Getting Hasselblad on a Budget

[Michael Erlewine]

All of the Hasselblad XCD lenses that I have are very sharp. I would even say that aside from their length, size in millimeters, it almost does not matter which XCD lens I use.

 

In fact, I like the XCD 21mm f/3.5 lens so well it stays on my X2D camera almost all the time. I keep taking it off and trying another, but I find myself soon just putting the XCD 21mm lens back on the X2D.

 

I could almost be happy with just one lens for the X2D, which might help those of you trying to afford the X2D (the expense is great), thus just having to buy one lens which would last for a long time. I can see that as useful.

 

As to which one lens I would suggest, that’s up to your shooting habits, but often the XCD 45P f/4 is suggested, or its earlier sister the XCD 45mm 3.5, which is a tad faster and also more expensive. The 45P XCD sells on B&H for $1099.00 and can often be picked up on Ebay for much less. That’s a low price for a Hasselblad XCD lens that is good, and it is.

 

While the Hasselblad X2D camera retails on B&H for $8199.00, one can pick up that camera on Ebay sometimes for around $7000. I did. In fact, all my Hasselblad equipment, camera and lenses are all used. And they are all in good condition. For some reason folks seem to care for their Hasselblad equipment, perhaps because the know its value, or at least what it costs.

 

I have all the original boxes, notes, bags, etc.

 

As for my ‘new found vision’, for me it is that here I have been struggling for decades to stack focus much of the time. I have over a million stacked photos! Yet, the moment I tried out the Hasselblad X2D I could see with my own eyes that almost everything was already in tight focus.

 

For me, that was a showstopper and time for me to take stock in what I’m doing.

Edited 8 August by Michael Erlewine

[blurmagic]

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I, too, have had a many decades long pursuit of photographic excellence involving the mastery of many (and various) photographic styles.  Each skill set building upon the others, with the end result, an amalgamation of the best of each, resulting in a signature rendering that is my own.

 

Michael, you are the Master of stacked, closeup images.  Don't walk away from them, rather envision how you can apply your newfound Hasselblad medium format experiences into taking your stacked images to the next level.   

 

Maybe make a stacked image of an object on your coffee table, and make a composite with that photo on top of a wide shot of the envirionment with the Hasselblad gear?  Might end up with a 3D effect that's not been seen before?    Or some other such unusual/unique blending of styles???

[Michael Erlewine]

Of course, I understand. I like the idea of breaking the mold of what went before and learning something new, like photographing people. Imagine that!