masking in viewfinder with 250mm lens - normal?

[jennifer_horsman]

I have a chrome 250mm Zeiss sonnar lens and when I put it on my 500C

and look through the viewfinder, I see that the top ~10% of the image

is "blacked out". Is this normal? I tried the lens on a colleague's

500CM and the same thing happened. Then, we tried his newer 150mm on

my camera and, again the same thing, although less. It doesn't happen

at all with the 80mm lens.

[nicholas_wybolt]

Hi Jennifer,

 

This is indeed "normal" on older Hasselblad cameras with longer telephoto lenses. Newer models, such as the 501CM incorporate what Hasselblad refers to as the "Gliding Mirror System," that provides a full viewfinder image with longer lenses.

 

I have a Accu-Matte D focusing screen with a grid overlay (part #42217) installed in my 500C/M. With a bit of practice, I am able to estimate which part of the image gets chopped with the 250mm lens and compensate using the top-most grid line (which is barely visible)to position the camera to ensure that everything that I want to be in the image is included. It is a bit awkward, but it works (especially since I typically use the 250mm lens with the camera on a tripod).

 

As you have observed, this is not a problem with the 150mm or 80mm lenses.

 

-Nick

[rick_campbell]

Jennifer,

 

The problem only occurs in the viewfinder, not on the film. So your images will be fine.

[q.g._de_bakker]

As is already mentioned, this viewfinder vignetting happens with all lenses longer than 120 mm. The amount of vignetting you will see when using the 250 mm lens is just about maximum.

 

But it will be visible too with all lenses, even short ones, when using extension tubed or bellows.

[jennifer_horsman]

Thanks for all the answers! I feel better knowing it is normal ;-) The pictures have been turning out great.