First test
PRICE: £3559
HASSELBLAD.COM Hasselblad XCD 2,5/25V Hasselblad’s XCD 2,5/25V is a wide-angle, wide-aperture prime promising great low-light results. We take a look
TESTED BY PETE TOWNSHEND
PHOTOGRAPHY IS A subjective pastime. Everyone has an opinion on almost everything, but few would argue against Hasselblad’s design and build quality. Having said that, the same proportion would agree you should never judge a book by its cover – so let’s see whether the Hasselblad XCD 2,5/25V lives up to its looks (and its £3559 price tag). This lens joins the XCD V series as the widest in the line-up with a full-frame equivalent focal length of 20mm and a brand-new leaf shutter, enabling flash sync up to 1/4000sec. When such a wide focal length is combined with a bright maximum aperture of f/2.5 and Hasselblad’s 100-megapixel medium format sensor, you have all the makings of a great night, astro and interior photography lens. The XCD 2,5/25V follows in the sleek and sophisticated footsteps of its V series siblings. Its solid, metal body feels reassuringly cool in-hand and the smooth focus ring snaps softly, but assuredly forward to enter manual focus, revealing an etched focus scale in the process. Like other models in the V series, it boasts a control ring which can be
resolution medium format set-up, is very comfortable indeed. The lens is constructed of 13 elements in ten groups, including four aspherical elements and three ED elements, which are all designed to minimise chromatic aberration and distortion. This was clear in the results, which revealed excellent optical performance overall, including great contrast and clarity; a linear stepping motor helped out in this regard when using AF. It was accurate and fast for a medium format lens – if a little on the noisy side. Sharpness was also great across the frame throughout the aperture range, and there was no evidence of coma when using the lens for astrophotography. The XCD 2,5/25V is yet another example of how far medium format photography has come in a relatively short period. What minor bugbears I did encounter are a small price to pay for all the positives. The power and ability offered in such a small package is astonishing – and its high-quality build makes it a joy to use. Should you buy it? Absolutely. Can you afford it? Possibly not.
programmed to adjust a number of different settings. The obvious choice is aperture, and with the inclusion of a switch that changes between stepped and smooth operation, Hasselblad is evidently keeping videographers in mind. This optic has been designed to possess enough resolving power to complement 100-megapixel sensors, so I paired it up with the X2D 100C body; the set-up felt good in-hand when out and about. A big part of these lenses being dubbed ‘V’ for versatile is that they are compact and lightweight. The XCD 2,5/25V upholds that promise, weighing in at a highly respectable 592g. This made for an overall weight of just under 1.5kg, which, for a high-
“The XCD 2,5/25V follows in the sleek and sophisticated footsteps of its V series siblings”
SPECS › In the box Lens, lens hood, front and rear lens caps and protective pouch › Construction 13 elements in ten groups › Special elements Four aspherical and three ED › Full-frame equivalent focal length 20mm › Aperture range F/2.5-32 › Minimum focus 25cm › Maximum magnification 0.17x › Filter size 72mm › Dimensions (dxl) 75x105mm › Weight 592g
Verdict The XCD 2,5/25V is built for a purpose and it does that with style. With a wide angle of view, bright aperture and high resolving power, this lens is a great fit for nightscape, astro and interior photography. PROS Sharp, fast, wide, lightweight and weather resistant CONS Minimal barrel distortion and AF could be faster and quieter
BEAUTY IN THE BUILD The XCD 2,5/25V offers a full-frame equivalent focal length of 20mm, making it ideal for photographing architectural marvels
Issue 116 | Photography News 37
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