HASSELBLAD HCD 28mm F4

Highly versatile wide-angle lens for medium-format digital cameras

A review and Photo example of the HASSELBLAD HCD 28mm F4 with the HASSELBLAD X camera.

Gallery
Review
Specification and more
Reference links

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

Overview
- Accessory compatibility
Usability
Summary
- AF support
- About FUJINON lens

1．Overview

The Hasselblad HCD 28 F4 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 28mm.

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 periphery 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 Adapter, the focal length is 22mm.
When using the XH CONVERTER 0.8, the focal length is 18mm.

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 has a focal length equivalent to 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.

Fujifilm’s GFX series can be used with H series lenses using a leaf shutter and manual focus when using the FUJIFILM original H MOUNT ADAPTER G.

○Accessory compatibility

Extension tubes (H13, H26, H13+H26) can be used, but the longest one, H52, cannot be used.
The HTS 1,5 TILT AND SHIFT ADAPTER can be used.
The image circle of the lens does not cover medium format film (41.5 x 56mm).
The Converter 1.7x (x1.7 teleconverter) cannot be used.
Can be used with LEICA S series cameras using the Leica genuine mount adapter S-Adapter H.
Compatible with the FUJIFILM genuine H MOUNT ADAPTER G.

2．Usability

The Hasselblad HCD 28 F4 is a lens for H-series cameras. I bought it second-hand, but when I attached it to the camera and checked the shutter count, it was about 7,000 times.

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

I thought that the HCD 28mm could be replaced by the HCD 24mm, but the HCD 28mm has an open F-number of F4, while the HCD 24mm has an open F-number of 4.8, so it is about half a stop brighter, and the HCD 28mm can be used with an extension tube for close-up photography. Perhaps because the lens design of the HCD 28mm is less demanding than the HCD 24mm, good quality images can be obtained without correction.

I use the 24mm when I want to take a wide shot, and the 28mm when there is space in the shooting location.

The minimum shooting distance is 35cm throughout the entire range, which is sufficient for close-up shooting, and an extension tube can be used if you want to get even closer.
The lens comes with a nice hood, but it is rarely attached in everyday use because it is resistant to backlight without the hood.

The lens alone weighs 850g, and compared to the wide-angle lens in the same category, the HC 3.5/35mm, it is 22mm shorter in lens length and 125g lighter, making it very easy to handle when carrying around and shooting.

I have used the HCD 28mm less since I purchased the Hasselblad XCD 28mm F4P in 2023, but it is the widest-angle lens I own that can be used with the LEICA S Typ007, so I often use it with that.

3．Summary

In conclusion, to sum up the Hasselblad HCD 28 F4 is compact among Hasselblad H series lenses, but large for a lens to be mounted on a HASSELBLAD X series. If you are using it with the X series, the XCD 28mm F4P is compact and easy to handle. The advantage of the HCD 28mm is that it can be used with the LEICA S series by using the Leica genuine mount adapter S-Adapter H.

○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:

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.

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.

5．About FUJINON lens

The HCD 28mm lens probably doesn’t exist as I have never seen the Fujinon brand on the market.

Specification and Competitor

Lens name	HCD 28	HCD 24
Focal length(mm)	28.9	24.3
Max aperture	4	4.8
Min aperture	32	32
Aperture blade	?	?
Lens Construction	12 elements in 9 groups	14 elements in 11 groups
Min distance(m)	0.35	0.38
Lens length(mm)	102	99
Max diameter(mm)	100	100
Filter Size(mm)	95	95
Weight(g)	850	810
Lens hood	Dedicated bayonet hood	Dedicated bayonet hood
Lens mount	HASSELBLAD-H	HASSELBLAD-H

HCD 4/28 lens specification PDF

Reference links

Update history

2024.8.30
2024.03.24
2022.04.04

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