H series wide-angle zoom HASSELBLAD HCD35-90mm

A review and photo examples using the Hasselblad HCD 35-90mm F4-5.6 with the HASSELBLAD X series.

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Table of Contents

Gallery

The photo examples are as follows:

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

Review

1. Overview
   • Accessory compatibility
2. Usability
3. Summary
   • AF support
   • About FUJINON lens

1．Overview

The Hasselblad HCD 35-90mm F4-5.6 is a zoom lens for Hasselblad H-series cameras.

It is a 2.5x zoom lens covering focal lengths from 35mm to 90mm, and has two rotating rings, one at the front of the lens and one at the back. It uses inner focus and inner zoom, so the lens length does not change when focusing or zooming.

Because it is an HCD lens series, the sensor size is optimized for sensors of 48 x 36mm or smaller. When used with 645 film or a larger 53.7 x 40.2mm sensor, the image circle of the lens is insufficient and vignetting occurs on the edges of the screen.

Lenses with an orange dot have a central shutter with a maximum speed of 1/2000, while unbranded lenses have a central shutter of 1/800.

For HASSELBLAD X-series cameras, X1D, X1DII, 907X, and X2D, use either the XH Adapter or the XH CONVERTER 0.8. Close-up photography is also possible using the EXTENSION TUBES H (13mm/26mm/52mm).

The focal length in 35mm format will vary depending on the mount adapter used, as follows:

• When using the XH Adapter, the focal length is 28mm to 72mm.
• When using the XH CONVERTER 0.8, the focal length is 23.3mm to 56mm.

When shooting with the XH CONVERTER 0.8, the image circle of the lens is insufficient, and vignetting occurs at the edges of the screen, just like with 645 film and the 53.7 x 40.2mm sensor, which is a larger sensor for medium-format digital cameras.

When processing this shooting result with the dedicated shooting development software Phocus, the edges are automatically cropped (trimmed). Of course, the full-size image before cropping is saved, and you can handle the image including the edges by selecting [Uncrop] from the image menu in Phocus.

This lens is a zoom that is compatible with the Leica genuine mount adapter S-Adapter H, which uses HC/HCD lenses on the LEICA S series, and when used with the LEICA S series the lens has a 35mm equivalent focal length of 28mm to 72mm.

With Fujifilm’s GFX series, if you use the FUJIFILM genuine H MOUNT ADAPTER G, you can use this lens with the leaf shutter and manual focus.

○Accessory compatibility

• Extension-Tube-H (H13/H26/H52) can be used (although it is not mentioned in the datasheet for the extension tube, it was usable on the actual device).
• IBIS works with X2D when combined with the XH Adapter.
• IBIS works with X2D when combined with the XH CONVERTER 0.8.
• Compatible with S-Adapter H.
• Compatible with H MOUNT ADAPTER G.
• <NG>
• The lens image circle does not cover medium format film (41.5 x 56mm).
• The Converter 1.7x (x1.7 teleconverter) cannot be used.
• The HTS 1,5 TILT AND SHIFT ADAPTER cannot be used.

2．Usability

The Hasselblad HCD 35-90mm F4-5.6 is a zoom lens, but it does not compromise on image quality. This is probably due to the benefit of the Phocus correction, but it is a good zoom lens.

When using this lens with the X1DII and X2D, the autofocus focusing speed is standard for HC and HCD lenses, and once you get the hang of the autofocus operation, you can focus at the position you want.

The minimum shooting distance is 65cm throughout the entire focal range, so it gives the impression that you can get closer to the subject at focal lengths of 50mm and above.
You can also use an extension tube if you want to get even closer.
The lens alone weighs 1.4kg, which is heavy, and when used as a camera system, it weighs nearly 3kg.
However, perhaps because it is well balanced when attached to a camera, it is not too difficult to use for long periods of shooting.

The lens comes with a metal hood, but it is rarely attached because it is sufficiently resistant to backlight even without the hood. This backlight resistance and the 1/2000 lens shutter make it useful for outdoor photography. However, the lens itself is large, so it can be very conspicuous depending on where you take it.

This is the third lens I have purchased for my X Series camera, and although I purchased it second-hand, when I attached it to the camera and checked the shutter count, it was practically new, having only been used three times.

○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

• The HCD 24mm lens probably doesn’t exist as I have never seen the Fujinon brand on the market.

Specification and Competitor

Lens name	CONTAX VARO-SONNAR45-90	HASSELBLAD HCD35-90	LEICA VARIO ELMAR 30-90
focal length(mm)	45.9〜87.5	36.3〜87	30〜90
Maximum aperture	4.5	4.5(5.6)	3.5(5.6)
Minimum aperture	32	32	32
Lens configuration	10groups 12elements	11groups 13elements	11groups 14elements
Minimum distance(m)	0.5	0.65	0.65
Lens length(mm)	115	167	113.5
Lens max diameter(mm)	102	102.5	101
Filter diameter(mm)	95	95	95
Weight(g)	1140	1410	1030
Release date	2002	2016(New ver.)	2012
Price(Yen/No-tax)	¥790,000-	¥1,024,000-	¥1,220,000-

HCD 4-5,6/35-90 ASPHERICAL lens specification PDF

Reference links

• Hasselblad HCD 35-90mm official introduction page
• Extension Tube for HASSELBLAD H Series official introduction page
• Hasselblad Lens Production Year Confirmation Web Site

Update history

• 2025.6.12
• 2024.9.1
• 2024.03.23
• 2022.02.12

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