lenses.  The 100 is a better choice than the 80.  I also like the 300mm but no longer own one.  I found the 120 to be very sharp but again very heavy and slow to focus.
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williamrohr

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Re: Which lenses for H4D-40?
« Reply #6 on: May 06, 2012, 12:58:21 pm »

At one time I owned all of them except the 100 but found the most useful to be (in order) 35-90, 28, 210, 300, 80 so I sold all the rest. The 55-110 was incredibly sharp, but the the 35-90 seems to be its equal (especially better at the edges) and the wider end is much more useful.   I use the 300 with the 1.7 exclusively for wildlife (on a H3DII31 - comparable to a 400 on a full frame DSLR) and the rest for landscape on a H4D50.  One man's opinion.  Bill
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Richard Morwood

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Re: Which lenses for H4D-40?
« Reply #7 on: May 06, 2012, 07:19:53 pm »

I have owned and used all of the H lenses although at present own 28/35-90/80/100/120I/300 and 1.7 teleconverter. If I was to part with these the last to go would be the 28. In my view a fantastic lens, and with the HTS still nice and "wide".
The 50-110 zoom is a great lens but a beast. The 35-90 is a much more manageable size and the results are brilliant. I never really used the 150 much, preferring the 100 (sometimes with teleconverter) and never used the 210 at all (sold it after 3 years with 50 clicks on it!).
I like the 300 a lot and even combining it with the teleconverter it has given me very pleasing results.
Never unhappy with the 120, but by all accounts the mk II is significantly better in many aspects. Was unhappy with the 50 mkI and preferred the 50 end of the 50-110 zoom. Again I believe the 50 mkII is much, much better.
Regards
Richard
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hubell

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Re: Which lenses for H4D-40?
« Reply #8 on: May 06, 2012, 10:28:31 pm »

For landscape work(which is what I do) with the H4D-40, I would opt for the 35-90, the 210 and the 300. The 35-90 is a brilliant lens. I would buy it in a heartbeat if I used the cropped sensor of the H4D-40. I think it outperforms the 35mm and, stopped down, is the equal of the 50mmII and the 80mm. I tend to use longer focal lengths than wider, so I have never felt the need for the 28mm lens, but it is very highly regarded. The 300mm lens is stellar. It is very impressive even at fairly slow shutter speeds because it has a leaf shutter. I use it regularly. If you want to use the camera off a tripod for portrait work, I would think about the 80 mm or the 100mm. The latter is faster(f2.2 v. 2.8), but I think the former is a bit sharper stopped down at f/8 to f/16.

hasselbladfan

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Re: Which lenses for H4D-40?
« Reply #9 on: May 09, 2012, 05:40:27 pm »

Fully agree on the 28mm and the 100mm.
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ScubaZ

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Re: Which lenses for H4D-40?
« Reply #10 on: May 09, 2012, 07:07:28 pm »

Thanks for the feedback so far everyone.  I've decided to definitely get the 35-90 based on feedback (which confirmed my initial inclination).  I may or may not get the 80mm for now since its covered in the zoom range - probably will later for handheld in the studio.  100mm is too long for me in the studio to shoot full length (don't have that much room to get far enough back).  I may get the 28mm as well, particularly to use with the HTS 1.5, but its very close to the 35 end of the range in the zoom and the HTS is not available in the US now because of patent disputes.  :(

Trying to decide what to get on the long end of the range above 90.  300 sounds nice, but probably too heavy to cary with the 35-90 in the field and a little too tight (I don't shoot wildlife).  Any thoughts between the 120, 150 or 210 if you could only pair one lens with the 35-90?  120 is somewhat close to the 90 end of the zoom.
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design_freak

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Re: Which lenses for H4D-40?
« Reply #11 on: May 10, 2012, 05:15:50 am »

Thanks for the feedback so far everyone.  I've decided to definitely get the 35-90 based on feedback (which confirmed my initial inclination).  I may or may not get the 80mm for now since its covered in the zoom range - probably will later for handheld in the studio.  100mm is too long for me in the studio to shoot full length (don't have that much room to get far enough back).  I may get the 28mm as well, particularly to use with the HTS 1.5, but its very close to the 35 end of the range in the zoom and the HTS is not available in the US now because of patent disputes.  :(

Trying to decide what to get on the long end of the range above 90.  300 sounds nice, but probably too heavy to cary with the 35-90 in the field and a little too tight (I don't shoot wildlife).  Any thoughts between the 120, 150 or 210 if you could only pair one lens with the 35-90?  120 is somewhat close to the 90 end of the zoom.


ScubaZ,
I have HTS 1.5 in mint condition with box. I can ship it to US  :)
Contact me via PM.

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williamrohr

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Re: Which lenses for H4D-40?
« Reply #12 on: May 15, 2012, 08:46:50 pm »

The 210mm is VERY sharp ... you won't be disappointed.  Bill
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evgeny

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Re: Which lenses for H4D-40?
« Reply #13 on: May 16, 2012, 02:05:38 am »

By the way, I ordered 28mm lens this week ;D
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JCVG

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Re: Which lenses for H4D-40?
« Reply #14 on: May 16, 2012, 06:37:58 am »


Trying to decide what to get on the long end of the range above 90.  300 sounds nice, but probably too heavy to cary with the 35-90 in the field and a little too tight (I don't shoot wildlife).  Any thoughts between the 120, 150 or 210 if you could only pair one lens with the 35-90?  120 is somewhat close to the 90 end of the zoom.


I have the H4D40 + 28/50/100/120/150 (I'm not really into zoom lens). I've tried the 210 and the 150 before to buy one and because of the crop factor on the H4D40, I found the 150 working much better for me. The 210 is too long on the 40MP and I don't like to be too far from the models.

In your case, if you choose the 210 you won't have a lens to cover the gap between 90mm to 210mm and I think in some situation it can be challenging for you. In IMO 28 + 35-90 + 150 is a good combination for landscape/portrait.

JC
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ScubaZ

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Re: Which lenses for H4D-40?
« Reply #15 on: May 17, 2012, 11:23:27 pm »

In your case, if you choose the 210 you won't have a lens to cover the gap between 90mm to 210mm and I think in some situation it can be challenging for you. In IMO 28 + 35-90 + 150 is a good combination for landscape/portrait.

JC

Those are pretty much my exact thoughts;  210 too tight and too big a gap to the 90.

Placed my order and just got it (28, 35-90 and 150)!
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stevenf

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Re: Which lenses for H4D-40?
« Reply #16 on: May 17, 2012, 11:48:33 pm »

I have the 28 50 100 210 and the HTS. A good mix of lenses that covers all of what i need for landscape photography. I do find the 50 to be a bit soft compared to the other lenses. Mostly I photograph trees and the 100 and 210 are perfect for my needs.

Steven

http://www.friedmanphoto.com
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Zerui

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Re: Which lenses for H4D-40?
« Reply #17 on: May 26, 2012, 11:29:49 am »

I have an H3D50 and find the 300mm very useful for landscapes.
And even for action shots in the field. See my photos on the Hasselblad Users site.
John Woods
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David Schneider

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Re: Which lenses for H4D-40?
« Reply #18 on: May 26, 2012, 09:21:22 pm »

I never really used the 150 much, preferring the 100 (sometimes with teleconverter) and never used the 210 at all (sold it after 3 years with 50 clicks on it!).


I do few landscapes, but daily studio work.  I have H3D2-39 and 35, 100, 150, 210.  All are world class lenses.  I use the 100 the most as it's great for full length and groups and can always do a  fast, excellent portrait, especially with the shallow dof of the f2.2.  However, for portraits, my favorite lens is the 150.  Wonderful lens and so much fun.  The 210 is great for tight headshots, but watch the dof; at 7' from subject at f8 dof is something like 2.5" if I remember. 

Too bad Hassie doesn't have a 75-165 or thereabouts for us studio photographers.
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