HASSELBLAD HC 210mm F4
A telephoto AF lens for medium-format cameras
A review and Photo example of the HASSELBLAD HC 210mm F4.
Table of contents
Gallery
- The sample photos were taken with the X2D
- The sample photos were taken with the X1D-II(X1D2)
Review
1．Usage
The HC 210mm F4 is the 11th HC/HCD lens I have acquired. I bought it cheaply without the orange dot from the Hasselblad brand, so I knew that the shutter speed is 1/800 and that autofocus (AF) cannot be used with the Hasselblad X-series. Since it is not a very bright lens, I did not need the 1/2000 shutter speed of the orange dot, and I also decided that it is not a lens that requires a lot of autofocus, so I purchased it.
However, what I did not expect was that the lens is not recognized when attached to a Leica S-series camera. If the lens was recognized, it should have been usable with AF, so I am disappointed, although I do not know what is wrong. The only lens I own that has this problem is the HC 50-110mm, which is also not recognized by the Leica S-series camera.
After purchasing the lens, I checked the condition of the lens and found that the hood was loose, but there were no major problems.
When I checked the lens information on the camera, the firmware was 12.0.0 and the number of shutters was about 7,000, so there was plenty of room for the number of shutters. It is a consolation, as sometimes it breaks and the number of times it is used does not matter.
The lens focus ring is smooth and the manual focus feels good, and I can use the focus magnification function of the EVF to shoot at the desired position without any problems. The minimum shooting distance is 1.8m, and if you want to shorten the distance even further, you can also take close-up shots using three types of EXTENSION TUBES H (13mm/26mm/52mm).
However, because it is a 210mm telephoto lens, the image in the EVF of the X1D-2, which does not have in-body image stabilization, can shake and feel unpleasant. Also, perhaps because the lens coating is old, ghosting can occur and contrast can decrease in backlit situations without a hood.
With the X2D, perhaps thanks to the in-body image stabilization, stable shooting is possible without unpleasant shaking of the image.
Images output through the Hasselblad X1D-2 and X2D Phocus are imaged without distortion even to the periphery, and we found that it has sufficient performance for use with a 44x33mm medium-format digital sensor.
The focal length of 210mm is one step brighter than that of a 35mm camera, with an aperture value of F2.8, which is standard for zoom lenses, and they usually weigh less than 1kg. Even though it is a medium-format lens with a large image circle, the lens weight is 1.32kg for a single focal length lens, and when you add the converter (175g or 430g) and camera (766g), it comes to 2.3 to 2.6kg, making it the heaviest shooting system among the X-series cameras with HC lenses. In addition, the total length of the camera set including the lens is long, so there is a problem that you will not be motivated to carry it except when you are traveling around the neighborhood or by car.
2．About lens
The HC 210mm F4 is a telephoto lens with a focal length of 211.1mm for HASSELBLAD H series cameras.
Because it is an HC series lens, when used with a medium format camera HxD, it covers sensor sizes up to 40.2 x 53.7mm, and the focal length is approximately 141mm.
When used with an X series (X1D, X1D-2, X2D, X907) camera, the focal length is as follows when used via the X H Lens Adapter or XH CONVERTER 0.8.
- When using the X H Lens Adapter, the focal length is 169mm.
- When using the XH CONVERTER 0.8, the focal length is 135mm.
The HC 210mm can be used with a x1.7 teleconverter, and when attached, the focal length is as follows.
- When using the X H Lens Adapter, it is 359mm F6.8.
- When using the XH CONVERTER 0.8, it is 287mm F5.
3.Accessory compatibility
- Converter H 1.7x (x1.7 teleconverter) can be used.
- Extension-Tube-H (H13/H26/H52) can be used.
- HTS 1,5 TILT AND SHIFT ADAPTER can not be used.
- Image circle covers up to medium format film size.
4．AF support
There are several conditions to attach HC/HCD series lenses to X1D, X1DII, X2D, and 907X via a mount adapter (X H Lens Adapter, XH CONVERTER 0.8) to drive auto focus (hereinafter referred to as AF).
The most important thing is the lens firmware. If the lens firmware cannot be updated to 19.1.0, AF will not work.
In order to update to lens firmware 19.1.0, the lens must have firmware 18.0.0 or later.
- All lenses with an orange dot are capable of AF.
- However, AF does not work on the HC120 and HC120-II. This is a lens limitation imposed by Hasselblad.
- For non-orange dot lenses, it’s a bit more complicated.
- If AF is possible
- Lens with lens firmware 18.0.0 or later.
- Lenses from 2010 or later with serial numbers starting with V and firmware 18.0.0 or later.
- When AF is not possible
- Lens with lens firmware earlier than 17.0.0.
- Lenses manufactured before 2010 with serial numbers starting with S.
- Fujinon brand lens.
- If AF is possible
5．About FUJINON lens
There are HC lenses from the Fujifilm brand SUPER EBC FUJINON that can be used with the HASSELBLAD HC camera, but only lenses with a maximum shutter speed of 1/800. Compared to the latest maximum shutter speed of 1/2000, the range of expression is narrower. Also, because the lens firmware is old, it is not possible to apply HC lens firmware 19.1.0, which is required to use autofocus (AF) on XCD mount cameras X1D, X1DII, 907X, and X2D.
Therefore, AF cannot be used even if it is attached to an XCD mount camera via two types of mount adapters, X H Lens Adapter, and XH CONVERTER 0.8.
Fuji Film brand HC lenses are not covered by Hasselblad’s repair support, and since Fuji Film no longer provides repair support, there is nothing that can be done in the event of a breakdown. Fuji Film brand H lenses are sold cheaply, but you need to be aware of this when purchasing.If it is a Hasselblad brand HC lens, even old lenses can be repaired at Hasselblad for a fee.
Since HC lenses are manufactured by Fujifilm, a mount adapter (H MOUNT ADAPTER G) is also available for the Fujifilm GFX series, which has the same sensor size as the X1D, X1DII, 907X, and X2D. This is for MF (manual focus) only, but you can use not only the camera’s mechanical shutter but also the lens shutter.
Specification and Competitor
| Item | Value | note |
| focal length(mm) | 211.1 | |
| Maximum aperture | 4 | |
| Minimum aperture | 45 | |
| Lens configuration | 10elements in 6groups | |
| Minimum distance(m) | 1.8 | |
| Lens length(mm) | 168 | |
| Lens max diameter(mm) | 86 | |
| Filter diameter(mm) | 77 | |
| Weight(g) | 1320 |
HC 210mm レンズ仕様書（英語）
3.Accessory compatibility
- Converter H 1.7x (x1.7 teleconverter) can be used.
- Extension-Tube-H (H13/H26/H52) can be used.
- HTS 1,5 TILT AND SHIFT ADAPTER can not be used.
- Image circle covers up to medium format film size.
4．AF support
There are several conditions to attach HC/HCD series lenses to X1D, X1DII, X2D, and 907X via a mount adapter (X H Lens Adapter, XH CONVERTER 0.8) to drive auto focus (hereinafter referred to as AF).
The most important thing is the lens firmware. If the lens firmware cannot be updated to 19.1.0, AF will not work.
In order to update to lens firmware 19.1.0, the lens must have firmware 18.0.0 or later.
- All lenses with an orange dot are capable of AF.
- However, AF does not work on the HC120 and HC120-II. This is a lens limitation imposed by Hasselblad.
- For non-orange dot lenses, it’s a bit more complicated.
- If AF is possible
- Lens with lens firmware 18.0.0 or later.
- Lenses from 2010 or later with serial numbers starting with V and firmware 18.0.0 or later.
- When AF is not possible
- Lens with lens firmware earlier than 17.0.0.
- Lenses manufactured before 2010 with serial numbers starting with S.
- Fujinon brand lens.
- If AF is possible
5．About FUJINON lens
There are HC lenses from the Fujifilm brand SUPER EBC FUJINON that can be used with the HASSELBLAD HC camera, but only lenses with a maximum shutter speed of 1/800. Compared to the latest maximum shutter speed of 1/2000, the range of expression is narrower. Also, because the lens firmware is old, it is not possible to apply HC lens firmware 19.1.0, which is required to use autofocus (AF) on XCD mount cameras X1D, X1DII, 907X, and X2D.
Therefore, AF cannot be used even if it is attached to an XCD mount camera via two types of mount adapters, X H Lens Adapter, and XH CONVERTER 0.8.
Fuji Film brand HC lenses are not covered by Hasselblad’s repair support, and since Fuji Film no longer provides repair support, there is nothing that can be done in the event of a breakdown. Fuji Film brand H lenses are sold cheaply, but you need to be aware of this when purchasing.If it is a Hasselblad brand HC lens, even old lenses can be repaired at Hasselblad for a fee.
Since HC lenses are manufactured by Fujifilm, a mount adapter (H MOUNT ADAPTER G) is also available for the Fujifilm GFX series, which has the same sensor size as the X1D, X1DII, 907X, and X2D. This is for MF (manual focus) only, but you can use not only the camera’s mechanical shutter but also the lens shutter.
Reference links
- HASSELBLAD HC210mm official introduction page
- HASSELBLAD H-series Extension Tube official introduction page
- Hasselblad Lens Production Year Confirmation web site
Update history
- 2024.04.23:modified article
- 2022.03.25:firest post
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