Hasselblad XCD 38mm f/2.5 Focus Shift

[Michael Erlewine]

I had heard of the XCD 38mm f/2.5 rearward focus shift that forces the focus rearward to make autofocus useless. I received my copy yesterday and it took only took minutes to see that for my kind of work (closeup photography), using the XCD 38mm f/2.5 means giving up autofocus or using it to get in the vicinity, and in every shot having to manual focus to take a shot.



That aside (which is huge), I like the color and style of this lens. I may keep it and use it as if it were an old View or Large Format camera. I wonder how other users find this lens. Please comment.

 

[SrMphoto]

No focus shift issues with 38v, it was my main lens on recent travels.

Also, I trust Jim's analysis much more than that by Lloyd Chambers:

Focus shift in the Hasselblad XCD 38/2.5 - the last word

This is the 32nd in a series of posts on the Hasselblad X2D 100C camera and the XCD lenses. You will be able to find all the posts in this series by looking at the righthand column on this page and finding the Category "X2D". Lloyd Chambers has reported focus shift in the Hasselblad XCD

blog.kasson.com

 

[Michael Erlewine]

Well, Lloyd Chambers interest is in landscape and some distance, so read Lloyd's comments with that in mind. I don't have to trust anyone's notes because I can just see it happening. I focus on a spot until it goes green, take a shot, and its not in focus much of the time. I'm still working on it, comparing it to the XCD 45P, etc.

 

[iczek]

What I sometimes experienced with the XCD 65/2.8 (old lens) was incorrect autofocus operation. The AF detection in the X1DII confirmed that the subject should be in focus, but it wasn’t.
And I think the problem was more with the AF mechanism itself than with the lens.

 

[Paul Spinnler]

Is this still the case with the new camera?

 

[Michael Erlewine]

I'm using the new camera, but having a bunch of XCD lenses, I don't see this happening with any other lens, including the XCD 45P. I have not given up.

 

[algrove]

Close up for me it works flawlessly. I prefer to use an AF Macro adapter. Use the Fotodiox 20mm Auto Macro Tube for X1D-works on the X2Dii for me. Hasselblad also makes the 9mm which can be stacked 2x.
Also have you checked to make sure you are using the latest FW for this lens?

 

[SrMphoto]

Well, Lloyd Chambers interest is in landscape and some distance, so read Lloyd's comments with that in mind. I don't have to trust anyone's notes because I can just see it happening. I focus on a spot until it goes green, take a shot, and its not in focus much of the time. I'm still working on it, comparing it to the XCD 45P, etc.

I have repeatedly found that the issues he found can be attributed to him and not to the devices he tested (I subscribed for one year).
To check for focus shift you should focus manually using magnification, not AF or focus confirmation.

 

[Michael Erlewine]

I have repeatedly found that the issues he found can be attributed to him and not to the devices he tested (I subscribed for one year).
To check for focus shift you should focus manually using magnification, not AF or focus confirmation.

Well, what I want is to use autofocus to focus (until green square appears) and take that shot. I know I can manually focus and may have to. I do have the most recent firmware for the XCD 38mm. Perhaps I will sort this out. I will keep trying..

 

[Ai_Print]

I have repeatedly found that the issues he found can be attributed to him and not to the devices he tested (I subscribed for one year).
To check for focus shift you should focus manually using magnification, not AF or focus confirmation.

And I have found he is spot on about the odd curvature of field behavior of the 38V. I have a commercial job next week in that I would love to use the X2DII and the 38V for the hero shot, but the curvature of field makes it a non-starter. It’s the first of three jobs in a row in which I was hoping I had the new 35-100 for but they are delivering in geologic time.

Nikon for the win once again…

 

[Michael Erlewine]

And I have found he is spot on about the odd curvature of field behavior of the 38V. I have a commercial job next week in that I would love to use the X2DII and the 38V for the hero shot, but the curvature of field makes it a non-starter. It’s the first of three jobs in a row in which I was hoping I had the new 35-100 for but they are delivering in geologic time.

Nikon for the win once again…

Yes, "Nikon for the win again." Same here. I have a complete Nikon system and I use it when I can't get it from the Hasselblad X2D Mark II. I even have the Pena and also the Z 58mm f/0.95 NOCT. What I need is a modern XCD macro lens that goes 1:1.

​