Leica S2 with 50-90mm Hasselblad zoom

[Willy ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I bought a Hasselblad 50-90 millimeters zoom plus a Leica-to-Hasselblad adaptor to use with my Leica S2. It is a gently used equipment, and it appeared to work fine until a close comparison showed otherwise. As it turns out, there might be a focusing issue - not on the Leica side as it just recently came back totally recalibrated from Germany. I noticed that the pictures do not come out the same way at the same focal length (70mm) and at the same aperture as they do with the Leica lens. There is a perceived loss in sharpness/crispiness that prompted me to look into this.

 

I do understand that Leica has superior lenses with better rendering and superior micro contrasting, and maybe my expectations are exceeding the factual Hasselblad reality. Nevertheless I'm trying to give the lens a fair shot and I am looking for someone who can give the Hasselblad zoom some TLC.

 

Can anyone recommend someone (maybe even in NYC) that could give the zoom a thorough one-over?

Edited May 26, 2016 by Willy ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°

[jip]

Try manual focussing the lens, if the problem persists it's not the AutoFocus but simply the lens thats not as good as the Leica counterparts...

 

I've tried the 80mm HC against the 70mm from Leica and the 80 is a WHOLEEEEEEE LOT softer. 

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[ynp]

Unfortunately I have no experience with the Hasselblad 50-90mm zoom, I have never heard about such a lens.

 

I shoot a 50-110 HC and used the modern 35-90mm HCD lenses and optically they are very good. The 35-90 HCD is a little bit sharper on the S2, and that is mostly noticeable at landscape distances. Both Hasselblad H zooms are very capable, but the S lenses are better.

Maybe checking the lens would be a good idea.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[mwilliamsphotography]

Presumably you meant the Hasselblad HC 50-110 zoom?  That particular lens is a fairly old model and due for a make-over to keep up with 100 meg cameras, but still quite capable.

 

What is missing is Hasselblad's proprietary micro adjust to correct focus shift. It is actually part of each camera's firmware programed with each HC and HCD lens' characteristics, and was originally referred to as True Focus ... now called True Focus APL (absolute Position Lock). This micro adjust was demonstrated to me by a camera Tech in studio while doing some super critical Multi-Shot table top product photography. You can hear the AF motor making very brief adjustments by itself. 

 

Some Hasselblad H lenses are not up to comparison with the S lenses in terms of acuity ... but others are. The newer HC50/3.5 is every bit as good as the S45/2.8. The HC/150N and 210/4 are also very, very good.  Personally, I prefer some of the S lenses for their rendering characteristics ... on the other hand, I've used the S100/2 and the HC110/2.2 and liked the rendering of both lenses but the HC lens showed more CA than the Leica ... in support of the HC lens, it has central shutter and has a higher sync speed than the S100, which is 1/125.

 

I stopped using any H lenses when I sold my H4D/60 ... I prefer the continuity of look and feel across the S lens line-up.  

 

I also suggest that you should have the H lens checked. 

 

Edited May 27, 2016 by fotografz

[Willy ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°]

First of, YES, I meant the Hasselblad HC 50-110. Thanks for the correction. Second, thanks for the primer on the firmware advantage. Should make a HUGE difference. Last but not least, I certainly will have the lens looked at. Willoughby's in NYC has offered me their services. Maybe some of their TLC will give me more satisfying results. After all, it's a Hasselblad lens, and no matter the superiority of Leica lenses, I am sure I'll be able to squeeze more quality out of it.