Introduction
The Hasselblad XCD 20-35mm f/3.2-4.5 E is an ultra-wide zoom for Hasselblad’s latest medium format cameras. It’s Hasselblad’s widest lens and solely their second XCD zoom. It additionally represents the corporate’s first “E” collection lens, which stands for “unique.” Given all this, the eye-watering worth of $5929 might not be stunning, although it does make it the costliest lens that Hasselblad at the moment sells for the X system.
On Hasselblad’s medium format sensor, the equal focal size of this zoom lens is roughly 16-27mm in full-frame phrases. (The total-frame equal aperture can be roughly f/2.5-3.5.) This places the brand new lens squarely within the domains of panorama pictures, astrophotography, architectural pictures, and environmental portraiture.
Hasselblad states that, regardless of being a zoom, it “delivers the identical excellent picture high quality from edge to edge because the XCD prime lenses.” Given how sharp the Hasselblad V lenses have been in my exams, I used to be keen to place that declare as much as scrutiny.
So, on this hands-on overview, I’ll take you thru the capabilities of the Hasselblad 20-35mm f/3.2-4.5 E and whether or not it deserves the lofty title of Hasselblad’s first “E” lens – in addition to the lofty worth. I examined an early pattern of this lens each within the lab and within the area throughout a visit to Iceland final month. It by no means bought darkish sufficient to see the celebs at evening (so no probability to check astrophotography efficiency but), however I did put it by means of its paces extensively for panorama pictures. Is it value including this lens to your bag? Learn on to seek out out!
Construct High quality
The Hasselblad XCD 20-35mm f/3.2-4.5 E options an all-metal lens barrel, together with the zoom and focusing rings. It feels very reassuring to carry, and the engraved textual content is a pleasant contact each for legibility and longevity. Every little thing about it feels high-end, though it does get fairly chilly for those who’re utilizing it in sub-freezing temperatures like these I skilled in Iceland.
It’s just a little on the big facet, however that’s not stunning given the lens’s focal size and Hasselblad’s prioritization of picture high quality. It weighs 805 g (1.77 kilos) and measures 117 mm (4.6 inches) lengthy. By comparability, the Hasselblad 25mm f/2.5 V – maybe the obvious various to this lens – weighs 592 grams (1.31 kilos) and measures 105 mm (4.1 inches) lengthy.
I used the Hasselblad XCD 20-35mm f/3.2-4.5 E in windy, wet, and humid situations. In essentially the most humid atmosphere of my journey, I did as soon as expertise some inner fogging of the entrance ingredient of the lens. As quickly as I introduced the lens to much less humid situations, the interior fog dissipated over the course of about one hour, and the lens was left with none in poor health results. I ought to point out that this was not the one lens with me that fogged up. The Nikon Z 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ and Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 additionally skilled inner fogging in the identical situations, though the Sony 20-70mm f/4 G didn’t.
Regardless of this expertise, I might be joyful utilizing the Hasselblad XCD 20-35mm f/3.2-4.5 E in harsh climate, and did so typically throughout my time with the lens. In comparison with most ultra-wide zooms, the XCD 20-35mm f/3.2-4.5 has only a few shifting components and feels constructed to final. The entrance ingredient barely strikes in any respect because the lens is zoomed; it recesses by a couple of millimeters at 25mm, then returns to put at 35mm, however that’s all. That is superb for stopping sand, mud, and water from getting into the lens over time.
Dealing with
This lens handles advantageous however doesn’t have the identical variety of devoted controls as among the different current Hasselblad lenses. There are two rings – one for zooming, one for focusing – however no different rings, buttons, or switches. There additionally isn’t a spotlight distance scale like what you’d discover on Hasselblad’s current XCD V lenses. The shortage of a handbook focus change is especially obtrusive, and an extra management ring would have been superb, too.
A serious characteristic of the XCD 20-35mm f/3.2-4.5 E is the leaf shutter. This enables shutter speeds as much as 1/2000 second with flash sync, permitting for environmental portraiture in shiny situations whereas utilizing a flash. Nonetheless, Hasselblad’s different current lenses of the XCD V collection have an upgraded leaf shutter that permits 1/4000 second as an alternative. The distinction might not matter to you in observe, however I discover it stunning that this new zoom – arguably positioned because the highest-end lens in Hasselblad’s system – doesn’t have the identical functionality.
Different dealing with options of this lens embrace a 77mm filter thread, which is sufficiently small to permit the straightforward use of filters and filter holding programs. Many ultra-wide zoom lenses as of late have difficulties utilizing filters, so this can be a good sight on the Hasselblad XCD 20-35mm f/3.2-4.5 E. Nonetheless, I virtually want that they’d gone with a bigger 82mm thread dimension, as a result of screw-in filters can add a little bit of mechanical vignetting on this lens for those who aren’t cautious.
Past that, the lens hood is fairly small and unobtrusive, but it surely’s just a little fiddly to connect within the right place. I like to recommend leaving it hooked up completely when you get it locked in place the primary time. It’s sufficiently small that it doesn’t actually diminish the lens’s portability.
Total, I actually want that there had been a couple of extra handling-related options on the Hasselblad XCD 20-35mm f/3.2-4.5 E. Most of all, it’s stunning to me {that a} almost $6000 lens doesn’t have an auto/handbook focus change of some sort. A customizable management ring would even be anticipated at this worth. I ought to word that each of those options are discovered on Hasselblad’s V-series lenses just like the XCD 25mm f/2.5 V.
Options
Hasselblad has been revamping their lenses lately, with this 20-35mm f/3.2-4.5 becoming a member of the 25mm f/2.5 V, 38mm f/2.5 V, 55mm f/2.5 V, and 90mm f/2.5 V within the firm’s latest lens strains. It additionally enhances the prevailing Hasselblad XCD 35-75mm f/3.5-4.5 very properly, though that lens isn’t a part of the corporate’s “V” or “E” collection, having been formally introduced in 2019.
Are there any alternate options to the 20-35mm f/3.2-4.5 E for those who don’t wish to spend almost $6000 on a lens, although? Circuitously. The XCD 20-35mm f/3.2-4.5 E is Hasselblad’s widest lens in the intervening time, in addition to their solely ultra-wide zoom for the X system. In that sense, it doesn’t have any actual opponents. Nonetheless, there are a couple of wide-angle prime lenses obtainable for those who don’t want the power to zoom.
The XCD 25mm f/2.5 V is maybe the obvious selection given the focal size and shiny most aperture, in addition to how new it’s (although it’s costly at $3700). I gave it very excessive marks in my overview. The XCD 28mm f/4 P is one other intriguing possibility – smaller, lighter, and considerably inexpensive at $1680.
In case your aim is to get as large as attainable, the Hasselblad XCD 21mm f/4 might fit your wants. It has a full-frame equal focal size of 17mm and is at the moment the widest prime lens obtainable from Hasselblad, virtually as large as this zoom – although it’s costly at $3750 and really laborious to seek out.
Amongst Hasselblad’s H System lenses, solely the 24mm f/4.8 and 28mm f/4 are equally large. If you happen to’re utilizing the 0.8x XH converter, you might also take into account the HC 35mm f/3.5, which turns into a 28mm f/2.8 because of the focal size discount of the adapter. All three of those lenses may be up to date to the most recent firmware to permit for autofocus on Hasselblad’s X-mount cameras utilizing the XH adapters.
However on the finish of the day, for those who want an ultra-wide zoom, that is the one choice to be discovered for the Hasselblad X system. If not for the exorbitant worth, this lens can be the apparent selection for Hasselblad customers who wish to use such large focal lengths.
Hasselblad 20-35mm f/3.2-4.5 E Specs
- Full Identify: Hasselblad XCD 20-35mm f/3.2-4.5 E (Hasselblad additionally calls it the XCD 3.2-4.5/20-35E)
- Mount Sort: Hasselblad X
- Focal Size: 20-35mm zoom (16-27mm full-frame equal)
- Angle of View: 108° to 76°
- Most Aperture: f/3.2-4.5
- Minimal Aperture: f/32
- Filter Measurement: 77mm
- Lens Components: 16
- Lens Teams: 12
- Particular Components: 3 aspherical, 4 ED glass
- Anti-Flare Coatings: Sure
- Inner Focusing: Sure
- Inner Zooming: Entrance ingredient strikes inside fastened outer barrel
- Management Rings: Zoom and focus
- Management Buttons: No
- Management Switches: None
- Focus Motor: Linear stepping motor
- Minimal Focus Distance: 32 cm (12.6 inches)
- Most Magnification: 0.16× (1:6.3)
- Mount Materials: Metallic
- Climate/Mud Sealing: Sure
- Dimensions (Size × Diameter): 117 × 81 mm (4.6 × 3.2 inches)
- Weight: 805 g (1.77 kilos)
- MSRP: $5929 (verify present worth)
The subsequent web page of this overview covers the optical traits of the Hasselblad XCD 20-35mm f/3.2-4.5 E, together with picture high quality exams within the lab. So, click on the menu under to go to “Optical Efficiency”: