After a year and four months of waiting, photographer Daran finally acquired the long-awaited XCD 2.5/90 lens. Following over two months of actual shooting and usage, Daran will delve into his thoughts and personal experiences with this lens, while also analyzing three different Hasselblad telephoto lenses and sharing his insights with everyone.
The main language of the document is Chinese. If there are any inappropriate parts in the English version, please forgive us.
XCD 2,5/90V
Telescope like a lover in a dream
The XCD 2.5/90 is the third lens in the V series, with an equivalent field of view of 71mm. Compared to the XCD 1.9/80, this is a relatively lightweight portrait lens (551g). With an aperture of F2.5 and a focal length of 90mm, it can produce stunning background blur, making it particularly suitable for portrait or still-life close-ups, showcasing a remarkable sense of depth.
Medium format high-speed
Inter-lens shutter
Portrait
Bokeh
。。。
。。。
Initiate a though
When my family went to South Korea at the beginning of 2023, I brought along the XCD 1.9/80 and XCD 3.5/45. I thought it would be a great combination to have a wide-angle and a large aperture lens, but after the entire six-day trip, I only took about 20 photos with the XCD 1.9/80. Most of the time, I preferred using the XCD 3.5/45 for shooting.
I have not had the experience of using heavier lenses in my photography work. Even if the lenses are heavy, as long as the results are good, I don't think there is any problem. However, when the theme is travel, I realized that the weight and size have a much greater impact on me than I imagined. So I decided to sell the XCD 1.9/80 and wait for the XCD 2.5/90.
。。。
Encounter
I have not had the experience of using heavier lenses in my photography work. Even if the lenses are heavy, as long as the results are good, I don't think there is any problem. However, when it comes to travel photography, I realized that the weight and size have a much bigger impact on me than I imagined. So, I have decided to sell the XCD 1.9/80 and wait for the XCD 2.5/90.
。。。
Image Quality
If you want a lens that can produce super creamy bokeh, then the XCD 2.5/90 may not be the best choice. The XCD 1.9/80 or other full-frame telephoto lenses may yield better results. Therefore, the main purpose of choosing medium format lenses like this is to...
" From a close-up perspective, it has excellent bokeh and extremely high-quality imaging!"
The XCD 2.5/90's standout feature is its smooth and clean bokeh! The lens designer has strived to give the blur a soft feel, ensuring that the blurring of branches and lines does not appear chaotic. In lens design, sharpness and bokeh are two opposite indicators, and I believe that the XCD 2.5/90 has achieved a good balance here, allowing the presentation of details to stand out well within the blurred bokeh.
If the emphasis is on "image quality," then there is little difference in the performance of medium to long focal length lenses. The basic image quality performance of various manufacturers will be above standard. However, the advantage of the large medium format sensor will further enhance this foundation.
"The performance of the XCD 2.5/90 is quite good, as it is able to open the aperture at any distance while still delivering fine image quality."
。。。
Travel
When comparing the "absolute image quality," the XCD 1.9/80 performs better than the XCD 2.5/90 in terms of MTF. However, in practical use, the difference is not very significant. One noticeable aspect is the desire for "portability." If there is space in your bag, you would not hesitate to put the XCD 2.5/90 in it. But if it's the XCD 1.9/80, some mental preparation is needed, even though its image quality is extremely excellent.
XCD 2.5/90 equivalent to 71mm is an interesting field of view, which feels like stepping back about 50mm with the composition. For friends accustomed to using standard lens perspectives, it may take some getting used to. If paired with XCD 2.5/55, the equivalent difference between XCD 2.5/90 is 43mm vs 71mm. Bringing these two lenses together when going out ensures that the field of view doesn't feel too close, making it a pretty good combination. On the other hand, XCD 2.5/38 and XCD 2.5/90 may be more suitable for friends who enjoy traveling with both wide-angle and small telephoto ends (30mm vs 71mm), allowing for greater variation in the field of view.
。。。
Colors
Using the Hasselblad X system over the past few years, the color presentation has finally maintained a consistent level of experience. There is no difference in color rendition when transitioning from X1Dii to X2D, thanks to the Hasselblad Natural Color Solution (HNCS). This solution ensures that Hasselblad's colors have their own presentation standard, unaffected by different generations of image sensors or camera bodies.
To evoke the so-called "Hasselblad natural colors," it is necessary to use the original software, such as Phocus on desktop or Phocus Mobile 2 on mobile. However, for handling a large number of photos over an extended period, the most familiar and efficient option is still to use Lightroom.
For me, the Hasselblad Natural Color Solution allows me to work with files from a Hasselblad camera in Lightroom with minimal adjustments needed. I only need to make precise adjustments to basic exposure and color temperature, while the rest is up to the photographer's preferences and settings.
In other words, when frying steak, the texture of the steak (visual quality) produced from different parts (color science) is different. Additionally, there is no need to make various adjustments. Even if you apply your favorite style file, the effect of the photo presentation is also quite good.
。。。
What is this lens suitable for?
Compared to the other two V lenses, the XCD 2.5/90 is a lens with a more "specific purpose." Telephoto lenses are originally designed to capture closer images, so if you want to achieve the following effects, the XCD 2.5/90 performs very well:
Shooting half-body portraits
Close-up still life photography
Achieving a stronger bokeh effect
Shooting from a relatively far distance
The XCD 2.5/90 also has very good micro-contrast, which allows for smooth transitions of "tonal gradation" between highlights and shadows, extending the texture and delicacy of the image.
I have to mention that the 100-megapixel medium format sensor in the Hasselblad is really impressive. Apart from its strong ability to capture details, it also has a dynamic range of up to fifteen stops (compared to the usual fourteen stops in full-frame sensors), meaning it can present a wider range of details in the highlights and shadows of the image.
XCD 2.5/90 is Hasselblad's latest V-series lens. The biggest difference from the old version is that it uses a new focusing module. Here's what the official website says about it:
"The new generation focusing module design adopts linear controlled stepper motor and a lighter and smaller focusing lens group, effectively eliminating backlash when the lens group moves, making the focusing response lighter, faster, more flexible, and precise. Combined with X2D's phase detection autofocus (PDAF) technology, the focusing lens group can quickly reach the focusing position, achieving precise stopping. "
The focusing speed is three times faster than the previous generation products." Stating that the focusing speed has increased threefold should be the theoretical optimal value. The actual situation will depend on the usage scenario. It should be faster than XCD 1.9/80 by about twice, considering that the lens group of XCD 1.9/80 is large and heavy, making it inherently slow. XCD 3.2/90 itself is a lens with very fast and accurate focusing. However, the old focusing module is prone to causing focus hunting (X1DII only has Contrast-based focusing) situations.
The new focusing module of the XCD 2.5/90 will mostly achieve accurate focus in one go, with fewer instances of front or back focus issues. However, it's important to note that "fewer" does not mean very few. When the focusing object is at a distance of over 10 meters and the lighting conditions are not optimal (such as low contrast in the scene, or when the object's color is similar to the background), there is still a certain probability that the Hasselblad's focusing system may generously present you with a "missed focus." Nevertheless, compared to the previous generation, the improvement is significant, which may bring tears of joy to Hasselblad enthusiasts.
。。。
X2D's face detection autofocus
Since the X2D update added face detection autofocus, the experience with Hasselblad medium format has been elevated to a new level. In scenes with people, the improvement is evident, making Hasselblad enthusiasts almost shed tears of joy.
In the past, when using single-point autofocus with the X2D, capturing people required careful selection of the closest focus point. With the high resolution of the medium format sensor, even slight blurriness became remarkably apparent when magnified.
With the XCD 2.5/90 and face detection autofocus activated, the process is simple and reliable. Due to the short focus range, as long as a face is detected, focusing is instantaneous. While not as rapid as Sony cameras and lacking continuous eye tracking autofocus, this does not hinder the excellent performance of the XCD 2.5/90. In my own experience, when capturing moving scenes, a deep press of the shutter button results in a fairly good success rate for achieving focus.
。。。
Summary
The Hasselblad X series is still a relatively young camera system, and within this medium format lens lineup, there are options such as:
XCD 2.5/90
XCD 3.2/90
XCD 1.9/80
If the budget allows, I would prioritize recommending the XCD 2.5/90. It is a lens that best meets the comprehensive needs of photographers, with a compact size, lightweight, a reasonably wide aperture, the latest generation of autofocus motor, and most importantly... its aesthetic appeal.
If the budget allows, I would prioritize recommending the XCD 2.5/90, which is the best lens that meets the comprehensive needs of photographers. It has a compact size, lightweight, a relatively large aperture, the latest generation of autofocus motor, and most importantly... it looks really handsome~
The XCD 1.9/80 is the top lens in terms of specifications, with absolutely outstanding image quality. However, the weight and size need to be considered for practical usage. Additionally, due to the heavy lens elements and an older type of focusing module, the focusing speed is relatively slow. This lens is suitable for those who demand ultimate image quality and are willing to bear the burden of size and weight.
The XCD 3.2/90 is a lightweight lens with a maximum aperture of 3.2, allowing for excellent portability. Despite being an older design, it is one of the fastest-focusing lenses among older models and delivers outstanding image quality. This lens is suitable for those in need of a mid to long-range focal length but with a limited budget, as it offers high-quality imaging at a relatively lower cost.
In the end, what kind of style will the photos taken with a medium format camera present? I wonder.
Medium format photography not only pursues background blur, but also emphasizes presenting details, causing viewers to involuntarily focus on the various elements in the image and savor them carefully.
Using a Hasselblad medium format camera to take photos is a delightful and elegant experience. If you also want to shoot at your own pace and enjoy the taste of photography, consider trying the Hasselblad X2D or 907xCFV 100C. This is definitely a worthwhile investment for enjoying life.
。。。
Specifications
Hasselblad XCD 3.2/90 Lens Specifications: Lens focal length: 80.5mm 35mm camera equivalent focal length: approximately 71mm Lens aperture range: f/2.5-f/32 8 groups, 10 elements optical structure, with internal focusing Minimum focusing distance: 0.7m Maximum magnification: 1:6 Dual motor structure, built-in central leaf shutter Filter size: 77mm Lens dimensions: 100mm×77mm Weight (excluding lens hood and cap): 619g
