I like wider lenses myself, just bought the CB 60mm Distagon as my first lens. I remember when I had my first Hasselblad with the 80mm that I always wished for something a little wider. Have you ever tried it?
I am agree with you. The 50mm is a lens that is not immediately understood but, once learned, it can very well become a standard lens for doing many things. On the other hand it looks like a 35mm in the small format, which the great masters of the street photograpy have always used as standard lenses.
I don't think the lens has barrel distortion to speak of, it is very well corrected. If there is any, it is negligible and I can not complain about. But at 21mm equivalent focal length of a 35mm film frame, it does have a wonderful spread of near and far objects in a scene. Really helps in creating dynamic landscape shots. And the color render and micro contrast is absolutely amazing! Anyway, good video to watch. You showcased the capabilities of this 50mm FLE lens quite well here.
I prefer 35mm lens over 50mm field of view myself. The only thing that makes 50mm lenses easier to use is the brighter aperture along with the smaller size. Even if it's darker and heavier, the 35mm is my first choice.
I have the 50mm 120mm 150mm I use the 120 more than the other two by far. It focuses close and is very crisp and sharp and the focal length makes a great all around lens.
When not shooting my SWC 38mm, I shoot with a 60mm 90% of the time on my 500cm. It's overlooked and my secret weapon that few others seem to think about or use. I've taken it all over the world. I own three 80mm lenses (came with the bodies) but never felt the need to shoot with one. For me, the 60mm is the sweet spot.
I see it the same way you do. I have the 50mm lens and the 60mm lens for my Hasselblad 501 CM. The lens I use the most is the 60mm. I really like this lens because it creates a smaller wide angle effect compared to the 50mm lens. With the 50mm lens, I'm always afraid that unwanted distortions will occur, which happens very easily when taking portraits when looking for an even more exciting perspective.
Enjoyed your perspective. FYI - I have owned & used a 500 series camera since 1972. I have owned and used every Zeiss lens except the 500mm & 105 ultraviolet. However, I would not consider the 50 lens (28mm equiv) as an alternative to the 80 (45mm equiv). Too much of a focal distance, IMO. If you want an alternative to the 50, I would consider either the 60/3.5 Distagon (35mm equiv) if you want a slightly wider view, or the 100/3.5 Planar (55-60mm equiv) if you want a slightly longer view. Or both!! In fact, IMO again, a well-balanced "kit" would be either the 50+80 lenses, or the 40+60+100 combination. If money were no object, the latter would be the most ideal. In the 1990's my "kit" was the 40, 60, 100, 180. Today (2024) my kit is the "Ansel Adams" tetralogy - 50, 80, 150, 250. In addition, I do also have the CF 40 FLE. Also - I use a B60-77mm adapter plus 77mm lens cap on all my lenses (except the 40 of course), to accommodate larger 77mm filters, which insures no vignetting.
Hi Mickael! Thanks for sharing your experience. I had a 65mm on the Mamiya 7 back in 2009. I was happy with it but in the end I sold it and kept the 80mm. Never used the 65mm on 6x6 but I’m sure it would work fine too. Since that video I haven’t changed my mind about the 50mm. I even bought a Mamiya 6 with a 50mm so I can more easily walk around with that focal length. It works for me, doesn’t mean it has to work for everybody else… I guess I like to get close, and I like a little bit more depth of field :) I’ll share the 50mm pictures I’ve been taking with the Mamiya at some point. It’s an ongoing series that I’m kinda proud of.
I find the 50mm quite challenging to use in the vertical axis since it feels like an ultra wide in this regard (21mm equiv). I use the 60mm as a wide lens, granted it doesn’t give you the “wide” effect of the 50 but to me that’s a positive. Really like the photograph of the people on the ice from above. There the wide vertical coverage of the 50mm was put into great use.
21mm in the vertical axis, 28mm in the horizontal. It’s difficult to compare lenses used for a 3:2 aspect ratio with lenses used for square aspect ratio.
I agree with them. But if you convert it to 35mm format, doesn't the 50mm lens have a focal length of approx. 39 mm. As far as I know, the factor for converting to 35mm is 0.78. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Hi Nico, I loved watching your videos and the really interesting presentation. Just want to make a request if you would be kind enough to do a video of how to connect the Hasselblad you have with a wired or wireless flash for portraiture work. Many thanks. I got a nice 503 CW with only 85mm at present but very keen to get my hands on a few more lenses.Greetings to you and family from Adelaide, Australia.
Hi, I never bought the 100mm f/3.5 because I had that same focal length on my Mamiya C330s (well a 3.5/105mm to be exact). Now I’ve simplified my kit to just the Hasselblad but I haven’t had a chance to get a 100mm yet. It was a great travel/portrait focal length on the Mamiya and I’d expect the same to be true of the Zeiss version.
i have the FE 50, i like it a lot , and its heavy as hell. i would say that the lens feels a little too wide for me to trade it for an 80. i am really curious about the 60mm which would be a nice compromise.
I don’t think getting rid of 80mm is necessary but I do think that you should move in closer with the 50mm. Work on having a tighter composition especially with people.
Hi! Thanks for the tip! Since that video was posted I acquired a Mamiya 6 with a 50mm and shot about 100 rolls through it. So my endorsement of 50mm as a walk around lens for 6x6 is stronger than ever!
@@nicolaslevy2657 Good to hear I’m glad everything is working out. I have a newly acquired 503 CW with an 80mm lens. But I have not had the opportunity yet to get out and shoot with it. Having cataracts has been keeping me home bound so far. I’m hoping that will change by next month, keep your fingers crossed.
Very informative session, thank you. I wanted to ask you regarding the Lupe, does it help more than the magnifying built in the view finder itself (I mean the magnifier which is within the Hasselblad viewfinder?)
After watching this video I bought the same loupe too be honest it wasn't really that different to the close focus magnifier on my 500 CM . I think a 7 or 10 times magnifier would help for those critical focus situations
Thanks, I love these colors! Part of it is the magic of Portra, a bigger part still is shooting in the golden hour. Here in Norway the sun never gets very high in the sky in winter, and by the time you get out to shoot it’s already setting. 😅 Makes for very short sessions but the colors do pop. I scanned these rolls with Epson V850 and silverfast, I use the generic color negative profile and then tweak the curves and the color settings a bit.
Thank you for this review Nicolas. We call environnemental portrait shot with wide angle lens. I like to be closer to the model shooting with my distagon for shoulders portrait or american portrait and the 50 is good for this framing try it. Colors rendition is great in the cold way and it is a very sharp and contrasty lens at f8. It is a keeper. Have a good year 2024
Hey wondering if the image in the viewfinder is blurry when at f4 and focussed to infinity for you. I just bought this lens and was surprised when I was looking through that anything further than 6 meters looks blurry at Infinity.
Hi. When focused at infinity, only things beyond at least 15m are in perfect focus. When focused at infinity and looking at the center of the frame with a 5x loupe, the position of the floating element doesn’t make any difference. (Maybe it does on film, but nothing I can notice through the viewfinder). Some lenses are capable of focusing a little bit beyond infinity. I’ve heard different reasons for this : to adjust for UV light in astrophotography, or to compensate for the metal parts of the lens expending/contracting under extreme temperatures. I don’t know if that’s the case for the 50mm CF.
@@jackmorris3314 Do you have other lenses? Do they focus right? Could be something in your camera that is out of adjustment. Maybe the ground glass isn’t fitted perfectly … etc… Can you focus the lens properly at other distances? Is it only a problem with infinity?
Hi, very good review imo. I want to buy exactly the same lens model. Can you explain me or make a video about the FLE function? I don't really understand that. You can focus closer or can you correct the corner distortion/sharpness with that?
If I remember right, the claim is that the fle improves corner performance when set correctly. The way to use these lenses is : - First estimate the distance and set the fle ring to the right range. - Then you can focus with the focus ring like any other lens. The distances on the fle ring are not very precise. Just ranges of distance, for example on the 50mm : 0.5m to 0.8m, 0.8m to 1.2m, 1.2m to 4m, 4m to infinity. It’s quite simple to figure out which range to use.
Recently I've started using the 40mm FLE lens as my standard lens. With that said, I'd never sell a Hasselblad lens. They'll be a time where you want to use it and you won't have it. The 80mm is expensive on the secondary market as well.
Nicolas, thank you for making videos on Hasselblad's other lenses. So many videos show the 80mm only. Is there any chance you could do a detailed video on using the 40mm FLE lens? I am especially interested in all of its rings and such for filter attachment. I know there are a few different items screwed to the front of the lens
Hi, I can make a quick video on that stuff. The thing is I only make a vid once I have nice pictures to illustrate... so it means I’d have to go out and shoot the 40mm for a week or two first.
![[UNCUT] “บอสณวัฒน์” ลากไส้!! ใครหนุนหลัง "แม่ตั๊ก ป๋าเบียร์" I คนดังนั่งเคลียร์ I 30 ก.ย. 67](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QlD7mU2KKRk/mqdefault.jpg)
Fantastic video! Looking to pick up one of these 50mm to go with my 80 & 150 kit
Wow! I’m glad I stumbled upon your channel! I hope I’m like you when I’m older, pet bird, Hasselblad and living in Norway! You have a very cool life!
Hahah. Thanks for the compliment I guess? Looking back, I think I arrived where I am by making all the “wrong” decisions! ;)
I like wider lenses myself, just bought the CB 60mm Distagon as my first lens. I remember when I had my first Hasselblad with the 80mm that I always wished for something a little wider. Have you ever tried it?
Great tip with the Lupe !
I am agree with you. The 50mm is a lens that is not immediately understood but, once learned, it can very well become a standard lens for doing many things. On the other hand it looks like a 35mm in the small format, which the great masters of the street photograpy have always used as standard lenses.
I don't think the lens has barrel distortion to speak of, it is very well corrected. If there is any, it is negligible and I can not complain about. But at 21mm equivalent focal length of a 35mm film frame, it does have a wonderful spread of near and far objects in a scene. Really helps in creating dynamic landscape shots. And the color render and micro contrast is absolutely amazing! Anyway, good video to watch. You showcased the capabilities of this 50mm FLE lens quite well here.
I prefer 35mm lens over 50mm field of view myself. The only thing that makes 50mm lenses easier to use is the brighter aperture along with the smaller size. Even if it's darker and heavier, the 35mm is my first choice.
this is medium format, a 35mm lens would be outrageously expensive and would be way too wide to be used for most subjects.
I have the 50mm 120mm 150mm I use the 120 more than the other two by far. It focuses close and is very crisp and sharp and the focal length makes a great all around lens.
When not shooting my SWC 38mm, I shoot with a 60mm 90% of the time on my 500cm. It's overlooked and my secret weapon that few others seem to think about or use. I've taken it all over the world. I own three 80mm lenses (came with the bodies) but never felt the need to shoot with one. For me, the 60mm is the sweet spot.
I see it the same way you do. I have the 50mm lens and the 60mm lens for my Hasselblad 501 CM. The lens I use the most is the 60mm. I really like this lens because it creates a smaller wide angle effect compared to the 50mm lens. With the 50mm lens, I'm always afraid that unwanted distortions will occur, which happens very easily when taking portraits when looking for an even more exciting perspective.
NO, its the fastest lens in the line up
Enjoyed your perspective. FYI - I have owned & used a 500 series camera since 1972. I have owned and used every Zeiss lens except the 500mm & 105 ultraviolet. However, I would not consider the 50 lens (28mm equiv) as an alternative to the 80 (45mm equiv). Too much of a focal distance, IMO. If you want an alternative to the 50, I would consider either the 60/3.5 Distagon (35mm equiv) if you want a slightly wider view, or the 100/3.5 Planar (55-60mm equiv) if you want a slightly longer view. Or both!!
In fact, IMO again, a well-balanced "kit" would be either the 50+80 lenses, or the 40+60+100 combination. If money were no object, the latter would be the most ideal.
In the 1990's my "kit" was the 40, 60, 100, 180. Today (2024) my kit is the "Ansel Adams" tetralogy - 50, 80, 150, 250. In addition, I do also have the CF 40 FLE.
Also - I use a B60-77mm adapter plus 77mm lens cap on all my lenses (except the 40 of course), to accommodate larger 77mm filters, which insures no vignetting.
Hi Mickael!
Thanks for sharing your experience. I had a 65mm on the Mamiya 7 back in 2009. I was happy with it but in the end I sold it and kept the 80mm.
Never used the 65mm on 6x6 but I’m sure it would work fine too.
Since that video I haven’t changed my mind about the 50mm. I even bought a Mamiya 6 with a 50mm so I can more easily walk around with that focal length.
It works for me, doesn’t mean it has to work for everybody else… I guess I like to get close, and I like a little bit more depth of field :)
I’ll share the 50mm pictures I’ve been taking with the Mamiya at some point. It’s an ongoing series that I’m kinda proud of.
I find the 50mm quite challenging to use in the vertical axis since it feels like an ultra wide in this regard (21mm equiv). I use the 60mm as a wide lens, granted it doesn’t give you the “wide” effect of the 50 but to me that’s a positive.
Really like the photograph of the people on the ice from above. There the wide vertical coverage of the 50mm was put into great use.
50mm is 21mm equivalent or 28mm ?
21mm in the vertical axis, 28mm in the horizontal.
It’s difficult to compare lenses used for a 3:2 aspect ratio with lenses used for square aspect ratio.
I agree with them. But if you convert it to 35mm format, doesn't the 50mm lens have a focal length of approx. 39 mm. As far as I know, the factor for converting to 35mm is 0.78. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Thank you for posting this video.
Hi Nico,
I loved watching your videos and the really interesting presentation. Just want to make a request if you would be kind enough to do a video of how to connect the Hasselblad you have with a wired or wireless flash for portraiture work. Many thanks. I got a nice 503 CW with only 85mm at present but very keen to get my hands on a few more lenses.Greetings to you and family from Adelaide, Australia.
Hi, sure, I can do a little video about strobes, but there isn’t much to say.
@@nicolaslevy2657 Thank you Nico. I'll look forward to it.
excellent photography!!! will you ever do one on the 100 3.5? I am sure you could get great shots out of it
Hi, I never bought the 100mm f/3.5 because I had that same focal length on my Mamiya C330s (well a 3.5/105mm to be exact). Now I’ve simplified my kit to just the Hasselblad but I haven’t had a chance to get a 100mm yet. It was a great travel/portrait focal length on the Mamiya and I’d expect the same to be true of the Zeiss version.
yes :)
i have the FE 50, i like it a lot , and its heavy as hell. i would say that the lens feels a little too wide for me to trade it for an 80. i am really curious about the 60mm which would be a nice compromise.
I don’t think getting rid of 80mm is necessary but I do think that you should move in closer with the 50mm. Work on having a tighter composition especially with people.
Hi! Thanks for the tip! Since that video was posted I acquired a Mamiya 6 with a 50mm and shot about 100 rolls through it. So my endorsement of 50mm as a walk around lens for 6x6 is stronger than ever!
@@nicolaslevy2657 Good to hear I’m glad everything is working out. I have a newly acquired 503 CW with an 80mm lens. But I have not had the opportunity yet to get out and shoot with it. Having cataracts has been keeping me home bound so far. I’m hoping that will change by next month, keep your fingers crossed.
Very informative session, thank you.
I wanted to ask you regarding the Lupe, does it help more than the magnifying built in the view finder itself (I mean the magnifier which is within the Hasselblad viewfinder?)
After watching this video I bought the same loupe too be honest it wasn't really that different to the close focus magnifier on my 500 CM . I think a 7 or 10 times magnifier would help for those critical focus situations
Yep it does
Wow these colors are so nice. Did you scan them on a flatbed? How did you manage to archive these colors?
Thanks, I love these colors!
Part of it is the magic of Portra, a bigger part still is shooting in the golden hour. Here in Norway the sun never gets very high in the sky in winter, and by the time you get out to shoot it’s already setting. 😅
Makes for very short sessions but the colors do pop.
I scanned these rolls with Epson V850 and silverfast, I use the generic color negative profile and then tweak the curves and the color settings a bit.
@@nicolaslevy2657 Luckily I just bought a pack of 160 portra to shoot with my rz67. I will definitley give silverfast a try
30mm & 50mm. The loop a brilliant fix, mate.
I would be curious to see a comparison between the 50mm and the 60mm :)
Me too, but I don’t own the 60 at the moment... 😅
@@nicolaslevy2657 and the 60mm CF is now more expensive than the 50mm FLE 🤦♂️
Thank you for this review Nicolas. We call environnemental portrait shot with wide angle lens. I like to be closer to the model shooting with my distagon for shoulders portrait or american portrait and the 50 is good for this framing try it. Colors rendition is great in the cold way and it is a very sharp and contrasty lens at f8. It is a keeper. Have a good year 2024
Head and shoulders with a 50mm sounds wild! I’ll give it a shot!
Thanks for the video! May I ask what the painting on the right of the frame is?
Hi. The artist name is Renate Thor.
I bought it there : www.toomanyprints.shop/shop/p/renate-thor-birdie-bl
Some great shots. Thanks for the video.
Hi, what shutter speed do you find you have to shoot at with this lens to achieve sharpness? thanks
Hi, 1/125 is sharp. I’ll go down to 1/60 if I have to…
Hey wondering if the image in the viewfinder is blurry when at f4 and focussed to infinity for you. I just bought this lens and was surprised when I was looking through that anything further than 6 meters looks blurry at Infinity.
I’m not sure if it’s just the floating element isn’t working but everything seems to be working and moving inside the lens
Hi. When focused at infinity, only things beyond at least 15m are in perfect focus.
When focused at infinity and looking at the center of the frame with a 5x loupe, the position of the floating element doesn’t make any difference. (Maybe it does on film, but nothing I can notice through the viewfinder).
Some lenses are capable of focusing a little bit beyond infinity. I’ve heard different reasons for this : to adjust for UV light in astrophotography, or to compensate for the metal parts of the lens expending/contracting under extreme temperatures.
I don’t know if that’s the case for the 50mm CF.
@@jackmorris3314 Do you have other lenses? Do they focus right? Could be something in your camera that is out of adjustment. Maybe the ground glass isn’t fitted perfectly … etc…
Can you focus the lens properly at other distances? Is it only a problem with infinity?
I would love to make the switch from my 80mm to a 50mm. Do you have any advice on buying these lenses used?
KEH or Canada Camera in Los Angeles. Good luck!
Hi, very good review imo. I want to buy exactly the same lens model. Can you explain me or make a video about the FLE function? I don't really understand that. You can focus closer or can you correct the corner distortion/sharpness with that?
If I remember right, the claim is that the fle improves corner performance when set correctly.
The way to use these lenses is :
- First estimate the distance and set the fle ring to the right range.
- Then you can focus with the focus ring like any other lens.
The distances on the fle ring are not very precise. Just ranges of distance, for example on the 50mm : 0.5m to 0.8m, 0.8m to 1.2m, 1.2m to 4m, 4m to infinity. It’s quite simple to figure out which range to use.
@@nicolaslevy2657 Awesome, thank you for your quick response. :)
Recently I've started using the 40mm FLE lens as my standard lens. With that said, I'd never sell a Hasselblad lens. They'll be a time where you want to use it and you won't have it. The 80mm is expensive on the secondary market as well.
Nicolas, thank you for making videos on Hasselblad's other lenses. So many videos show the 80mm only. Is there any chance you could do a detailed video on using the 40mm FLE lens? I am especially interested in all of its rings and such for filter attachment. I know there are a few different items screwed to the front of the lens
Hi, I can make a quick video on that stuff. The thing is I only make a vid once I have nice pictures to illustrate... so it means I’d have to go out and shoot the 40mm for a week or two first.
@@nicolaslevy2657 Certainly, take your time! That would be great! 🙂
No. Please no