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Technology

Versatile As A Swiss army knife

Hasselblad’s new superstar isn’t even a real lens: The HTS 1.5 took its makers through uncharted The ingenious HTS 1.5 and territory. It’s the first HC/HCD lens shift adapter enables you to tilt by adapter makes it possible for five HC/HCD lenses to tilt and shift. Plus: ever to employ glass elements with ±10 degrees or shift by ±18 mm. a new universal , the HCD 4-5.6/35-90 Aspherical now rounds aspherical surfaces. Aspherical sur- You decide whether you want to faces are known to provide the lens be well-behaved and use it for off the already sizable palette of H lenses. designer with more options, usually perspective corrections or break resulting in more compact designs the rules and place the focal plane with fewer elements. However, it was in unexpected positions by Hanns W. Friedrich and that creates a big enough mar- to the adapter – tilt, shift and rota- only until recently that aspherical gin for tilting and shifting, while also tion – is registered by sensors and lenses could be made to the required preserving the character of the lens. saved in the image meta data. Every sizes. Compared with the HC 3.5- What use is the best with- Mounted on the HTS 1.5, the HCD aberration that arises from the opti- 4.6/50-110, the new zoom lens offers out the best lens? Of course, the lens 4/28 remains a genuine wide-angle cal system as a whole is corrected more wide-angle while being thinner alone won’t create an image – the lens with a 71-degree diagonal and in the computer software thanks to and about one third lighter. digital age shows us the importance corresponds to a 6.3/45. The shift ’s Digital Auto Correc- It is the second HCD lens after the of sensor technology – but it does covers up to 18 mm and the tilt up tion (DAC). The photographer can HCD 4/28. The ‘D’ alludes to optimi- still provide the foundation for the to 10 degrees. Maximum rotation indulge in the HTS 1.5’s wealth of zation for H3D digital while camera and software to build upon. to either left or right measures 90 options without having to fear the simultaneously signifying incompat- The extensive range of Hasselblad degrees and allows for almost any loss of image quality. ibility with film cameras. To achieve HC/HCD lenses covers the profes- form of correction. The adjustment What was formerly limited to compactness, the lens’s light pro- sional photographer’s every need ranges are extensive and allow you to owners of view cameras with narrow jection was adapted to the ‘48 mm with nine fixed focal lengths lenses shift by 18 mm up or down and tilt depth-of-field values is now avail- full format’ sensor of the H3DII-39 ranging from a 28 mm super wide- by ± 10 degrees. able to Hasselblad cameras with their and -50. At the wide-angle setting angle to a 300 mm telephoto lens, Hasselblad has invested a tre- extra-large sensors and outstanding in particular, designers balanced two universal zoom lenses; the new mendous amount of technological HC/HCD lenses. What’s more – and improvements in lens performance tilt and shift adapter; one telephoto know-how into the development of this is the key difference – the DAC against a slightly greater converter; extension tubes and the HTS 1.5. Every adjustment made function guarantees outstanding and as these can be elimi- impressive accessories. The result is images that are completely error-free nated without quality concessions a complete lens gamut teeming with and provides for all the photographic with the aid of DAC. The outcome is solutions for all requirements. Synopsis freedoms you could possibly a powerful tool that zooms between • HC/HCD lenses imagine. There is no limit to your an extreme 83-degree wide-angle and creativity: Correct convergent lines just beyond the fringes of the normal Tilt And Shift cover a wide range of focal in architecture, shift the focal plane lens. Because it is optimized for digi- lengths between 28 and 300 mm Hasselblad’s new lens champion, the in portraiture or adjust the focus and tal use it remains nice and compact and deliver excellent image qual- HTS 1.5 is a tilt and shift adapter that blur on a three-dimensional plane. and relatively light in weight. ity – and so does the new family represents a real feat of cutting-edge The HTS 1.5 shines with technical member, the HCD 4-5,6/35-90 engineering. H photographers have perfection and it will inspire sponta- Aspherical, a very universal and Common aspects always longed for a tilt and shift solu- neity and push you to break the rules compact wide-angle zoom. tion that would tilt the focal plane for interesting effects. It will be avail- All HC/HCD lenses are tailored to and shift the lens’s optical axis to • The new HTS 1.5 tilt and shift able from January 2009. VICTOR’s deliver the highest image quality correct convergent lines. The idea to adapter transforms five HC/HCD next issue will take a closer look. and fulfill even the most exacting develop a universal adapter for exist- lenses into real tilt and shift demands in film and digital photo- ing HC/HCD lenses, however, was lenses without making compro- graphy. They not only compete with mises in image quality. HCD 4-5.6/35-90 a true stroke of genius and one that Aspherical Hasselblad’s legendary CF lenses for Hasselblad has patented: The con- • All HC/HCD lenses are opti- the V series, they beat them. It was verter transforms five different lenses mized for all ranges and thanks The second innovation in the HC/ of utmost importance to Hasselblad into a bona fide tilt and shift. It can to DAC they show extreme HCD range – the new HCD 4-5.6/35- that the HC/HCD lenses deliver high- be mounted with the HCD 4/28, HC sharpness and no vignetting or 90 Aspherical – is a zoom lens that est performance not only at infinity 3.5/35, HC 3.5/50, HC 2.8/80 and distortion on H3DII cameras. sets its engineers some very special but also at close range, where they HC 2.2/100 and is also compatible • Numerous accessories – ex- challenges. Zoom lenses can’t afford are most frequently used. with Hasselblad’s extension tubes. tension rings, a tele converter any weakness, especially when it The patented central The new HTS 1.5 tilt and shift The concept is as simple as it is and the CF-adapter increase the comes to high-quality cameras like mechanism inherent in HC/HCD adapter transforms five HC/HCD ingenious as the HTS 1.5 is also a potential of the lens program. the H3DII. On the contrary, they lenses operates to extreme precision. lenses into real tilt and shift telephoto converter, extending the are expected to substitute for their The fastest of 1/800 sec- lenses, maintaining their excep- of a mounted lens by a fixed-length counterparts without ond is on point and well within the tional optical performance and factor of 1.5. The lens’s image circle is additional constraints. To achieve accepted ISO specifications. Thanks broadening the creative freedom enlarged by that same denominator this, the HCD 4-5.6/35-90 Aspherical to 100 percent electronic control, the for the photographer

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Technology Lenses

HCD 4/28: The 28 mm super wide- HC 3.5/35: The HC 3,5/35 mm lens HC 3.5/50: The 50 mm lens for HC 2.8/80 : The term ‘’ HC 2,2/100: The compact 100 mm angle lens is only designed for is still considered super wide-an- H3DII users represents the equiva- sounds a little derogatory in the is the fastest HC lens of all, ideal for digital H cameras and boasts gle. Mounted on the H2F it reaches lent of a 35 mm universal lens in context of high-class lenses. But action and low light a spectacular 95 degree angle an 89 degree ; in con- 35 mm photography. It’s a wide the HC 2,8/80 is not only the most photography outside the studio. of view mounted on an H3DII-39 junction with the 48 mm full format angle that offers ample perspective affordable but also one of the Its slight telephoto effect and ex- or -50, and a sizable 89 degree it covers 82 degrees. It’s a powerful without seeming unnatural, best HCs in the market. It’s a high- tremely low makes it angle on the H3DII-31. Its close lens for creative photography that making it the classic lens in report- speed lens that sports a luminous ideal in portraiture up performance is outstanding – is also easy to use age photography. The universal viewfinder image along with the subject can be as close as 10 HC 3.5/50 makes a stand with high the ideal conditions for low light cm from the front lens performance values photography. The 2.8/80 is also exceptionally compact, making it an excellent choice for light-weight photography outdoors

True feature of the H cam- more, the Phocus software permits CF : The CF adapter eras will automatically correct any you to activate and deactivate the allows all lenses from the V system deviations from the actual shutter automatic controls for vignetting, to be used on H system camera speed when the lens is set to small distortion and chromatic aberra- bodies and correctly uses the cen- values. All shutter speeds are tions. When you check the extent tral lens shutter of the V lens compatible with systems and of the corrections you discover just grant the photographer total control how nominal they are – and yet they over the lighting, enabling him to represent that final polish. allows for DAC in the first place and capture fast action without distor- Whenever highest quality is the represents just another branch in tion and suppress ambient light to highest priority, lens builders are Hasselblad’s drive to perfection. DAC his specifications. forced to compromise the design is what enables all HC/HCD lenses in some form or other. With strong to generate virtually perfect results Digital auto wide-angles, for example, a complete throughout all aperture settings, correction omission of distortion would entail ranges and focal lengths, and even in a huge front lens that no company combination with extension tubes All HC/HCD lenses are designed to would be able to produce and no and converters. generate the highest optical quality photographer would want to trans- are devoid of even on film. Aberrations, which the port – not to mention pay for. The fringes, crooked lines and black- DAC function is designed to elimi- total exclusion of chromatic aberra- ened corners. Hasselblad is spending nate, are so minuscule they only tions at all ranges, aperture settings considerable resources to develop become visible with the extreme and focal lengths is simply out of the corrective algorithms based on lens resolution of H3DII cameras. What’s question. Only tiny aberrations can design and apply them universally be corrected digitally without thwart- to all lenses, independent of possible ing the quality of the reproduction. fluctuations in manufacture. This HCD 4-5.6/35-90: The all new HCD Digital corrections will never trans- can only be done because the tight 4-5.6/35-90 adds a gorgeous wide- form a mediocre lens into a good manufacturing process of the lenses angle zoom to the line of HC/HCD lens. It can however, turn a great lens guarantees few deviations from the lenses. With its 82 degrees angle into a perfect lens. DAC is extremely ideal values. Unlike other professional of view on the wide end and a mild valuable when used with the new camera manufacturers, Hasselblad telephoto effect on the other, it’s HTS 1.5 adapter since now you can takes into account the availability of as universal as a Swiss army knife. really shift into the outer corners of DAC at the design stage of HC/HCD Thanks to its compact size and the HC/HCD lenses and push them lenses. The HCD 4/28, for example, moderate weight, it’s the perfect unto limit. The H3DII is founded on allowed for distortion values that are outdoor companion for the H3DII a concept of integration: It’s what slightly above average and yet easily

38 Special/2008 HC 4/120: The HC 4/120 is a classic HC 3,2/150: Thanks to high HC 4/210: The counterpart to HC 4,5/300: The ‘longest’ telephoto HC 3,5-4,5/50-110: Zoom lenses macro lens that reaches a 1:1 re- speed and moderate telephoto the classic 135 mm lens in 35 mm lens in the H series is ideal for are easy to use and practical, production scale without adding effect the HC 3,2/150 is a fine photography comes in the form wildlife and , enabling you to quickly respond to extension tubes. Its optical excel- choice in classic portraiture – of the HC 4/210 – a classic telephoto where it draws even the shiest of changing conditions. The HC 3,5- lence and its versatility gives it and a prime choice in landscape lens with outstanding perfor- mammals and energetic of actions 4,5/50-110 covers an invaluable an almost legendary standing photography mance statistics. The 210 mm is up close. Mounted in conjunction photographic spectrum ranging amongst H photographers. It is a effective in both portraiture and with the H1.7X converter the lens from slight wide angle to portrait classic portrait focal length that , generating mutates into a beastly 500 mm of telephoto. As a zoom it has no can be used for far more than just that slightly compacted, typical exceptional quality problem keeping up with the speed close-up photography telephoto perspective and reproduction values of fixed focal lengths. Its versatility is what makes it one of the most popular HC lenses of all

H System vs. 35 mm lenses correctable. , HE extension rings: Available Converter H1.7X: The converter Objektiv Diag. angle of view Diag. angle of view Diag. angle of view in turn, is prevented almost entirely. with 13, 26 and 52 millimeters, can freely be combined with all H3DII-39 and -50 H3DII-31 H2F w. 645-film To design a ‘digital’ lens with similar the HE extension rings HC/HCD lenses except the wide (35 mm focal length) (35 mm focal length) (35 mm focal length) performance statistics – but without allow with angles and zooms, vastly increas- HCD 4/28 93° (20 mm) 87° (23 mm) – DAC – would require tremendous all HC/HCD lenses ing their range of use effort. Thanks to DAC, however, the HC 3.5/35 81° (25 mm) 75° (28 mm) 87° (23 mm) new super wide-angle remains small HC 3.5/50 63° (35 mm) 58° (39 mm) 68° (32 mm) and compact and, not least, more in practice. The table on the right dis- extends the range of HC/HCD lenses HC 2.8/80 41° (58 mm) 37° (64 mm) 45° (52 mm) affordable. Similarly for the HTS 1.5 plays the HC/HCD lenses alongside at the telephoto end with the excep- HC 2.2/100 34° (71 mm) 31° (78 mm) 38° (64 mm) tilt and shift adapter that without with their 35 mm counterparts. tion of the wide-angle and zoom DAC wouldn’t permit all combi- In addition to the HC/HCD lenses lenses. For close-ups there are the HE HC 4/120 29° (84 mm) 26° (93 mm) 32° (75 mm) nations to be adjusted for without on these pages, Hasselblad’s lens extension rings with 13, 26 and 52 HC 3.2/150 23° (106 mm) 21° (118 mm) 26° (95 mm) errors. In other words, DAC is essen- gamut holds several other special- mm lengths. Depending on the lens, HC 4/210 17° (149 mm) 15° (165 mm) 18° (134 mm) tial to the production of innovative ties in stock, such as the CF adapter the extension tubes and converters products such as the HTS 1.5 or the for compatibility with the legend- can be combined with each other, HC 4.5/300 12° (206 mm) 11° (229 mm) 13° (186 mm) HCD 4/28. The best thing about DAC ary Zeiss lenses of the V system. The and, apart from a few exceptions, HCD 4-5.6/35-90 81–39° (26–61 mm) 75–35° (26–68 mm) – is its transparency: the photographer H camera’s autofocus mechanism the AF function remains operational. HC 3.5-4.5/50-110 62–32° (36–76 mm) 56–29° (40–85 mm) 67–35° (33–69 mm) has only to press the exposure button allows for sublime focus control and Since the converters and extension and convert the photo in Phocus to the camera’s exposure meter displays tubes are fully integrated in DAC they remove all aberrations automatically. the speed and aperture to be trans- can be used without restriction. The to resurrect their old view cameras or to macro and from universal zoom to In theory, with the right amount of ferred to the lens. In the case of CFE HC/HCD’s outstanding performance perhaps even setting for lower-qual- a specialized tilt and shift solution. craftsmanship and willingness to lenses, the aperture setting is trans- statistics will be preserved from close ity solutions from the 35 mm market. There’s bound to be the right lens for experiment you could limit errors ferred to the camera. The CF lens range to extended telephoto. The temptation of being able to use everyone. And the strength of the like vignetting, and even distortion, adapter greatly expands the range of the outstanding HC/HCD lenses system isn’t only in its vast portfolio using Photoshop. But Phocus with compatible lenses for H3DII users; CONCLUSIon with tilt and shift functionality, and complete coverage of needs; it’s DAC delivers the optimal solution take the 500 mm CF lens, for exam- fused with cameras with impres- the reliability with which HC/HCD automatically. ple, which currently lacks an equal in The palette of HC/HCD lenses could sively large image sensors, is beyond lenses are known to deliver high the H system. CF lens users may not have be considered complete since seductive. The new zoom, in turn, performance across the board. And Specialities call upon DAC yet, but it doesn’t stop the introduction of the HCD 4/28. is as universal as a Swiss army knife this is what counts: tools that always these renowned lenses from living Now, however, the HTS 1.5 tilt and and may cover all your photographic work, never abandon you and always The H3DII-31’s slightly smaller sen- up to their outstanding reputation shift adapter and the new HCD 4- needs all by itself. Hasselblad cov- make the most of your possibilities. sor yields a 1.2 crop factor. That’s not when mounted on the H3DII. 5.6/35-90 Aspherical expand the ers with the HC/HCD lenses a very enough to really change the character The offering is made complete range even further. The HTS 1.5 now broad range from super wide-angle For further information please visit of a lens and rarely poses a problem with the Converter H1.7X. It largely spares Hasselblad users from having to super telephoto, from ‘light giant’ www.hasselblad.com

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