Using Hasselblad CF Lenses || How To

[@CalumetVideo]

Can’t beat a Hasselblad! I just bought one and it’s amazing. The lenses are top notch.

[@flatsixcyl]

Thanks- I thought I’d broken my DOF preview but you showed me how it actually unlocks!

[@IsraelPrivateGuide]

Great video! You did a great job explaining the depth of field preview button and how it works. Saved me. Really.

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Glad it helped!

[@christinandfilm7657]

That's a tripod head right there. Wooooo

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Got to have a good head for nice gear.

[@andyvan5692]

good video, but one more tip: for extension tubes ( all V cameras, no matter the vintage) ALWAYS mount tubes to CAMERA then add the LENS, and when removing, LENS FIRST, NO tubes, just lens alone, then the tubes. the tension of the lens's shutter spring will 'fire' it if the tube is removed with the lens attached to it, jamming them together, having to necessitate the coin trick to reset the shutter drives inside the assembly.

[@misia-oo6320]

Hi Nico, Happy New Year ! and thank you so much for your help. Super informative. Question: where did you buy your table tripod ?

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Its home made.

[@Xingqiwu387]

THE BEST lenses ever!

[@khanscombe619]

Brilliant review. What would you suggest is the most basic , budget friendly,easy to obtain used market V mount lens just to experience on a student budget?

[@d.c.sheets2592]

Really helpful -- had that exact issue you described with the lens not being cocked before trying to attach to the body. Thank you!

[@obican]

5:42, it actually opened the lens all the way up. You're thinking of the C lenses where you have to flick the aperture open to disengage the DOF preview. With the CF lenses you can just disengage the DOF swich.

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Good eye! Im so used to C lenses that it just came out wrong.

[@obican]

@@NicosPhotographyShow Same for me, I was doing some work while mostly listening to the video and watching it with the corner of my eye but when I heard what you said, I had to pause and think "Wait, my 50mm CF FLE doesn't do that... Maybe there are different versions that are unannounced?". Then I had to rewatch that section and yep, someone's is thinking of the C lenses :) I quite prefer the C lenses as well, they are cheaper, usually lighter, better looking and I prefer the interlocked aperture/shutter speed rings since I love working with EV. Only exception I have is that 50mm CF FLE because I don't like how the C versions of that lens require Series VIII filters and they are a bit heavier as well, especially the silver version. On top of everything, I use all Hasselblad lenses on digital cameras for product photography, which means a lot of close focusing and the FLE version really makes some difference there.

[@eladbari]

@@obican Quick question about focusing: Isn't it easier to focus when the DOF preview switch is on? It seems so hard to focus when the lens is previewing your frame constantly on 2.8 (even when you shoot @f/8). Any thoughts?

[@obican]

@@eladbari I've always found it to be the opposite of what you've described. Yes, previewing at f/8 will give you a more realistic view but it's also a lot harder for me to judge where exactly the focus distance is. It might be right on the subject, it might be slightly in the front or back... Very hard to judge unless the aperture is wide open.

[@eladbari]

@@obican Well, what I thought was- if you preview your composition @f8 - then you will indeed get your true focusing range. Therefore, even if you twist your focus ring a bit forwards/backwards- you will still be in focus. But, who knows? Maybe you could still not be tack-sharp

[@anandk199]

Just got a 150mm f4 and had to learn what all those rings did.. thanks for the video.. Btw, what tripod ball head is that? Looks incredible

[@ghosttownsentinel5288]

At 1:28.....whaaaaat? Nico, explain hyper focal on that barrel again! And what is a focal PRESS shutter? Do tell.

[@EverTokki]

Whats the light meter in this video? Does it work well, or would you recommend the one in your amazon storefront?

[@wateradventures]

Thanks for the awesome videos . What is better? The 80 mm C or the 80mm CF ?

[@westonharby165]

CF lens are sharper but cost more. The CFi lens are even better still but again cost more.

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

I like the rendering of the older glass in B&W but for modern look I prefer the CF glass. Its quite a personal thing, but both are great.

[@wateradventures]

Nicos Photography Show I have both but I have to get rid of one and I’m trying to decide

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Its never easy to take a side. I have both too.

[@rick_eeh]

@@NicosPhotographyShow when you said older glass, is it the one C with T* or C non-T*? I am planning to own one myself too, but i am still confused if i should get a kit 80mm with C T* (or maybe non-T*) or CF cause i dont see a lot of comparison review for both

[@Murdog36]

Awesome! Nice to know about the depth of field preview

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Glad you liked it!

[@raulakis35]

Great video Nico! One question the pcsync in my 80 mm is not triggering my Godox flash I tried with the 120 mm and works perfectly… any idea ??

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Sync ports are often busted, try to get it serviced.

[@raulakis35]

@@NicosPhotographyShow thank you!

[@chilecayenne]

Hi Nico...another VERY helpful episode!! A quick question please, with regard to the DOF preview switch. Should it be in open or "closed" position when you take your pictures or does it matter? I've got a 501CM, an the 80mm, 150mm and the 50mm CFi. But I can't find anywhere if I should have the DOF switch to one position or another when you actually are exposing the film to take the picture. Can you help me out? Again, thank you in advance and really learning a lot from your show!! Stay safe! CC

[@tobiaglorio]

Hi, i’m not nico but i’m too a photographer that knows his ways in to the analog world ahah. When you take the picture you should put the DOF preview switch to “open”, the blades will close down to the desired aperture when you take the shot. Hope that this will be helpful to you!

[@eladbari]

@@tobiaglorio Isn't it easier to focus when the DOF preview switch is on? It seems so hard to focus when the lens is on 2.8 all the time (even when you shoot @f/8). Any thoughts?

[@tobiaglorio]

@@eladbari that’s a good question! The reason why you should prefer to focus at the widest aperture (DOF preview open) is that in doing so you are sure you achieve critical focus and you can see better in the viewfinder. You just need some practice, but then again if you are doing landscape you can focus by using the metrical scale on the lens, cause you are shooting above f8. Anyway you can do whatever you want if it works for you!

[@eladbari]

@@tobiaglorio It's a nightmare sometimes to focus manually on medium format..but, i get it. Key word here is critical focus. If I preview my shot as an f8 - my margin to see any errors in focus - is pretty wide. Vs. previewing my image at f2.8- where margin/gap of being focused is smaller- so it forces me to pinpoint my focus. I did nail my focus on my first Hassy roll, but the time it took me...man. Too long. There are some Autofocus medium format cameras out there [Contax, Mamiya, maybe more? I understand not so many models], yet, they're all 645 or 67. I like the 6x6 format a lot, yet, it seem to be outnumbered in the market for options

[@raulakis35]

Nico thanks again for this video! I have been using the 80mm CF T* lens and everytime I use it my film comes in blank as if nothing was taken. While when I use my 150mm lens it works perfectly... any idea what maybe happening? they guys in the store tell me that it appears that my film is not being exposed. Do you think it has something to do with the green button?

[@artemnadyozhin9430]

If you could tel more about FLE marks on the FLE CF lenses please

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

I will try and get my hands on one and show how it works and what it all means.

[@andyvan5692]

Nico, @7:04 you MUST check the winding crank FIRST, to be sure the shutter is cocked, otherwise you WILL jam the camera!!, then you are free to remove the lens.

[@ivaa7777JAWA]

Great video

[@Moonrakerd]

thats one GIGANTIC ball head :D

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

It is. Made by Cambo.

[@1989Goodspeed]

Briliant video 👍

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Thank you!!

[@tomasperpetuo9036]

thank you very much

[@Heftor]

Justo out of curiosity, I always measure with the light meter for the speed/f, why will you be interested in the ev? It's something from the past or there is any kind of advantage. Thanks in advance and regards...love you content

[@markus4891]

I think it is simpler to just check the EV on the light meter, if you are used to it. I check the EV on light meter and then set my lens to that EV, then you push the button on the lens which locks the aperture+shutter speed to that EV. So if I make a portrait with f2.8 and after that a landscape shoot, I can use the same EV value and only have to look at the light meter reading once.

[@Heftor]

@@markus4891, thanks for the reply, i was asking because this is the only lens that allow me ev setting, my other cameras ( 35 mm ) you have to set speed and f...Thanks again

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

EV is useful if you use lenses with EV values, if not you need to learn the values in F stops and shutter speeds and it can be a bit more hassle. Fun to use but maybe not as practical.

[@Heftor]

@@NicosPhotographyShow thanks for the reply, Nico

[@eyebidder]

Does anyone know what the Green letter F on the shutter speeds means on CF lenses and how to use it? Thank you

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Its to use on the focal plane shutter hasselblads, like the 2000FCW and such.

[@justcheryl5568]

Good video. I actually learned something.

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Glad I could help

[@danmandel7453]

i'm looking to buy a cf lens. there are those with the green 80mm written on them and those where it's written cf in gray and the 80mm in a light blue. is there any difference?

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Not that I know.

[@ronijarvensivu1597]

Nico do you happen to know where one would be able to buy the rubber focusing ring for a 80mm cf lens?

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Sadly I think there are no spares unless you contact your local Hasselblad retailer or repair shop.

[@ronijarvensivu1597]

@@NicosPhotographyShow Thank you for replying! I've asked the local places including camerastore, so maybe I'll just live with it. Purely cosmetic problem.

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

A friend of mine put some leatherette on it and so far so good. Its the main issue with the new lenses.

[@ShwaShwaShwa]

i know im late but is it possible to take self portraits with the lens? would i just have to flick the shutter to "T" and just press the shutter button? or do i need a different lens that has the V feature to take self portraits?

[@angelisone]

Just a release cable will work

[@CertainExposures]

Nice video, thanks. I might rent a blad for a week next year just to get the G.A.S. out of my system. This could be useful.

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

You will really like the system... beware

[@andyvan5692]

Nico, at 8:09 one more indicator for "ready to shoot", the body has a white dot in a viewing window, near the film back flange, to remember the conditions, think, WHITE is RIGHT!!, RED is DEAD, or about to be.... for film or the lens will jam if you attach/detach now.

[@andyvan5692]

yes, but nico the wide lens has a centre filter, and is a screw thread, NOT bay-on-ett (how you say it, you said buy-on-ett!!); but this should be included inside the lid of the leather cylinder it comes in.

[@healingambient3317]

I just got a 500cm and the macro 120mm f4 lens, the lens seems to be stuck at the F setting and I cant seem to unclick it, am I missing something obvious?

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

You have to press the green button to move it, if I remember correctly.

[@MB-or8js]

Thanks for the video. I never use the EV scale on the CF lenses since they are in such inconvenient place to read. Easier to determine the aperture/exposure setting from the EV value directly on the meter and copy this on the lens settings (ignoring the EV scale on the lens). Most cumbersome is the DoF preview: the stopping down is easy but releasing it by pushing is cumbersome and can get stuck. I avoid using this feature.

[@WalmyrBuzatto]

DoF preview button is stuck in my Makro-Planar 5.6/135. I pushed it once and it never came back. Is there any trick to unlock it, or do I have to send the lens in for a repair?

[@Daniel-Duarte]

Lenssssssssses!

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Lots of lenses!!!

[@andyvan5692]

@ 7:03 STOP!!- ALWAYS check the winder first!!, if the camera isn't cocked the lens will jam on you!!, so it is safer to try and wind, if it doesn't, fine, but best to be safe. ( if there is film in the back, and you don't want to advance, OR you have just changed lenses, or want to test the shutter: REMOVE the back, then wind, or fire the shutter then re-install the back ( don't forget the dark-slide :-) ).

[@angelisone]

ATG/Asia tried to help by owning Hasselblad with Fuji lenses. The downfall of Hasselblad because they refused to listen to ATG.

[@stevedotg3965]

Hasselblad lenses are designed to be stored cocked. Hasselblad advises keeping lenses cocked. Storing lenses uncocked can lead to jammed lenses. I have sold and used Hasselblad camera for decades, ALWAYS STORE HASSELBLAD CAMERAS AND LENSES COCKED.

[@stevenvanhulle7242]

I have a Hazzelblad 503CW.

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Same principles for the lenses.

[@stevenvanhulle7242]

@@NicosPhotographyShow Yeah, well, they're Hazzelblad lenses too, obviously. 😊

[@NicosPhotographyShow]

Yeah, the 503CW is one I have never used before. Last one made, great camera for sure.

[@GreatLittleStories]

Just want to say thank you. I am from malaysia and both a film and based photographer, you have a new subscriber! do check out our family channel if you like.