LEICA S with HC f3.5 50mm II
A semi-standard lens that is just right for the Leica S
A review of HASSELBLAD HC50mm with Leica S typ007
Table of contents
Gallery
Review
The HC 50mm I own is a newer model with orange dot and can use the lens with autofocus on both LEICA S and HASSELBLAD X2D. The image attached to LEICA S is well balanced with the camera.
The LEICA S’s sensor size gives a focal length of 40mm, which is 0.8x the 35mm version. This 40mm focal length is called a subtle focal length between 35mm and 50mm, but I personally tend to use it with an awareness that it is a little wider than 50mm rather than narrower than 35mm.
The only medium format lens with a focal length of 65mm, which is the 35mm equivalent of 50mm, is the HC80mm, which is attached to the X2D via the XH-Converter 0.8, so the LEICA S uses this HC50mm or a zoom lens. The 50mm area has been swallowed up by the VARIO ELMAR 30-90. As for other lenses that can be used with AF, the DISTAGON 55mm of the CONTAX 645 is interesting because it has a 35mm equivalent focal length of 45mm, but as of 2023, it has become so expensive that I have no interest in using it.
The minimum focusing distance of this lens is 0.6m, and as I mentioned with the X2D, it is regrettable that it is not possible to get one step closer to the subject.
The only medium format lenses with a focal length of 50mm are the HASSELBLAD V, the F lens, the old PENTAX 645 manual lens, the MAMIYA 645 shift lens, and the FUJIFILM GF50mm, and the 50mm focal length of the 35mm version, which is considered the standard, is not often seen in medium format lenses. The focal length of 50mm, which is considered the standard focal length for 35mm lenses, is a focal length that is rarely seen in medium format lenses.
The three medium-format lenses I own with a focal length of 50mm are the HASSELBLAD HC50, HASSELBLAD HCD35-90, and the CONTAX 645 VARIO SONNAR 45-90, and it is clear that they are swallowed up by zoom lenses. The others have also released standard zoom lenses that cover 50mm.
Comparing the results of shooting with the three lenses in my possession, I do not notice much difference in general shooting, and I feel that the performance of zoom lenses has improved and that they are more convenient.
I think the reason I still use a single lens is so that I don’t forget how to shoot within the limitations of the zoom lens.
HC50-IImm lens configuration diagram (quoted from Hasselblad official website)
GF50mm lens configuration diagram (quoted from FUJIFILM official website)
Specification and Competitor
| Items | HC50-II | GF50mm |
| Focal length(mm) | 50 | 50 |
| Max aperture | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Min aperture | 32 | 32 |
| Leaf blade | – | 9 |
| Lens Construction | 11elements in 7groups | 9elements in 6groups |
| Min distance(m) | 0.6 | 0.55 |
| Lens length(mm) | 116 | 48 |
| Lens diameter(mm) | 85 | 84 |
| Filter Size(mm) | 77 | 62 |
| Weight(g) | 975 | 335 |
| Release date | 2016? | 2019/9/26 |
| Price(Yen/No-tax) | 650,000- | 138,500- |
Reference links
Update history
- 2024.9.18
- 2023.09.9:First draft
Affiliate link
