HASSELBLAD HC Macro 120mm II
Medium format digital compatible, life-size macro lens
A review and Photo example of the HASSELBLAD HC Macro 120mm typeII (Orange dot).
Table of contents
Gallery
Review
1．Usage
I traded in my Fujinon 1-type 120mm macro and paid the difference to get the HC Macro 120mm F4 2-type.
The shutter unit of this second-hand 2-type lens had been replaced, and it was practically unused, with only 34 shots. The weight and handling of the lens were the same as the 1-type.
The reason I got the 2-type was to use the xh-converter 0.8, which cannot be used with the 1-type, and this makes it a macro lens with a focal length of 76mm, expanding the range of use of the lens.
The wide focus ring, like the 1-type, is suitable for delicate operation in macro photography. The rubber knurling has a unique shape that narrows in an arc toward the tip.
On the first day I took the 2-type out, I did not check the lens condition enough and used it with the firmware 18.8.7 that came with the purchase, which caused a shutter error at aperture values of F3.5 to F6.8, which was a problem. After completing the email to Hasselblad Japan to report the problem, I realized that I hadn’t checked the firmware, and when I checked the lens firmware, it was old, so I changed it to the latest HC lens firmware 19.1.0, and was able to use it without any problems at any aperture value.
With the 1-inch lens, purple fringing was visible through the EVF when the aperture was open depending on the subject, but with the 2-inch lens, this is gone, and you can feel the improvement in performance at the open aperture. The purple fringing of the 1-inch lens is almost unnoticeable when used through Phocus, so I don’t think it’s a problem, but I think it’s important that the viewfinder is clear.
With the 2-inch lens, when using the X H Lens Adapter, the background blur at the open aperture is beautiful, and there is no sense of two lines, making it a mellow and very good impression. This depends on the subject and lighting conditions, so it’s not necessarily the 1-inch lens that’s bad, but there were times when the 1-inch lens felt a little noisy in the background.
It’s very appreciated that this lens is compatible with the teleconverter (CONVERTER H1.7X) just like the 1-inch lens. When this lens is attached to the XH Lens Adapter with the H1.7X between them, it becomes a 6.3/202mm telephoto macro with the same minimum shooting distance of 0.39m. As explained on the converter page, the lens becomes slightly darker, but you can take more magnified shots with less image degradation. However, when using the CONVERTER H1.7X, it is not compatible with the X2D IBIS.
Because this is a macro lens that requires a large amount of extension, the lens body is large and heavy. This lens and the HC 35-90 4.5-5.6 zoom lens are roughly the same weight.
2．About lens
The HC Macro 120mm F4 Type 2 is a macro lens with a focal length of 120mm for Hasselblad H-series cameras.
There are two types of 120mm macro: the old Type 1 and the improved Type 2.
When used with a medium-format H-series camera, it covers sensor sizes up to 40.2 x 53.7 mm, and the focal length is approximately 82.5 mm.
This lens can be used with the X1D, X1DII, 907X, and X2D via the XH Lens Adapter or XH CONVERTER 0.8, but in either case, autofocus (AF) cannot be used, only manual focus (MF) can be used.
- When using the XH Lens Adapter, the focal length is approximately 96mm F4
- When using the XH CONVERTER 0.8, the focal length is approximately 76mm F3.5
The HC 210mm can use a x1.7 teleconverter, and when attached, the focal length is as follows:
- 163mm F6.3 when using XH Lens Adapter
- 129mm F5 when using XH CONVERTER 0.8
3．Accessory compatibility
- Converter H 1.7x (x1.7 teleconverter) can be used.
- Extension-Tube-H (H13/H26/H52) can be used.
- HTS 1,5 TILT AND SHIFT ADAPTER can not be used.
- Image circle covers up to medium format film size.
4．AF support(HC120)
AF (autofocus) does not work on the X1D/X1DII/X907 for the HC Macro 120mm lens, either with the old firmware or with the extended firmware.
5．About FUJINON lens(HC120)
When using the FUJINON brand HC Macro 120mm with X1D/X1DII/907X and X H Lens Adapter, it can be used without any difference from the HASSELBLAD brand lens.
However, as mentioned in the “Impression” comments, to use the XH CONVERTER 0.8 and HC Macro 120mm, a lens with extended firmware (firmware 19.1 or later) is required.
There is no difference in function between older HASSELBLAD lenses and FUJINON lenses, and it is a matter of how you consider the availability of repair support in case of failure. If you are using the lens as a manual macro lens, choosing the FUJINON brand, which is available at a lower price, is not a bad choice.
Specification and Competitor
| Lens name | APO MAKRO PLANAR | HC120II | APO MACRO SUMMARIT S |
| Focal length(mm) | 120 | 120 | 120 |
| Max aperture | 4 | 4 | 2.5 |
| Min aperture | 32 | 45 | 22 |
| Lens Construction | 8 elements in 5 groups | 9 elements in 9 groups | 9 elements in 7 groups |
| Min distance(m) | 0.3 | 0.39 | 0.57 |
| Lens length(mm) Mount frange to lens top | 104 | 166 | 128 |
| Max diameter(mm) | 86 | 96 | 91 |
| Filter Size(mm) | 72 | 67 | 72 |
| Weight(g) | 796 | 1410 | 1135 1205(With lens shutter) |
| Release date | 1999 | – |
HC Macro 120mm(I型) レンズ仕様書（英語）Reference links
- HASSELBLAD HC MACRO 120mm official introduction page
- HASSELBLAD H-series Extension Tube official introduction page
- Hasselblad Lens Production Year Confirmation web site
Update history
- 2024.9.14
- 2024.03.22
- 2022.11.09
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