H series wide-angle lens HASSELBLAD HC35mm

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H series wide-angle lens HASSELBLAD HC35mm

A review and photo examples using the Hasselblad HC 35mm F3.5 with a HASSELBLAD X-series camera.

Table of contents

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Gallery

The photo examples are as follows:

  • HASSELBLAD X2D-100C +XH-adapter
  • HASSELBLAD X2D-100C +XH-Converter0.8
  • HASSELBLAD X1DII-50C +XH-adapter
  • HASSELBLAD X1DII-50C +XH-Converter0.8

Review

  1. Overview
  2. Usability
  3. Summary
Before imageAfter image

1．Overview

The Hasselblad HC 35mm F3.5 is a wide-angle lens with a focal length of 35.8mm for Hasselblad H-series cameras.

Because it is an HC series lens, when used with the medium-format HxD series cameras, it covers 645 film and digital sensor sizes up to 40.2 x 53.7 mm. In this case, the equivalent focal length in 35 mm is about 22 mm.

When used with the HASSELBLAD X-series cameras X1D, X1DII, 907X, and X2D, it is used via either the XH Adapter or the XH CONVERTER 0.8 mount adapter to connect to the camera. In this case, the focal length in 35 mm equivalent is as follows.

  • When using the XH Adapter, the focal length is about 29 mm.
  • When using the XH CONVERTER 0.8, the focal length is 23 mm.

The lens alone weighs 1 kg, and when combined with the converter (175 g or 430 g) and camera (766 g), the total weight is 2 to 2.2 kg.

The lens is a complex retrofocus type with 11 elements in 10 groups. Checking the lens specifications, we can see that the lens performance is similar to that of the HC 50mm Type I (old type), and that there is a decrease in image quality in the peripheral areas, and that the distortion is up to about 2% on the outer edge.

The HC50mm was renewed to Type II to improve image quality in the peripheral areas, but the HC35mm was not renewed. There are two possible reasons for this, but there is no certainty.

It was determined that the current lens performance was not a problem due to the balance with the sensor size.

Or, the 35mm range of the new zoom HCD 35-90mm lens had sufficient performance.

The HC 35mm cannot be used with a x1.7 teleconverter on the Hasselblad H series or X series due to the lens specifications. This is because the guard at the rear end of the lens is designed to interfere with the teleconverter, making it physically impossible to attach it. The HCD 24mm, HCD 28mm, and 35-90mm zoom lens, which are in the same wide-angle lens category, also have a similar guard and cannot be fitted with a teleconverter.

Even older FUJINON brand lenses can be used with autofocus when used with a LEICA S Typ007, so this lens is often used with a LEICA S.

This lens can also be fitted to Fujifilm’s GFX series by using the H MOUNT ADAPTER G. One limitation is that although the leaf shutter can be used, autofocus is not supported.

○Summary of accessory compatibility

  • You can use the Extension-Tube-H (H13/H26/H52) to shorten the minimum shooting distance.
  • IBIS works when combined with the XH Adapter for the X2D.
  • IBIS works when combined with the XH CONVERTER 0.8 for the X2D.
  • You can use the HTS 1,5 TILT AND SHIFT ADAPTER for tilt-shift photography.
  • The image circle covers up to 645 film size.
  • Can be used with LEICA S series cameras using the Leica genuine mount adapter S-Adapter H.
  • Compatible with the FUJIFILM genuine H MOUNT ADAPTER G.
  • Converter H 1.7x (x1.7 teleconverter) cannot be used.

2．Usability

When using the XH Adapter and the focal length is 28mm in 35mm equivalent, the HASSELBLAD HC 35mm F3.5 has no problems with image quality even in backlit conditions, and the image output through Phocus is imaged without distortion even to the periphery, and there is no vignetting, so it is found to have sufficient performance for use with medium-format digital sensors (44mm x 33mm).

When using the XH CONVERTER 0.8 and the focal length is 22.4mm in 35mm equivalent, the image quality is similar to that of the XH Adapter. Since it is an HC lens that covers the 645 medium-format film size (60mm x 45mm), there is almost no effect even when the focal length is shortened with the XH CONVERTER 0.8 focal reducer. With the HCD 35-90mm zoom lens that covers the same focal length, vignetting is seen at the wide-angle end focal length of 35mm, so you can really feel the wide image circle of the HC lens.

Since I bought this FUJINON brand lens cheaply, the upper limit of the shutter speed is 1/800 seconds, and even if I attach it to an X-series camera via two adapters, the XH Adapter and the XH CONVERTER 0.8, to use the lens with the Hasselblad X-series, I cannot use autofocus. When I checked the condition of the lens after purchasing it, I found some balsam cutting, but it’s an old lens and the price is cheap, so it can’t be helped.

The focus ring rotates smoothly when using manual focus, and by using the focus magnification function of the EVF, I can shoot at the desired focus position without any problems.

This lens weighs 1kg by itself, which is a standard weight for a HASSELBLAD X-series camera with an HC lens. As expected, it is clearly heavier than the HCD 24mm and 28mm for smaller sensors.

Naturally, it is larger and heavier than lenses for 35mm full-frame sensor cameras.

This is because the image circle is wide to cover 645 medium format film, and the shutter mechanism is built in.
In the 645 film era, wide-angle lenses were standard up to 35mm. This is equivalent to 21mm in 35mm format, and lenses with focal lengths wider than this are used for special lenses such as fisheye lenses.

When I attached my lens to my camera and checked the lens information, I found that the firmware was 9.0.0 and the shutter count was about 1000.

3．Summary

In conclusion, to sum up the HASSELBLAD HC 35mm F3.5 is a large wide-angle lens. With the HASSELBLAD X-series cameras, it can be used at focal lengths of 28mm and 22mm using two types of adapters, making it highly versatile.

However, since the lenses I own are old, I don’t use it often because I can’t use autofocus with the HASSELBLAD X-series cameras. I use this lens exclusively with the LEICA S-series cameras, because with these cameras, autofocus can be used even with old H-lenses as long as the camera recognizes the lens.

○AF support

Lens firmware 19.1.0 is required to operate autofocus (AF) when mounting HC/HCD series lenses to the X1D, X1DII, X2D, or 907X via a mount adapter (X H Lens Adapter, XH CONVERTER 0.8). There are conditions for applying lens firmware 19.1.0, and lenses with firmware 18.0.0 or later are required. Firmware 19.1.0 cannot be applied to lenses with older firmware 17.0.0 or earlier.

The AF compatibility status for X Series cameras can be summarized as follows:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.

There are exceptions to the above, and new firmware may be installed when the focus unit is replaced during lens repair.

The most reliable way to determine whether AF can be used with Hasselblad X series lenses is not just to determine from the serial number, but to attach the lens to a camera and check the actual lens firmware.

○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

ItemValuenote
focal length(mm)35.8
Maximum aperture3.5
Minimum aperture32
Lens configuration10groups 11elementsretrofocus-type
Minimum distance(m)0.5
Lens length(mm)124
Lens max diameter(mm)100
Filter diameter(mm)95
Weight(g)975
HC 35mm lens specification

Reference links

Update history

  • 2025.6.11
  • 2024.9.9
  • 2024.03.24
  • 2022.03.23

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