Hasselblad XCD 38mm f/2.5 V and Hasselblad XCD 55mm f/2.5 V: High-Grade Build, Nicely Compact
Related: Hasselblad, Hasselblad Lenses, Hasselblad medium format, Hasselblad XCD 38mm f/2.5 V, Hasselblad XCD 55mm f/2.5 V, medium format, Other World Computing
re: Hasselblad X2D
I plan on a thorough review of the Hasselblad X2D 100C and at least the Hasselblad XCD 38mm f/2.5 V and Hasselblad XCD 55mm f/2.5 V. Many thanks to B&H Photo for the loaner camera and lenses.
The Hasselblad XCD 38mm f/2.5 V and Hasselblad XCD 55mm f/2.5 V are here.
The packaging is robust, sure to frustrate any UPS driver looking to run random drop tests.
The build quality is superb; I like it visually much more than the previous generation designs, though I have yet to test AF or manual focus to see how focus by wire works.
The lens hoods are metal and reverse for very compact stowage. A bit hard to attach though, the kind that requires exact alignment at the right spot... not a fan of that in dim light.
The fast lens speed of f/2.5 (equivalent to f/2 on 35mm format in DoF terms) is 1/3 stop to 2/3 stop faster (brighter) than most XCD lenses, yet these lenses are more compact. And hardly heavier than the Hasselblad XCD 45mm f/4. Awesome work Hasselblad! Presumably this is from the use of 3 aspherical elements (the Hasselblad XCD 45mm f/3.5 has no aspherical elements at all).
These two lenses are gems, and a size I would be very pleased to carry them for landscape photography while hiking. Hopefully the optical performance will live up to the MTF charts.
Finally, the build quality and size/weight/visuals are a whole another grade above Fujifilm. You pay for that by 2X to 3X higher price, but you do get a much higher grade product.
Thank you for ordering your Hasselblad X2D 100C and new lenses through the links on this site.
