HASSELBLAD HCD 24mm F4.8

HASSELBLAD HCD 24mm F4.8

The rare widest-angle lens in the H lens series

A review and Photo example of the HASSELBLAD HCD 24mm F4.8.

Table of contents

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 HCD 24 F4.8 is a short-focus lens for Hasselblad H-series cameras, and as the name suggests, it is a wide-angle lens with a focal length of 24mm.

Because it is an HCD lens series, the sensor size is optimized for sensors with a 48 x 36mm sensor size. For larger sensors with a 53.7 x 40.2mm sensor size, the image circle of the lens is insufficient and vignetting occurs at the edges of the screen.

Lenses with an orange dot have a maximum shutter speed of 1/2000, while lenses without a mark have a shutter speed of 1/800.

This lens can be used with Hasselblad X-series cameras such as the X1D (4116 edition), X1DII, X2D, and X907 via the mount adapter XH Adapter or XH CONVERTER 0.8.

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

  • When using the XH CONVERTER 0.8, the focal length is 19mm.
  • When using the XH Adapter, the focal length is 15mm.

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 53.7 x 40.2mm sensors, which are larger sensors in medium format digital cameras.

When processing this shooting result with the dedicated shooting development software Phocus, the edges are automatically cropped. 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 the widest angle lens compatible with the Leica genuine mount adapter S-Adapter H, which uses HC/HCD lenses with the LEICA S series. When used with the LEICA S series, the lens is equivalent to a focal length of 22mm in 35mm format. The wider-angle HCD 24mm is a lens that is not compatible with Leica’s original mount adapter S-Adapter H. It can be attached to the camera, but aperture control is not possible and shooting can only be done at maximum aperture.

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

○Accessory compatibility

  • All extension tubes (H13, H26, H52) cannot be used.
  • The HTS 1,5 TILT AND SHIFT ADAPTER can be used.
  • The lens image circle does not cover medium format film (41.5 x 56mm).
  • The Converter 1.7x (x1.7 teleconverter) cannot be used.
  • Not compatible with S-Adapter H.
  • Compatible with H MOUNT ADAPTER G.

2.Usability

The Hasselblad HCD 24 F4.8 does not have any distortion or vignetting as long as you develop the images with Phocus. There is some distortion that can be seen in the EVF during shooting, so there is no doubt that software correction is being applied, but you can still get images of sufficient quality.

When used with the X1DII and X2D, the autofocus (AF) focusing speed is standard for HC and HCD lenses. However, the AF operation can feel a bit peculiar and peaky, and when the focus is lost, the motor can make an unpleasant noise.

The lens alone weighs 810g, and is slightly shorter and lighter than the HCD 28mmm, which belongs to the same wide-angle lens category.

The minimum shooting distance is 38cm throughout the entire range, providing sufficient close-up shooting capabilities. However, it is slightly inferior to the 35cm of the HCD 28mm, which has a closer focal length. Also, the optional extension tube is not available, so close-up shooting capabilities are limited.

The lens comes with an excellent hood, but in everyday use I rarely attach it as it is resistant to backlighting sufficiently without the hood.

I also own the XCD 21mm, which has almost the same focal length, but I found that the distortion on that lens was noticeable even when using the Phocus. Since it is a dedicated product, the XCD 21mm is lighter and easier to handle. The AF speed is almost the same.

I bought it second-hand, but when I attached it to a camera and checked the shutter count, it was about 4000. This lens is difficult to obtain, and since it was released late as a Hasselblad H-series lens and only a few were released on the market, it is rare to see it on the second-hand market.

3.Summary

In conclusion, to sum up the Hasselblad HCD 24 F4.8, it is a lens that can achieve the widest focal length of 15mm in the X-series.

As of 2025, the widest lens in the X-series is the zoom lens XCD 20-35mm, which is 16mm, so this one is slightly wider.

It’s a pity that because the lens is so new, it can only be used at full aperture in the LEICA S-series.

○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

Before imageAfter image
Lens nameHCD 24HCD 28
Focal length(mm)24.328.9
Max aperture4.84
Min aperture3232
Aperture blade??
Lens Construction14 elements in 11 groups12 elements in 9 groups
Min distance(m)0.380.35
Lens length(mm)99102
Max diameter(mm)100100
Filter Size(mm)9595
Weight(g)810850
Lens hoodDedicated bayonet hoodDedicated bayonet hood
Lens mountHASSELBLAD-HHASSELBLAD-H
HCD 4.8/24 lens specification PDF

Reference links

Update history

  • 2025.6.11
  • 2024.8.30
  • 2024.03.24
  • 2022.04.05

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