Hasselblad X2D + XCD 2.8/135 + 1.7x TC | Landscape Photography with Tele Compression

[@rodriguezahr]

The first image with the foreground is the winner.

[@mathphotographer]

:)

[@RogerGaloubet]

I've had the 135 + 1.7x for almost 3 years now and regard it, along with the 120 macro, as one of my two favourite lenses. I got my X2D 100C body three months ago and the 135 lens combination has never been off the camera body. Together they are great for medium distance wildlife photography and also for close up photographs; remember this lens focusses down to just 1m. I have just two niggles. The focussing ring (in my case) was too loose but I've solved that by putting an adjustable neoprene damper ring over the rubber. It wasn't worth complaining to Hasselblad about it. The second is that I find the auto-focus very haphazard with the X2D especially at low light but not exclusively so. I was expecting it to be much better. It seemed pretty good when attached to my X1D body but I guess that's because on the X1D there is the option of near/far/full focussing. The 135 +1.7x plus the X2D comes out as rather heavy especially with the tripod mount attached. But I leave it attached with a 120 deg swivel (but with some rubber covering the rather sharp mount plate) as it makes an ideal carrying handle.

[@mathphotographer]

Many thanks for sharing, Roger. Much appreciated and helpful for others on the channel.

[@mhc2b]

I also own the XCD 135 + 1.7 converter as well as the X2D. Always good to see "positive" reviews about equipment one owns! Three inquiries - 1. Your final images are always so sharp, smooth and clean. What software, or process, are you using for the images you show in your videos, and what are you using to blend your multiple exposures together? They always have such a pleasant, unique appearance, unlike anything else I normally see on You Tube. 2. I find that the converter can wiggle loose inside the tripod mount on occasion, particularly if I rotate from horizontal to vertical. Even just by moving the rig around while tripod mounted, the converter can slide back a few mm's inside the mount. The only solution is to re-set the mount, and re-tighten. Was wondering if you've experienced this yet? 3. More of an FYI for you - I also own the HC 300/4.5 telephoto lens. If you happen to also own this lens, be advised that the XCD 1.7 converter CAN be used successfully with this lens, yielding a usable 510mm telephoto lens. Although it does limit you to an approximate f8 maximum aperture! Note - Since the HC300 has its own built-in tripod mount, you don't need the additional tripod mount, but you do need, of course, the XH adapter in addition.

[@mathphotographer]

On 1: I use Lightroom CC for post-processing with lots of plugins, e.g., from DxO. On 2: Yes indeed, that's a bit tedious to re-adjust and tighten again. On 3: Many thanks for sharing!

[@erick9762]

Hello Math, thank you for this video. I have some questions about protection filters: what is the color impact of UV filter as your Zeiss UV T* filter? Will a clear filter (for exemple: B+W Clear Filter MRC Nano) have less impact on the color? Thanks in advance

[@Paul-jb6rk]

I doubt a high quality multi-coated filter will effect the colors in any observable or measurable way.

[@mathphotographer]

I agree with Paul, I do not see noticeable difference with or without filter. The filter quality is super high, Its Carl Zeiss T* coated.

[@ashvarma2486]

Great video as always. Many thanks for sharing

[@bmwohl]

This was a very nice tutorial on how you imagined the picture for your client and then tried different lenses and different weather opportunities, each time getting closer. I hope you post the final photograph, and perhaps even tell us about how you chose your post processing if any. The level of detail was thrilling.

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks so much!

[@gurugamer8632]

Hello I need to ask I have the Leica m11 And Sony A7RV is it worth buying the Hassleblad X2D?

[@lizlana4200]

The Hassy has 16bit raw files vs the 14. Doesn’t even compare in image quality

[@UListenHere]

Hello and many thanks for the informative and detailled video. I have a general question. I am not sure if the X2D and the XCD lenses, especially the 2.5 v55 is weather sealed or not? Can You, please, tell me Your opinion, knowledge or impression. That would be great! I have the X2d with XCD 2.5 55mm since 2023.03.15 :-) But I would be so great if both, camera and lense, are weather sealed. Thank You very much and thanks again for advice Peter

[@mathphotographer]

Hi Peter, all XCD lenses are weather-sealed as well as the X2D and its predecessors. Means it will resist splash water and dust - but of course is not really water-proof. But shooting on a rainy day will be ok. Happy shooting :)

[@UListenHere]

@@mathphotographer Thank You very much , that means a lot for me. I buyed a X2D with the 2.5 55v and love to hear this. Thank You very much 🙏😊 Happy Easter 🐣 🍀

[@hitandmissphotolab]

Thank you for your channel! I have always wondered why you don’t work with the Leica S3, what make you decided going over the Fuji or Hasselblad instead the S system, thank you!

[@mathphotographer]

I have a video about the Leica S3 on my channel, you can easily find it. But the Leica S3 was given to me by Leica for testing it, I do not own a Leica S3. The reason is, as said in my video about that camera, that Fuji and Hasselblad Medium Format provides much more for less money. Having said that, the Leica S3 provides brilliant image quality and there are various pro photographers who have the S3 as their main camera and produce fantastic images with it.

[@ducgerard2361]

One more great vidéo! Just one Question is it possible To use the Old 250mm on a x2d?

[@mathphotographer]

All old Hasselblad lenses can be used on the X2D with a suitable adapter. Thanks Duc.

[@NetvoTV]

How do you get clients to shoot certain part of your country for them, how kuch do they pay you and if it is include the trio too?

[@BigAppleEmperor]

I recently purchased the same setup, and I noticed the autofocus without the teleconverter is spot on, however with the teleconverter mounted, the focus is off most of the time even on a tripod, I can switch to manual focus and get pin-sharp images, it has the latest firmware, are you experiencing the same problem. Thank you for putting up all the content, I enjoy all your videos.

[@mathphotographer]

Thank you Alex. With the TC the focus is hunting forth and back but in my case when focus is found (green focus field) it sits correctly.

[@jean-claudemuller3199]

Sometimes hunting occurs with low light or low contrast subjects due to the light loss in the extender, but focus is always dead on with my X1D and 907X

[@PeeGeeTips]

Was hoping to see you assemble the converter to the 135mm as I’ve not seen that process before with this specific combo. I had considered this combo but actually opted for the Pentax 645 150-300 zoom, incredibly sharp and lightweight, but e-shutter only, flexibility is key though as your video has shown. Plus they can be acquired for about 200-300 from Japan in amazing condition.

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks for sharing. I missed that mounting procedure, will include next time when doing a comparable video, thanks for pointing out.

[@anthonyrock5039]

A wonderful lens that I have my eye on vs the 90v2.5/ 90 3.2 for portraits. I use this tripod mount ring with my 0,8 and HC 50-110. I actually like weather in your image hehe thank you for sharing your journey!

[@mathphotographer]

Yes - the weather provides a "dramatic" element into the image :) Thanks Anthony.

[@anthonyrock5039]

@mathphotographer Hehe, though I do understand that the client's desires are always right ✅️ 😅 ☁️ 🌤 ⛰️

[@mathphotographer]

@@anthonyrock5039 Exactly :)

[@gordonjohnston684]

Can you use the telly converter with the new 90mm lens

[@My-Opinion-Doesnt-Matter]

Is it KZbin, or the X2D renders images like smartphones, smudges all fine details to remove noise?

[@anthonyrock5039]

It is the effect of KZbin compression. By the time you are viewing the image, it is still 8 bit on your screen and thus image details crushed down to the quality of your viewing device or as you put it. Your mobile phone. The best viewing options for these images are print or highest monitor quality and KZbin quality option.

[@mathphotographer]

It is the KZbin compression and the way KZbin processes videos. Unfortunately there is nothing I can do against that, sorry.

[@lizlana4200]

@@anthonyrock5039you practically answered your own questions

[@Paul-jb6rk]

Curious why you didn't consider using a polarizing filter for these shots?

[@mathphotographer]

Correct Paul, that would have even better. I need to repeat this shot anyway and likely use then a pol filter :)

[@GurmeetSingh-fr8uo]

X2D better photos than M11?

[@Photojouralist123]

Great video, my wife bought one last week. Going to use it HK this week

[@mathphotographer]

Happy shooting. In Hongkong go to the hills and shoot the city from the top, the tele compression effect will give you terrific images :)

[@Photojouralist123]

@@mathphotographer thanks 🙏 can I send you some images when I get them?

[@mathphotographer]

@@Photojouralist123 Sure, cool. My mail address is in the "About" section on this channel, just send a link please and I look at your photos. Safe travels :)

[@Fontsman-14]

You have an exceptional wife!😅😅

[@uabpsab]

Excellent review, thx!

[@mathphotographer]

Glad it was helpful!

[@colintraveller]

Leather that comes from the Bridge of weir , Scotland would i be correct ?

[@mathphotographer]

Good question, not sure. Leather yes, were from, no idea :)

[@colintraveller]

@@mathphotographer Have you ever used that £45,000 priced Camera they make ..?? Am curious to know what justifies the price point in terms of Pic Quality etc

[@DonaldHawk]

With so many megapixels what would you lose in a crop with the original with telephoto?

[@anthonyrock5039]

It's quite rewarding easy to calculate actually. If you crop 50% off the image, you lose exactly that in mp. I have played quite a lot with this and my old gfx100s. One of the benefits. When shooting with the intention of cropping though, you would have to be sure that your target is exactly in the center of the frame or it will have the distortion of edges from the difference in zones introduced by the fov of the lens.

[@telemaq76]

the compression is different between 135 and 230 !

[@mathphotographer]

First of all, Anthony is right in his comment, spot-on. Second, of course you could crop in but the compression effect coming from a tele lens changes with changing focal length. So the image impression will be different

[@RamonVaqueroImage]

Good video. Does the 1,7X fit on the 135 only?

[@fredjuengling631]

Yes, currently it fits only the 135mm. Also, Hasselblad does not sell the converter separately so you must buy the entire kit at once if you think you will want the teleconverter.

[@mhc2b]

The XCD 1.7 converter also works beautifully with the HC 300/4.5 lens, yielding a 510mm telephoto on an X camera. It, of course, requires the use of the XH adapter, but does allow use of the lens' leaf shutter, as well as all electronic contacts.

[@RamonVaqueroImage]

@@fredjuengling631 thanks!

[@jean-claudemuller3199]

This extender was designed as part of the optical formula of the XCD135 and thats why there is no visible quality loss for the eye. It doesn't fit any other XCD lens because it enters very deep into the rear of the XCD135. It mounts well on all sort of adapters and I've tried it with some Mamiya 645 lenses as well as the Zeiss CF180 and CF250 super achromat. The sharpness is OK but I had in most cases catastrophic vignetting due to the adapter, the extender tiny front lens isn't close enough to the tele lens resulting in vignetting.

[@mathphotographer]

Nothing more to add from my side, the community perfectly responded to the question :)

[@jaimeduncan6167]

Beautiful.

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks!

[@andyvan5692]

PS: that tripod fitting on the Lens ring, is NOT ARCA-SWISS, it is a special mount plate for hasselblad qr bracket, as with the H and the V system brackets, they are ALL cross-compatable with each other, so if you have one, you instantly can do them all (NOT the X cameras, 907x and X1D as they need a standard tripod plate, they are NOT factory fitted with this plate).

[@mathphotographer]

Yes Andy, you are right and that was my mistake, I already mention in another comment. Thanks for pointing out. It really looks like ARCA Swiss compatible but at the end it did not fit.

[@jean-claudemuller3199]

V System / X-Pan plates are not compatible with H / X plates

[@Xingqiwu387]

When is it ever NOT cloudy in Switzerland?

[@rhettherring4846]

With firmware 3.1 there is significant improvement in speed and focus accuracy.

[@marko_beens]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gmLNZGuFjd1qfac Math, the tripod mount ring (»Bracket XH«) is NOT Arca compatible - it may look like it, but unfortunately, it is not.

[@mhc2b]

Correct. But that goes for ALL Hasselblad shoe plates. Here in the US, RRS & Kirk Enterprises make a shoe plate to adapt the Hasselblad shoe to Arca Swiss.

[@jean-claudemuller3199]

This lens collar goes on no lens at all, but on all original Hasselblad X system adapters/converter and the extender (except the X-Pan adapter). Novoflex make also a slim aluminium Arca plate that fits exactly the length of this lens collar foot. I never remove it.

[@telemaq76]

ah right, i better understand, i was surprised to hear it s compatible. i thought they made a version 2.0 compatible. shame it s not :/

[@mathphotographer]

You are right, Marko. That was my mistake, apologies. It looks like but when trying to fit it there is no match. Thanks for pointing out!

[@deejayiwan7]

Its Leica price teritory... I wonder how it compares to Leica APO-Telyt 135 and Sigma 135 DG DN Art.... Leica is 3.4.... Sigma is 1.8 and 65% cheaper....

[@lizlana4200]

Sigma is not even in the same realm in glass

[@manojbhartigupta6555]

👍❤️👍

[@fredabery3816]

great reviews, but man, you sure know how to make a man envious of the amount of money you have to spend on premium gear!

[@ic5607]

👍

[@LarryGarcia-e3b]

131 Jermaine Points

[@colintraveller]

Imagine if they did a 100-600 or more .. and i won the lotto it's brand i'd be looking at .

[@mathphotographer]

:)

[@sromrell]

✌️out

[@mathphotographer]

:)