To introduce you to the Hasselblad brand, I could say: to the moon and beyond. Because these were (among many other things) the cameras in charge of photographing the passage of the human being on the moon. Not bad as a cover letter, don't you think?
Hasselblad cameras were designed during World War II and are still being produced today for a select (and lucky ? ) group of photographers.
They are medium format cameras for professional use, with truly impressive resolution and color as standard. Do you want to know this photographic brand in depth? Go for it.
Within this guide you will find:
WHAT IS HASSELBLAD?
Hasselblad is a photography brand specializing in professional-range medium-format cameras.
Currently we are talking about digital cameras, but in the beginning they used 6x6cm reels. Ansel Adams himself , for example, was one of its star users, but like him, many great photographers have trusted this brand specialized in medium format cameras.
Hasselblad continues to bet on the medium format converting it to the digital world, seeking to maintain the impressive image quality that its large sensor gives to digital, portability and connectivity needs.
WHERE IS HASSELBLAD'S HEADQUARTERS LOCATED?
The headquarters are located in Gothenburg, Sweden. It is where these cameras are manufactured, cared for down to the last detail. To get to know this brand in depth, I recommend that you dive into these three chapters where you can see the philosophy, the design process, and production and testing.
HASSELBLAD'S HOME: THREE CHAPTERS INTRODUCING HASSELBLAD.
Design philosophy behind the X series:
Design process and materials:
Production and testing:
As of today, Hasselblad has three different systems: the X for mirrorless cameras, the H for SLR cameras, and the V which combines a digital back with Hasselblad's smallest camera.
HASSELBLAD X-SYSTEM
The Hasselblad X series is the most compact series in terms of camera size. They are medium format mirrorless cameras with a more portable will than other series. To this day, the only camera in this series is the Hasselblad X1D II 50C.
HASSELBLAD X1D II 50C
The Hasselblad X1D II 50C is a mirrorless medium format digital camera focused on delivering the highest image quality in a compact format. It is aimed at advanced or professional photographers.
It has a 50MP CMOS sensor, a 14-point dynamic range, a 3.69 MP OLED viewfinder, 2.7K recording, or 2.7 fps.
The weight of this camera is 650 g, it has a 3.6″ touch screen, WI-FI connectivity and double card slot.
Its price is around €6,000.
You can take an in-depth look at it here.
GALLERY OF IMAGES TAKEN WITH THE HASSELBLAD X1D II 50C:
HASSELBAD X SYSTEM OBJECTIVES
For the Hasselblad X series you have the following optics:
- XCD 4/21:21mm lens with a maximum aperture of f/4.
- XCD 3.5/30:30mm lens with a maximum aperture of f/3.5.
- XCD 4/45P:It is the lightest of the lenses for medium format cameras. It has a 45mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f/4.
- XCD 2.8/65:With a 50mm full frame camera equivalency, this is a bright and versatile lens with a focal length of 65mm and an aperture of f/2.8.
- XCD 1.9/80:Hasselblad's brightest optic, with an aperture of f/1.9 and a focal length of 80mm.
- XCD 3.2/90:Ideal for portraits, this lens has a focal length of 90mm and an aperture of f/3.2.
- XCD 3.5/120 MACRO:A 120mm macro lens with a maximum aperture of f/3.5.
- XCD 2.8/135:A short telephoto with a Full Frame equivalent focal length of 105mm and an aperture of f/2.8.
- XCD 3.5-4.5/35-75 Zoom Lens:A zoom lens with a focal length of 35 to 75mm and a maximum aperture of f/3.5.
HASSELBLAD X-SERIES ADAPTERS
The XH adapterIt is used to mount the HC or HCD system on the X series.
The fifteenth adapterIt is used to make V-series lenses compatible with the X-series.
The XPan Adaptermakes the XPan system compatible with the X series.
HASSELBAD H-SYSTEM
The Hasselblad H-System is made up of professional-grade medium format SLR cameras up to 400MP. This series currently has three cameras: the 6D-100C, 6D-50C, and the H6D-400C.
HASSELBAD 6D-100C
A 100MP medium format SLR camera, with up to 15 stops of dynamic range, ISO up to 12,800, with WiFi connectivity, 90º reflex viewfinder, weighing 2,105 g and 4K video.
You can buy it for about (attention) €34,680.
There is also the Hasselblad 6D-50C which is the same version but with 50MP at a price of around €15,000.
HASSELBLAD H6D-400C MULTI SHOT
This impressive camera is capable, through its multiple shooting system, of achieving images of up to 400MP. Absolutely stunning sharpness.
It has a 100MP CMOS sensor, 3″ touch screen, double memory card slot, WiFi, 15 points of dynamic range or 4K recording. On the other hand, it generates very large images, so it needs very high-capacity and very fast SD cards, as well as high-capacity hard drives.
The approximate price of this Hasselblad is €40,000.
You can see it in this video:
HASSELBAD H SYSTEM OBJECTIVES
For the Hasselblad H series you have the following optics:
- HCD 4.8/24:24mm Ultra Wide Angle optics and a diaphragm aperture of f/4.8.
- HCD 4/28:28mm lens with an aperture of f/4. Equivalent to a 19mm in Full Frame.
- CH 3.5/35:35mm lens with a maximum aperture of f/3.5.
- HC 3.5/50 II:The full frame equivalent of a 35mm. A versatile optic ideal for reportage, street photography, etc. It has a maximum aperture of f/3.5.
- CH 2.8/80:A versatile lens with an f/2.8 aperture.
- CH 2.2/100:A very bright short telephoto with an aperture of f/2.2.
- HC MACRO 4/120 II:A very versatile macro lens with a 120mm focal length and an f/4 aperture.
- HC 3.2/150 N:A short telephoto ideal for portraits, with a focal length of 150mm and an aperture of f/3.2.
- HP 4/210:An ideal telephoto lens for portraits, commercial or nature photography. With a maximum aperture of f/4.
- HP 4.5/300:The longest focal length in the H-series, this telephoto lens is ideal for shooting birds and other wildlife. It has a maximum aperture of f/4.5.
- HCD 4.0-5.6/35-90:A very versatile zoom lens with a focal length of 35 to 90mm and a maximum aperture of f/4 to f/5.6.
- HC 3.5-4.5/50-110:The other option of the H series in terms of zoom lenses is this one that ranges from 50mm to 110mm and has a maximum aperture of f/3.5 to f/4.5.
HASSELBAD V-SYSTEM
Hasselblad's V-System combines a digital back with Hasselblad's smallest camera.
HASSELBLAD 907X 50C
The Hasselblad 907X 50C is a digital back for converting most older Hasselblad models to digital. It came to light to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing which, as I already mentioned in the introduction, featured these cameras famous for surely capturing the most iconic photographs in history.
This camera is very similar in design to the old Hasselblad formats and consists of two devices, one is the 907X body, Hasselblad's most compact, and the other is the 50MP CFV II 50C digital device. It has 50MP, 14 steps of dynamic range, 2.7K video recording, dual card slot, ISO 100-25,600 and weighs 740g.
You can get this Hasselblad for about €6,600.
You can watch a short presentation video below:
You also have it in an anniversary kit edition version:
This kit has an approximate price of €15,500and add a grip to the cameraand a viewfinderspecific, as well as a different finish from the rest of Hasselblad in honor of its special commemorative edition of the first trip to the moon.
HASSELBAD V SYSTEM OBJECTIVES
For the Hasselblad V series you have the following optics:
- XCD 3.5/45:A versatile lens equivalent to a 35mm in Full Frame. It has an aperture of f/3.5 and a focal length of 45mm.
- XCD 3.2/90:An ideal lens for portraits due to its 90mm focal length and f/3.2 aperture.
- XCD Macro 3.5/120:An ideal macro lens for portraits or close-up photography. It has a focal length of 120mm and an aperture of f/3.5.
- XCD 2.8/135:A short telephoto 135mm equivalent to a 105mm at Full Frame with a maximum aperture of f/2.8.
- XCD 4/21:An ultra-wide-angle prime lens with an aperture of f/4.
- XCD 3.5/30:A wide-angle lens ideal for landscapes with a maximum aperture of f/3.5.
- XCD 4/45P:A versatile and very light lens, equivalent to a 35mm Full Frame, with a maximum aperture of f/4.
- XCD 2.8/65:With its 65mm focal length (50mm full frame equivalent), this lens is the closest to the human eye and has an aperture of f/2.8.
- XCD 1.9/80:Ideal for portrait, landscape, or product photography, this 80mm with an f/1.9 aperture is one of Hasselblad's brightest lenses.
- XCD 3.5-4.5/35-75:A 35mm to 75mm zoom lens that covers wide angle to medium focal length. Its maximum aperture is f/3.5.
It is clear that Hasselblad cameras are not for everyone. Due to the impressive size of its sensors, the image quality (and their weight), the price of the lenses... They are aimed at very professional use and for large enlargements or products that need extreme sharpness.
However, they are mythical cameras and, for those who have such sums, they will have a camera that is not only excellent in terms of image quality and optics, but also has a careful construction down to the smallest detail, is intuitive and easy to use, focused on the basic settings, something that coincides with other photography brands such as Leica .
