is it possible to use Hasselblad 500c lenses on the m(240)?

[marcbo]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I still have a 250 mm Zeiss Sonar from my Hasselblad days. Would it be possible to use it on the M 240? with the EVF obviously.

[pico]

See item # 111232367665 on the big auction site.

.

[Advertisement]

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

[bocaburger]

Sure it's possible. Hasselblad-to-Leica R adapter + R-to-M adapter. If it's a C/CF/CFe you would need to trip the lens shutter so it's open of course. I wouldn't hold it by the camera letting the lens and adapters hang free due to the strain on the lens mount, but otherwise no restrictions. I have a Hassy-R adapter laying around somewhere, used to use my Hassy lenses on R bodies way back when.

[marcbo]

Thx. My next question then is: is this a worthwhile exercise considering the obvious shortcomings? Any examples?

[bocaburger]

The only one who can judge if it's worthwhile to you is you. If you already have the M240, an EVF, and R-to-M adapter then the Hassy-to-R adapter is cheap. If you have to buy any of those first three I mentioned just to use the Hassy lens then it throws it into a whole nother economic spectrum.

[pico]

Thx. My next question then is: is this a worthwhile exercise considering the obvious shortcomings? Any examples?

 

 

What shortcomings other than weight, manual aperture and locking the shutter open? [emoji12]

 

Oh, and you need not stack adapters. One will do.

[david strachan]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I had a Hasselblad 500c...wish I kept it.

 

Medium format lens means you'll be using the "sweet" centre part of the lens.

 

OTH I wonder if the extra lens coverage, light bouncing around inside the camera, will cause some flare in the image?

 

Do let us know how well it works.

 

cheers Dave S

[adan]

Keep in mind that medium-format lenses generally do not have as much absolute resolution as most 35mm lenses.

 

For the simple reason that they didn't have to. The negs they produced were only going to be enlarged half as much as 35mm film, for the same final print. Their main challenge was to cover a BIG area with reasonable sharpness for the enlargements envisioned.

 

The 250 Sonnar is one of the softer ones, compared to 250-300 lenses designed for the 24x36 format. It doesn't have a "sweet spot" - it is moderately and equally sharp over the whole 6x6 negative - the MTF graphs are basically just three perfectly horizontal lines. And the MTF at 40 lppm is already pretty low (40%).

 

http://forum.mflenses.com/userpix/20149/4077_Sonnar2502_1.jpg

 

(Note - I love my 250 Sonnar. Used on the format it was designed for.)

 

The very cream of the Hassy/Zeiss line would live up to the M240 - 100 Planar, 180 Sonnar, 250 Superachromat, 120 S-Planar at close distances (< 2 meters).

[marcbo]

I realize that the 250 mm will be softer , certainly compared to a lens like the 50mm Apo. On the other hand I don't need a tele lens so very often. I am now in the process of digitizing 40 years of Hassy negs and I am still impressed by most of them. I switched to Leica because of the weight of a Hassy system and most of all because of the price of keeping up with the system. I still find it easier to compose a picture on a Hasselblad than on the Leica although now with the EVF it's getting better.

[bocaburger]

I still find it easier to compose a picture on a Hasselblad than on the Leica although now with the EVF it's getting better.

 

The only similarity I see between an EVF and a Hassy is the lack of instant return to live viewing after each shot. Otherwise viewing, composing and focusing a V series Blad with an acute-matte screen is in a stratosphere above any EVF currently available.

 

I really have to wonder why anyone who prefers TTL viewing would go to the expense of an M when much of its cost is directly related to that complex precision optomechanical rangefinder.

[marcbo]

Other than weight and price there are several reasons for favoring the M:

1) less distortion in the wide angle lenses, which are simpler in design than Hassy lenses

2) clarity of the lenses which permits easier photography in bad lighting conditions.

3) no need for staging "posing situations" which always drew stern looks on the photos from my children

[bocaburger]

#'s 1) and 2) why not Leica lenses on an A7 costing a fraction, if you like an EVF better than a direct view/rangefinder?

 

# 3) Huh?? I shot wedding candids and other un-posed people pics with a Hassy for years. Eye-level prism to follow the action. Later with my 503CW's I had the motor winder/grip too.

[luigi bertolotti]

Here is a Zeiss Sonnar 250 that :

 

- Is made for 24x36

 

- Is adaptable to Leica M with a single device

 

- Is very good in handling and focusing (there is a fine handgrip , fit to the tripod mount, that allows to move the focus knob with your thumb)

 

. Is a top performer

 

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Edited December 18, 2014 by luigi bertolotti

[ohwahahaha]

I don't have Hasselblad lens, but have tried Pentax 67 lens on my M.

Pentax 67 105mm F2.4

 

Basically taking photo with medium format lens is useable.

But the weight......what a disaster.

 

bienvenue mon flickr

https://www.flickr.com/photos/macamo/sets

Edited December 22, 2014 by ohwahahaha

[marcbo]

I'm quite happy with the Kippon + Hasselblad Sonnar 250mm on my M240 (used with EVF and shoulder tripod:):)

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Philinflash]

Sure it's possible. Hasselblad-to-Leica R adapter + R-to-M adapter. If it's a C/CF/CFe you would need to trip the lens shutter so it's open of course. I wouldn't hold it by the camera letting the lens and adapters hang free due to the strain on the lens mount, but otherwise no restrictions. I have a Hassy-R adapter laying around somewhere, used to use my Hassy lenses on R bodies way back when.

 

This is not correct with respect to the CF (and possibly the CFe) range of lenses which do not have internal shutters.  The lens is always "open."  Whether or not the aperture is fully open or open to the selected f-stop depends on  your having pressed the appropriate side button or not.  As to how you hold the camera, the Kipon HBRing adapter is quite robust and unlikely to suffer "strain" before your hands do.  

 

But then hand-holding a long Hasselblad CF lens steady might be a real challenge.  It really works best on a tripod.  That way, you can use Live View with Focus Peaking to get the best framing and focus.  The rangefinder focus spot is completely obscured by the lens (if you have the 250mm Sonnar on the M) so that is not really an option for focusing.  Also, this combination is so prone to camera shake for an old guy like me that you probably should use either a cable release or the Self Timer (set to 2 seconds) even on a tripod.

 

As for the Hasselblad lenses being "soft", the images seem pretty good to me.  In addition to Marcho's photo above, see the attached image of a building 800 feet away taken with a Hasselblad 250mm CF Sonnar on an M246 Monochrom. While this is a lower-rez JPEG file, you can easily see the individual bricks in the PSD file which is too large to post. 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Philinflash]

Here is what a 250mm CF Hasselblad/Leica M 246 mating looks like.  Rather a handful or even tripod-ful, it is a case of having a Leica back on a Hasselblad lens.  A "Hasseleica"?

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!