HASSELBLAD HC 35mm F3.5
A review and Photo example of the HASSELBLAD HC 35mm F3.5.
Table of contents
Gallery
Review
1．Usage
The Hasselblad HC 35mm F3.5 is a FUJINON brand lens that I bought cheaply, so 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 for using the lens with the Hasselblad X-series, the X H Lens Adapter (hereinafter referred to as XHA) and the XH CONVERTER 0.8 (hereinafter referred to as XH08), I cannot use autofocus (hereinafter referred to as AF). When I checked the condition of the lens after purchasing it, I found some balsam cutting, but it is an old item and the price is cheap, so it can’t be helped.
When using the XHA at a focal length of 28mm in 35mm format, there are no problems with the image even in backlight, and the image output through Phocus is imaged without distortion even to the periphery, and there is no vignetting, so it is sufficient performance for use with a medium-format digital sensor (44mm x 33mm).
When using the XH08 at a focal length of 22.4mm in 35mm format, the image tendency was similar to that of the XHA. Since it is an HC lens that covers the 645 medium format film size (60mm x 45mm), there is almost no noticeable impact even when the focal length is shortened with the XH08 focal reducer. With an HCD 35-90mm zoom lens that covers the same focal length, vignetting is visible at the wide-angle focal length of 35mm, so the wide image circle of the HC lens can be felt.
When I attached my lens to the camera and checked the lens information, the firmware was 9.0.0 and the shutter count was about 1000.
The focus ring rotates smoothly when in manual focus (MF), and by using the focus magnification function of the EVF, I was able to shoot at the desired focus position without any problems.
2．About lens
The Hasselblad HC 35mm F3.5 is a wide-angle lens with a focal length of 35.8mm for Hasselblad H-series cameras. Since it is an HC series, when used with a medium-format H-series camera, it covers sensor sizes up to 40.2 x 53.7mm, and the focal length is about 24mm.
When using the XH Lens Adapter*, the focal length is about 29mm.
When using the XH CONVERTER 0.8*, the focal length is 23mm.
The lens alone weighs 1kg, and when combined with the converter (175g or 430g) and camera (766g), the weight is 2 to 2.2kg, which is light for an X1D-II with an HC lens, but the lens barrel feels large. It is large and heavy compared to mirrorless cameras with 35mm full-frame sensors. This is because it covers 645 medium-format film and has a built-in shutter mechanism. In the 645 film era, wide-angle lenses were standard up to 35mm. This is equivalent to 21mm in 35mm format, so lenses with a focal length wider than this were used for special lenses such as fisheye lenses.
The lens configuration is a complex retrofocus type with 11 elements in 10 groups, and when checking the lens specifications, it can be seen that the lens performance is similar to that of the HC50mm 1-type, with a decrease in image quality in the peripheral areas and a maximum of 2% distortion on the outer edges. The HC50mm was renewed to improve image quality in the peripheral areas, but the HC35mm was not renewed. Perhaps it was because the current lens performance was deemed sufficient given the mainstream sensor size? Or perhaps the 35mm range of the new zoom HCD 35-90mm lens was sufficient performance? We can make some guesses, but we do not have any official information.
Due to the lens specifications of the HC 35mm, it is not possible to use a x1.7 teleconverter with the Hasselblad H series or X series. The guard at the rear end of the lens is designed to interfere with the teleconverter, so it cannot be physically attached. 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 AF when used with a LEICA S Typ007, so this lens is often used with a LEICA S.
This lens can also be attached to Fujifilm’s GFX series by using the H MOUNT ADAPTER G. One limitation is that although the leaf shutter can be used, AF is not supported.
3.Accessory compatibility
- Extension-Tube-H (H13/H26/H52) can be used.
- HTS 1,5 TILT AND SHIFT ADAPTER can be used.
- Image circle covers up to medium format film size.
- Converter H 1.7x (x1.7 teleconverter) can not be used.
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) | 35.8 | |
| Maximum aperture | 3.5 | |
| Minimum aperture | 32 | |
| Lens configuration | 10groups 11elements | retrofocus-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
- HASSELBLAD HC35mm official web site
- HASSELBLAD H-series Extension-Tube-H official web site
- Hasselblad Lens Production Year Confirmation web site
Update history
- 2024.9.9
- 2024.03.24
- 2022.03.23
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