HASSELBLAD HC f4.5 300mm
A review and Photo example of the HASSELBLAD HC 300mm F4.5.
Table of contents
Gallery
Review
1．Usage
The Hasselblad HC 300mm F4.5 is a telephoto lens with the longest focal length of 300mm for Hasselblad H series cameras.
I have purchased the HC 300mm twice. The first time I purchased it, I bought a FUJINON brand lens at a reasonable price. Since it is a model without an orange dot, the shutter speed is limited to 1/800, and autofocus (AF) could not be used with the XH Lens Adapter and XH CONVERTER 0.8. The MF feel was good, and I was able to shoot at the desired position without any problems using the focus magnification function of the EVF.
When using the XH Lens Adapter, there were no particular problems even in backlit conditions, and the image output through Phocus was imaged without distortion even to the periphery, and there was no vignetting, so I found that it had sufficient performance to be used with a 44×33 sensor.
For the second time, I found a new model orange dot version lens (Orange Dot) lined up at a familiar camera shop, and the price was very attractive, so I decided to buy it. Orange Dot was able to use AF on the X1DII by updating to lens firmware 19.1.0.
The AF focusing speed is slow, like that of old compact digital cameras, and it takes time to focus, making it difficult to photograph moving objects.
The AF on the camera side has been improved in the X2D, and when I checked the AF focusing speed with the lens alone, it was not much different from the X1DII. Even focusing when photographing the moon takes a certain amount of time, so I feel that it is difficult to photograph a hawk flying in the sky of Shirakaba Pass with AF. I was unable to visit the pass in 2023, but what about in 2024?
The X2D has an in-body image stabilization function, but the firmware v3.1.0 of 2023.12.1 supported AF when used in combination with a teleconverter. However, the X2D’s in-body image stabilization IBIS (In body Image Stabilizer) does not function when used in combination with the HC300+ HC1.7 teleconverter. I have been asking Hasselblad to improve this, so I hope it will be fixed in the next firmware.
There are two AF-compatible telephoto lenses that can be used with medium-format cameras: this lens and the Tele-Apotessar T350mm F4 for the CONTAX 645. Please refer to the specifications table for the differences in lens specifications. I have never purchased and used the Tele-Apotessar T350mm F4, but when I tried it on my camera (LEICA S Typ007) at a camera shop, it was obvious that the lens was heavy. When the teleconverter is attached, it weighs more than 4kg, so it feels even heavier. The difference in the weight of the entire camera system is about 1kg, but I felt that the HC 300mm was a little better for handheld shooting.
2．About lens
Because it is an HC series, when used with a medium-format HxD camera, it covers sensor sizes up to 40.2 x 53.7 mm, and the focal length multiplied by the sensor magnification is approximately 197 mm.
The X1D, X1DII, 907X, and X2D are used via either the X H Lens Adapter or the XH CONVERTER 0.8. It is also possible to use it in conjunction with the CONVERTER H x1.7 teleconverter (hereinafter referred to as H x1.7).
When using the XH Lens Adapter*, the focal length is 240mm F4.5
When using the XH CONVERTER 0.8*, the focal length is 192mm F3.5
When using the XH Lens Adapter* and H x1.7, the focal length is 408mm F7.1
The focal length is the converted focal length when using a 44x33mm sensor
The lens alone weighs 2kg, and when you add the converter (175g or 430g) and camera (766g), it becomes about 3kg, which is not something you would want to carry around casually by hand. If you add the x1.7 teleconverter, it will be 3.5kg at +500g, which is an additional 500g.
The old HC300mm had frequent communication problems between the lens and the body, so unfortunately the lens was returned and I ended up using it for about two weeks.
The total length of the lens alone is 200mm, but when attached to the X2D, with the teleconverter and adapter it exceeds 300mm, and when you add the 700g teleconverter and 400g adapter to the 2kg weight of the lens alone, it comes to over 3kg, so you’ll need to be prepared to carry it around.
The lens is fitted with a rotatable tripod mount, but the plate part for the tripod head is a Hasselblad-specific shape, so you’ll need to prepare an Arca-Swiss ARCASWISS Hasselblad Quick Plate 1 to convert it to Arca-Swiss compatibility.
3．Accessory compatibility
- Extension-Tube-H (H13/H26/H52) can be used.
- The image circle covers up to medium format film size.
- Converter H 1.7x (x1.7 teleconverter) can be used.
- X H Lens Adapter* and XH CONVERTER 0.8* can be used.
- X2D firmware 3.1.0 (released 2023.12.1) allows IBIS to function in combination with XH CONVERTER 0.8*.
- X2D firmware 3.1.0 (released December 1, 2023) allows IBIS to function in combination with the X H Lens Adapter*.
- HTS 1,5 TILT AND SHIFT ADAPTER cannot be used.
- X2D firmware 3.1.0 (released 2023.12.1) causes IBIS to not function in combination with Converter H 1.7x (x1.7 teleconverter), regardless of whether X H Lens Adapter* or XH CONVERTER 0.8* is used. .
- As of 2022.09.22, lens error 46 occurs with the combination of X2D and Converter H 1.7x.
- The above has been improved with X2D firmware 1.0.5 released on 2022.12.15.
- With old firmware, IBIS does not function in combination with X H Lens Adapter* and XH CONVERTER 0.8*.
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.
Specificaton
| Item | HASSELBLAD HC300 | CONTAX 645 Tele-Apotessar |
| focal length(mm) | 292 | 349.5 |
| Maximum aperture | 4.5 | 4 |
| Minimum aperture | 45 | 45 |
| Lens configuration | 9elements in 7groups | 9elements in 8groups |
| Leaf blade | – | – |
| Minimum distance(m) | 2.45 | 1.9 |
| Lens length(mm) Distance form mount frange | 198 | 273 |
| Lens max diameter(mm) | 100 | 114 |
| Filter diameter(mm) | 95 | 95 |
| Weight(g) | 2120 | 3610 |
| Option Tele converter | x1.7 | x1.4 |
| Specs when equipped with teleconverter Focal length / F value / Weight (g) | 510 / F7.1 / 2585 | 490 / F5.6 / 4120 |
| List price(Yen) | 738,815 | – |
HC 300mm lens Specification documents PDF
Reference links
- Hasselblad HC 300mm official page
- HASSELBLAD H series extension tube official page
- Hasselblad Lens Production Year Confirmation Site
Update history
- 2024.03.21
- 2022.1229
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