Experiences with Hasselblad HC 100mm and the Leica 100mm Summicron-S

[RobertGeorge]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Next month I'm picking up a portrait lens for my S2-p. I've used the 120mm f2.5 extensively, and it's superb; it's also longer, heavy and has a larger focus throw than I'd like for my portrait lens. 

 

85mm has been my favoured focal length on 35mm, so the Hasselblad HC 100mm and the Leica 100mm Summicron-S are the two I'm considering, principally.

 

I'm having great difficulty finding in-depth reviews for either lens, and certainly nothing approaching comparisons out in the web; and I'm sure this is the best place to ask about these two lenses. What is everyone's opinion? Has anyone used both? Any great articles I've missed?

 

Here's the main factors swilling around my head:

 

Central shutter isn't an issue for me.

The S2-p is the only thing I shoot, and the wider the aperture the better as it's going to increase the situations I can shoot in.

Cost is a consideration, but not a deal breaker. I'd love the 100mm HC to be brilliant, as it's cheaper and readily

available second hand, but I can invest more if need be.

Focus speed is important. I've tried the 100mm Summicron and it focuses faster than the 120mm f2.5, but I've found nothing on the focus speed of the 100mm HC with the H adapter.

Wide-open performance is a key consideration. I'll tend to use the lens wide open.

Shutter speed needed for hand-held critical sharpness is also important -- I found the 120mm to require 1/500th in most cases. Are these 100mm more forgiving? I know they're much lighter.

Weight is a thought too -- 4 weeks in New York with the 120mm, I felt it. 

I'm not 100% ruling out the 120mm. It's APO, which I love, and the more I used it the easier it became. It's, like the 100MM HC, readily available second hand. 

 

I'd appreciate any advice, and I'd love to see some sample photos from the 100mm lenses as there's so few out there. 

 

Here's a few of my shots to give an idea of what style I like to shoot:

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/131082506@N07/17669984412

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/131082506@N07/19941375809

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/131082506@N07/19505428024

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/131082506@N07/18382069815

[Advertisement]

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

[jip]

Nice photos,

 

I think you'll be better of staying with Leica S lenses... Unless you already have Hasselblad lenses then it seems logical to just buy the adapter.

 

The S glass is the best there is for on the S bodies...

[fahrenhyde]

I have the HC 100 and the adapter. But it doesnt work, my S shows an error. All my other Hasselblad lenses work fine with the adapter. If I give the HC100 to Hasselblad, they'll put a firmware on it in order not to work with the H-adapter. So both ways it doesnt work. And I dont have my H4D-40 anymore to check functioning with H-cameras (it always did work ..). Plus for the moment I dont have the time to try to solve the issue.

Very, very happy with the 007 and the 30-90 though. Very.

[albireo_double]

Nice pictures, especially the colour portraits. The Summicron S 100 is in your future, it seems. I wouldn't buy HC lenses where there are Leica equivalents, especially if you don't need leaf shutters (having said that, I bought a HC300/4.5 today, to use on my S007...and it works fine..and focuses about as fast as my CS 180). 

[ynp]

If I give the HC100 to Hasselblad, they'll put a firmware on it in order not to work with the H-adapter. So both ways it doesnt work. And I dont have my H4D-40 anymore to check functioning with H-cameras (it always did work ..). Plus for the moment I dont have the time to try to solve the issue.

Very, very happy with the 007 and the 30-90 though. Very.

I have a 50-110 HC zoom and I use it with the H-adapter on my S2 for people shooting. I want to have it serviced because the front element wobbles a little.

 

Does it mean that Hasselblad's newest FirmWare prohibits the lens working with the S-camera? What about the new HC and HCD lenses, are they blocked from use on Leicas?

 

If it's true it will affect a lot of S photographers.

 

Thank you for for the information.

[RobertGeorge]

Lots of good advice. Certainly, I can be sure that the Summicron-S will be fantastic with the S2; I can't say the same about the 100mm HC. And that's probably what will make up my mind. 

 

Does anyone have any good resources on the 100mm Summicron-S? Comprehensive reviews, sample files. I've not really found anything about it outside of Leica's website and a few bits on here during its announcement / release. 

 

I'd love some website suggestions for general Leica S coverage. The one thing I miss from Canon / Nikon days is the wide-ranging coverage of their products. 

 

Rob.

[John McMaster]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

There are some examples in the thread starting from http://www.getdpi.com/forum/leica/21559-s-show-us-your-s2-shots-43.html

 

john

[fahrenhyde]

well my leica rep told me something like that if you give hasselblad a lens for service, they'll somehow make it not work with the leica+adapter (and that leica will surely try to find a solution to that). not sure if this is also within the firmware which can be updated by the user, or some other way. you might want to find some other sources confirming this.

[RobertGeorge]

That's a great thread, John. There's two natural-light portraits in there (the diver and the captain) that have confirmed me on the Summicron-S.

[Dougg]

I have been happily using my 100mm Summicron since last spring, including a road trip down the west coast to San Diego. I used this lens exclusively (hey, it's brand new!) until the AF focusing stiffened up on that trip. It went to the dealer to handle the service issue, came back quickly and works fine now. The lens is surprisingly compact and light, being about 1cm shorter than my 35 Summarit, though a bit longer than the 70mm. It's a fine lens for casual carry. As expected, it's optically outstanding.

 

I was not sure about 100mm, how much I'd use it, and if the expense would be worthwhile for me. So for the 6 months or so before I often used various Pentax 67 lenses of a similar focal length... The 2.4/105, 4.0/100 Macro, 2.8/90mm, and 4.5/55-100 zoom. Of course these are used in a completely manual mode, so I'd occasionally forget to stop down for the photo... but that led to some interesting results anyway! And the results were very good, convincing me to get the Summicron. Glad I did.

[RobertGeorge]

That's good info, Dougg. Great to hear positive testimony. 

 

What shutter speeds do you tend to use to get the Sumicron-S sharp?

[RVB]

I had the HC 100,its pretty good but I would only take the HC over the Summicron if leaf shutters or price were the main considerations,and you already have leaf shutters with the 120 macro.I think the S glass has better contrast.

[albertknappmd]

here is an example of the 100mm f/2 prowess!

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!

[dritz]

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B4yGah2cFENYMHVXZXhDNUFxeEE&usp=sharing

 

Some full-size jpegs. Four are at f2.0, and one at 2.8 (see filenames).

 

For me, if I had a 1 lens kit it would be this lens.  I recently shot an outdoor party, and 90% of the 600 shots were with this lens.  Beautiful, lightweight (compared to the 120), fast focus, and beautiful (worth repeating).  You really have to be right-on for focus at f2.0... tiny depth of field.

 

Regards,

Dean.

[RobertGeorge]

Thanks for the examples, Albert and Dean. Natural light portraits were exactly what I was hoping to see, and failing to find out on the web. 

 

I'm certainly going for the Summicron-S. Any comment on what shutter speeds are needed? Can you shoot a longer exposure than the 120mm (around 1/500) and still get sharp results?

[albertknappmd]

I have been shooting at 1/250 without any issue.

Albert

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!

[jip]

Any comment on what shutter speeds are needed? Can you shoot a longer exposure than the 120mm (around 1/500) and still get sharp results?

 

This just has to do with the focal length and magnification basically. With the S I usually try to stay at 2*focal length MINIMUM so:

 

24mm = 1/45th or 1/60th

30mm = 1/60th

35mm = 1/60th or 1/90th

45mm = 1/90th

70mm = 1/125th or 1/180th

100mm = 1/180th or 1/250th

120mm = 1/250th

180mm = 1/360th 

 

So the 100 compared to the 120 you should maybe gain half a stop of shutter speed to gain same shake free images... plus you have F2 as a maximum instead of F2.5 so you gain a bit in that way as well... 

[gpwhite]

FWIW, I need 1/500 to reliably capture the exquisite detail the 100 can deliver. Many of my 1/350 shots are crisp, but they do not snap like the shots at 1/500.

 

I can handhold 75 Summilux at 1/125, so the S006 is clearly not so stable in my hands.

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[RVB]

This just has to do with the focal length and magnification basically. With the S I usually try to stay at 2*focal length MINIMUM so:

 

24mm = 1/45th or 1/60th

30mm = 1/60th

35mm = 1/60th or 1/90th

45mm = 1/90th

70mm = 1/125th or 1/180th

100mm = 1/180th or 1/250th

120mm = 1/250th

180mm = 1/360th 

 

So the 100 compared to the 120 you should maybe gain half a stop of shutter speed to gain same shake free images... plus you have F2 as a maximum instead of F2.5 so you gain a bit in that way as well... 

I think if the next S has sub 4 micron pixels we'll have to start using 3x FL.

[RobertGeorge]

FWIW, I need 1/500 to reliably capture the exquisite detail the 100 can deliver. Many of my 1/350 shots are crisp, but they do not snap like the shots at 1/500.

 

I can handhold 75 Summilux at 1/125, so the S006 is clearly not so stable in my hands.

 

That's great info, and not unexpected -- I've found 1/500th to be the sweet spot for both the 120mm and 180mm.