I Love my Hasselblads-40mm f4 Distagon

[Nokton48]

Hi All,

I've been selling off part of my accumulation of medium-format gear, and concentrating on building up my Hasselblad system, in addition to my Leicas. Keeping the good stuff!

Back when I photographed weddings on film, I built up quite a Hasselblad system. I decided to go with the older C system, it's like an old friend. So now, I have two 500CMs, two ELMs, 50, 60, two 80s, 100, 120, 150, 250 & 350 lenses. All except the 350 are matching black T*.
Lots of A12, A24, and A70 Film Magazines, and lot of the original accessories (I have the old 70's catalog).

Last week I found this 40mm f4 Distagon Ebay, I called John Van Stelton at Focal Point, it turns out he repaired it back in October, and he told me point-for-point that it was in pretty decent shape. I won it for $475 (with shipping) and that's a steal IMO. I've always wanted the 40 Distagon (this one is not T*) but most seem to go in the $800-$1000 price range. Also I just picked up the original hood for it from KEH, and found a usuable lenscap for it, whilst digging at Midwest Photo yesterday. Anybody know where I can find the original 104mm filters for this Beast:

 

[mfogiel]

I've managed to find only a polarizer, and I saw a yellow filter once on the 'bay... Anyway, I'd suggest to use the filters sparingly, as this one is a bit prone to flare. Even if it is considered the worst version of all the Hassy 40's. I was truly amazed when I made my first roll - this is a shot I made with it, and it is only scanned on V750 - so the colour is not ideal, and no real sharpness transpires, yet, on my screen I could read all of these maps: http://www.flickr.com/photos/59177039@N00/1107575528/sizes/l/in/set-72157601420806061/

 

[35mmdelux]

Ive built up my Hasselblad kit to one 501CM and 60/120mm lenses. Enjoy yours.

 

[sem]

It also work on a sl66. Great lens and a lot to learn on perspektive.
Regard
sem

 

[Nokton48]

I find that with my T* lenses, I still get flare, it is simply minimized. Careful selection of lighting angles helps alot. Your lens looks very sharp to me, and the 40mm perspective is great for Interiors. I carried mine around yesterday, it is a heavy Beast! I've read through lots of old internet threads, most folks seem to think it is capable of great results, in spite of being the worst 40mm, as you say. Soft in the extreme corners, perhaps.

 

[Nokton48]

I've just won two auctions for Hasselblad Zeiss 104mm Bayonet Filters, the UV, and the Yellow, both look great, in the original Hasselblad silver boxes from the 70s. They also made a Yellow-Green, and an Orange. Would like to have an orange.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I find that with my T* lenses, I still get flare, it is simply minimized. Careful selection of lighting angles helps alot. Your lens looks very sharp to me, and the 40mm perspective is great for Interiors. I carried mine around yesterday, it is a heavy Beast! I've read through lots of old internet threads, most folks seem to think it is capable of great results, in spite of being the worst 40mm, as you say. Soft in the extreme corners, perhaps.

I agree on the flare. I have a Hasselblad with the newer style CF lenses, which are T* coated too, and they flare terribly compared to my Mamiya 645 lenses. I have a 645 with several of the newer style (N) lenses from Mamiya and they almost never flare, even without hoods. My Hasselblad lenses need hoods at all times and will flare if there's a light source in the photo, or a window in an interior shot. Its dissapointing because the Zeiss glass is sharper and shows less distortion than the M645 lenses, but the flare is bad sometimes.

 

[Nokton48]

Here's a recent landscape, which I shot with my black 50mm f4 T*. I would have preferred an even wider view, maybe I'll go back (when it warms up) with the 40mm: