MichaelErlewine
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 p.1 #1 · Hasselblad: XCD 25V f/2.5 | |
It seems that many professional and advanced amateur photographers using the Hasselblad system include the XCD 25mm V lens in their kit. I imagine this satisfies the need for a wide-angle lens. Why not the XCD 21mm or the XCD 20-35mm zoom?
Perhaps it is because the XCD 25mmV is the sharpest and because its low f/stop allows lower-light shooting, but all three wide-angles are commonly used, and each is in my opinion excellent.
Perhaps some seem to find all three, the zoom or even the XCD 21mm a bit heavy, but while I see what they are talking about, it does not bother me like a lens like the XCD 120mm lens does. That’s heavy for long treks.
Recently I have taken the XCD-25V out for several shootings and find it very useful and easy to use in a variety of ways, close-up, medium, and landscape shots. And find it very productive of shots that are keepers.
I have to be very careful with the focusing to make sure that what I want to be sharp is sharp, but other than that, what’s not to like, other than perhaps the price. It’s a bit pricey. However, as mentioned, the finished shots that are IMO keepers are many.
I also love the two other wide-angle XCD lenses I mentioned above, although I should mention that many of my useful images are crop-outs. The CVD 25V also allows one to get in very close and I am a close-up photographer.
I don’t know why I did not get this lens sooner, probably all the noise about it being too big and heavy. Too big is true of some of the old XCDs like the XCD-135mm, the XCD 80mm f/1.9, and the XCD 35-75 Zoom. Yet, I have used those lenses often and still do because of their image quality.
I am a bit old-fashioned in that I believe if the lens has the IQ, I should put up with all the pain of carting it around, rather than use what I call a more convenient lens, a lighter lens to carry but one with a slightly lower image quality.
I go for the best image quality most every time. However, with family snapshots I go the other way, choosing small, lightweight, with fast autofocus, “convenience” lenses.
I had read all kinds of things not complimentary about the XCD 25V and I should know by now that unless I actually try a lens for myself, I should not listen to what most others say. It is entertaining reading.
Anyway, the XCD-25V is a great lens for me, a close-up photographer for the most part. It’s just fun. I am not shooting much landscape photos, but more close ups and cropping. It is excellent for architecture or inside structure work.
I recently shot the XCD-25V, the XCD 21mm, and the XCD 20-35 Zoom with the same subject to compare their image quality and they are all excellent. Yes, I see differences but none worth mentioning. All of them are not the lightest, but also none are too heavy to carry.
I find myself reaching for the XCD-25V and am very glad I tried it out instead of trusting the reviewers to think for me.
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