Expanding their XCD P series of lenses with another compact, lightweight option, Hasselblad has just announced the XCD 75mm f/3.4 P lens—a 59mm-equivalent lens characterized by its flattering focal length and portable design. This short portrait-length/long normal-length prime is a versatile option for portrait shooters, as well as street and landscape photographers looking for a unique focal length that’s wide enough to capture context but narrow enough to highlight single subjects. Announced alongside this sleek new lens is Hasselblad’s first extension tube for the X system—the X Extension Tube (9mm)—which reduces the minimum focusing distance of any lens for close-up shooting applications.
XCD 75mm f/3.4 P Lens
The third member of the XCD P-series of lenses, the XCD 75mm f/3.4 P is now the longest focal length and fastest member of this series of sleeker, lighter lenses for Hasselblad’s X system of mirrorless medium format cameras. This lens straddles the line between normal-length and portrait-length, offering a full-frame equivalent focal length of 59mm and a maximum aperture of f/3.4 that’s brighter than the other two P lenses.
The unique focal length is ideal for full-length and group portraiture as well as a slightly narrow normal lens for street and landscape applications. Also, optically, the lens includes aspherical and low-dispersion elements to present high sharpness and color accuracy that’s well-matched to the 100MP resolution of the X2D and CFV 100C cameras.
In terms of focusing, this 75mm has an internal focusing design and AF is handled by a linear stepping motor. This small and responsive focusing motor is quick, quiet, and reactive and offers full-time manual focus control, too. And, like all XCD lenses, there is a leaf shutter system that provides a 1/2000 sec to 68 min shutter speed range with flash sync possible at all speeds.
Physically, the lens stands out due to how small and lightweight it is; compared to the popular XCD 65mm f/2.8, it’s 45% lighter and 24% shorter without sacrificing much on speed. The lens measures about 3” long and weighs 14 oz, making it a great choice for travel and on-location shoots.
X Extension Tube (9mm)
The second launch of the day is a welcomed addition to Hasselblad’s fledgling X system: the X Extension Tube (9mm). Simple in how it functions, this is a 9mm-long tube with no optical components—its sole job is to sit between any X-mount lens and X-system camera body in order to shorten the effective minimum focusing distance and increase the possible magnification.
Extension tubes are most-often used for macro applications or to just shoot at a shorter working distance when photographing close-up subjects. The ring has integrated contacts that maintain AF performance, exposure settings, and metadata transfer between the camera body and lens. Since there are no optics, the lens won’t be able to focus to infinity when installed but, for even greater effect, more than one X Extension Tube can be used at a time for even closer focusing.
For more information about the new lens and extension tube, including additional features, specs, and highlights, be sure to check out the detailed product page for the XCD 75mm f/3.4 P lens and the 9mm X Extension Tube. Or drop us a line below, and we’ll do our best to answer all your comments and questions.
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