Hotwire-Digital :: Get the Best from the Experts

Hasselblad released Phocus 2.5 for Windows on June 22, 2010 as a free download for all users.

Larger preview image available

We really liked this improvement - many times the embedded preview is just too pixelated when zoomed to fit on a larger display like the LaCie 500 and 700 series. Digital techs are able to quickly show Art Directors/Photographers the overall image with better detail without zooming in to show superior information in the shot (although this does require a graphics card with at least 512MB VRAM to perform suitably; preferred are Nvidia and ATI brands with Direct X 9.0c drivers.)

April 26, 2010 by Adam Freedman

Hasselblad HCD 4-5,6/35-90 mm lens 

First, I want to thank John Williams and HotWire Digital www.hotwire-digital.com for allowing me to try this amazing lens. [Editor's note: This is one of our most popular lenses]

I spent 5 days with the HASSELBLAD HCD 35-90 F4-5.6 ZOOM LENS, which is Hasselblad’s newest edition to their lens lineup for the medium format H-System and is a digital only lens.

The lens arrived at my office on Friday and I had it attached to the H4D 40 in minutes. My first impression of the lens is that for a lens that is as large as it is, it weighs very little and is extremely well balanced on the camera body. This surprised me, I use the 50-110 and it is a beast, this lens was effortless to use and easy to hand hold for an extended period of time.

The auto focus was very fast, and incredibly accurate, manual focus was simple with just the right amount of resistance in the focus process. At first I was a little concerned about the 4.0-5.6 aperture range, especially with how wide angle this lens is.  It is a really well designed and thought out lens, you do not reach f5 until around 55 – 60 mm, so the aperture range transitions proportionately throughout the zoom range. This is impressive. My primary work is fashion and beauty photography, so 35 – 90 mm is not necessarily a zoom range I would gravitate towards, this lens is the exception, it is more than up to the task, and would be a great addition for larger shoots that need to cover several models and include architecture or other subject matter. Sessions that include large objects like cars and a model(s) is an ideal use for this lens. In fact, I used it for a shoot in a shop that builds custom race cars, with cars, tools, machinery and a model.  I have to say by the end of the day I wanted to keep the lens. It is the best super wide angle zoom I have ever used. If you shoot architecture or landscape photography I would call it a must own.