Introduction
The Hasselblad XCD 75mm f/3.4 P the latest prime lens for the Hasselblad X system. It joins the corporate’s present XCD 28mm f/4 P and XCD 45mm f/4 P lenses within the “Moveable” collection – Hasselblad’s line of smaller, cheaper glass. (Although at $2229, it’s solely “cheaper” relative to the $4000+ Hasselblad alternate options.) At the moment, I needed to supply my full evaluate of the Hasselblad XCD 75mm f/3.4 P and present the way it performs each within the discipline and within the lab.
This focal size is a little bit on the lengthy aspect of regular, making the XCD 75mm f/3.4 P a promising selection for avenue images, journey, and documentary work. As a panorama photographer, I favored utilizing the lens for intimate and close-up landscapes, partly due to the focal size and partly due to the portability. That mentioned, the utmost aperture of f/3.4 is nothing particular, so the XCD 75mm f/3.4 P wouldn’t be my first selection if you need a traditional blown-out background as a portrait photographer. (In full-frame phrases – and the place depth of discipline is worried – it’s roughly equal to a 59mm f/2.7.)
On condition that this lens is a part of Hasselblad’s “P” collection relatively than their “V” collection, it in all probability received’t shock you to listen to that it’s lacking among the firm’s top-end options. Whereas the XCD 75mm f/3.4 P nonetheless has a wonderful leaf shutter with flash sync in any respect speeds, it is Hasselblad’s barely older mannequin that maxes out at 1/2000 second relatively than 1/4000. There additionally aren’t a whole lot of handling-related options, however I’ll get to that later. These compromises are in service of Hasselblad’s objective: to make a light-weight, cheaper lens that doesn’t sacrifice picture high quality. Did they succeed?
So as to reply that query, I examined the Hasselblad XCD 75mm f/3.4 P in depth during the last couple of weeks. Since I used to be working with an early pattern of the lens, I wasn’t capable of hold it for fairly so long as standard, so this evaluate is a little bit slimmer on pattern pictures. In fact, I nonetheless had loads of time to place it by our detailed array of lab exams. In case you’re pondering of shopping for the Hasselblad XDC 75mm f/3.4 P, this evaluate ought to reply your entire questions!
Construct High quality
Though the XCD 75mm f/3.4 P is a part of Hasselblad’s Moveable collection, it’s noticeably bigger than the opposite two “P” lenses we’ve seen thus far. Don’t get me unsuitable, it’s nonetheless on the small aspect, however right here’s how the three evaluate:
- XCD 28mm f/4 P: 245 grams and 44mm lengthy (0.54 kilos, 1.7 inches)
- XCD 45mm f/4 P: 320 grams and 52mm lengthy (0.71 kilos, 2.1 inches)
- XCD 75mm f/3.4 P: 398 grams and 76mm lengthy (0.88 kilos, 3.0 inches)
The XCD 75mm f/3.4 P is clearly the most important of the three. And past the comparability above, this lens is definitely a little bit longer and heavier than the XCD 55mm f/2.5 V, which isn’t even within the Moveable collection! (That lens weighs 372 grams and is 72mm lengthy.)
What offers? Effectively, you’ll see extra on the subsequent web page of this evaluate, however Hasselblad has clearly traded some measurement and weight for picture high quality with this lens. I don’t assume that’s such a foul tradeoff on condition that the lens continues to be fairly small. However should you had been anticipating a pancake primarily based on the “P” within the title, be sure you’re not disenchanted. (And to be honest, it’s clearly a extra compact lens than the XCD 80mm f/1.9, XCD 90mm f/3.2, and XCD 90mm f/2.5 lenses – so among the many “lengthy regular” choices, it is the smallest you’ll discover.)
As for the remainder of the construct high quality options, the XCD 75mm f/3.4 P retains the all-metal development of Hasselblad’s different lenses, and it additionally options in depth climate sealing. I didn’t find yourself utilizing the lens in dangerous climate throughout my time with it, however there are not any transferring components or any indicators that it might fail in harsh situations. Every thing concerning the construct high quality felt very reassuring to me.
Now let’s cowl the dealing with options of the Hasselblad XCD 75mm f/3.4 P.
Dealing with
The XCD 75mm f/3.4 P is a really minimalist lens. There is just one management on the lens – an unlabeled focusing ring – and no buttons, switches, or different controls. If you wish to change to guide focus, you want to take action on the digital camera itself, not on the lens. It’s a clear departure from Hasselblad’s XCD V collection that has a really good autofocus/guide focus mechanism full with a depth of discipline scale.
With a filter thread measurement of 72mm, the XCD 75mm f/3.4 P can share filters with 4 of Hasselblad’s fashionable lenses: the XCD 25mm f/2.5, XCD 28mm f/4 P, 38mm f/2.5 V, and 55mm f/2.5 V. It has a spherical (and comparatively massive) lens hood that, like on different XCD lenses, is a little bit finicky to connect.
As for the leaf shutter, it’s quiet and efficient, permitting you to sync your flash in any respect shutter speeds. Nonetheless, like I discussed within the introduction, it’s Hasselblad’s cheaper leaf shutter that maxes out at 1/2000 second relatively than 1/4000 second. That’s unlikely to be an issue more often than not (particularly contemplating the dim f/3.4 most aperture), but it surely does imply that in edge circumstances like taking pictures a backlit topic towards the solar, chances are you’ll be a little bit extra constrained in your digital camera settings.
General, I can’t say I’m a fan of this lens’s dealing with. The minimalist format isn’t my choice. However that is clearly a lens that Hasselblad designed to be on the lighter and cheaper aspect of issues, and that comes with some tradeoffs. You’ll see on the subsequent web page of this evaluate whether or not these tradeoffs had been worthwhile, not less than the place picture high quality is worried.
Hasselblad XCD 75mm f/3.4 P Specs
- Full Identify: Hasselblad XCD 75mm f/3.4 P (Hasselblad additionally calls it the XCD 3.4/75P)
- Mount Sort: Hasselblad X
- Focal Size: 75mm prime (59mm full-frame equal focal size)
- Angle of View (Medium Format): 40°
- Most Aperture: f/3.4
- Minimal Aperture: f/32
- Aperture Blades: 8, rounded
- Leaf Shutter: Sure, to 1/2000 second
- Filter Dimension: 72mm
- Lens Components: 10
- Lens Teams: 10
- Particular Components: 1 aspherical, 3 ED glass
- Anti-Flare Coatings: Sure
- Inner Focusing: Sure
- Management Rings: Focus
- Management Buttons: No
- Management Switches: No
- Focus Motor: Linear stepping motor
- Minimal Focus Distance: 55 cm (22 inches)
- Most Magnification: 0.17× (1:5.8)
- Mount Materials: Steel
- Climate/Mud Sealing: Sure
- Dimensions (Size × Diameter): 76 x 75 mm (3.0 × 3.0 inches)
- Weight: 398 g (0.88 lbs)
- MSRP: $2,229
- Lowest Sale Seen: $2,229 (examine present worth)
The following web page of this evaluate covers the optical traits of the Hasselblad XCD 75mm f/3.4 P, together with focusing efficiency and sharpness exams within the lab. So, click on the menu under to go to “Optical Efficiency”: