Hasselblad 50mm FLE vs 40mm FLE and 38mm SWC

[cameron_ertman]

I have checked out the postings regarding a comparison of these

lenses, and still have a few questions:

I presently have a 50mm FLE (75 degree angle with focusing from 1'7"

to infinity). I have been thinking about going to the 40mm FLE

(88 degree angle with focusing from 1'7" to infinity), or even an

older CF SWC (91 degree angle with a focusing range of 1'0" to

infinity).

-Since the 50mm and the 40mm have the same focusing range, would I

notice that much difference between the photographs taken with these

two different lenses (assume that I am photographing using the

maximum range of focus, and keep in mind that the 50mm goes to f32,

while the 40mm only has f22)?. When I used to use 35mm, the rule

used to be that the wider the angle, the closer I could focus...this

does not seem to be the case between these two lenses.

Unfortunately, I do not have access to a 40mm or the SWC. I would be

very interested in hearing opinions from people who have actually

used, or played with these lenses.

 

-Since the 40mm FLE is well corrected for distortion because of the

floating lens element, and it is designed to have excellent edge to

edge sharpness, would anyone really notice the difference in

photographs made with that lens and the SWC? (Hasselblad literature

claims the 40mm is a good alternative to the SWC).

 

-I have read from other postings that the SWC has a horrible

viewfinder. Assuming that I am not going to get the special

groundglass back for the camera, would the somewhat inaccurate

framing lead me to crop drastically in the final print, and

effectively cancel the 91 degree view (perhaps I would be close to my

75 degree angle)?

 

-Since the 40mm has a rather large piece of glass in front (93mm),

would that lens be more prone to lens flare?

 

Thank you in advance for any comments!

[andreas_carl]

Well, good questions. I used to have the 50FLE and bought a 903SWC a few years back. There is a significant difference in perspective between those two. Nevertheless, I ended up selling the 50FLE and replaced it with the 60CF, which now has become my favourite lens. (As a result, I found the 80CF too close to the 80CF and replaced it with a 100CF - so buying the 903SCW triggered quite a chain reaction...)

 

I don't know who told you that the SWC viewfinder is horrible - I thought it to be very nice! Framing is acurate, unless you do really close close-ups. Only problem is you have to guestimate focus distance, but with the DOF you get with that lens, it isn't much of a problem.

 

In my opinion, the SWC is a better deal than the 40FLE - you get an additional camera body with it and it takes the same B60 filters all your other lenses take (big advantage!). I travel a lot, and when I want to go "really light", I take just my 903SWC and a bunch of films. You must decide how important it is to see the image on the groundglass (waistlevel finder). I doubt anyone would notice a difference between pictures taken with the SWC versus the 40FLE, so it's really a matter which feels better in your hands!

[Rob F.]

You can't beat the SWC for image quality. I've never been disappointed by the results, or surprised by them, compared to what I saw in the finder. And ditto Andreas's remarks about the 60 Distagon. My own experience led me to the same conclusion. I also use the 38 Biogon, 60 Distagon, and 100 Planar (and the 150 Sonnar). I'm very satisfied.

[mark_eban]

I posted on this subject here:

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00044C

 

Briefly, a non-photographer (my wife) was able to correctly sort 16x12s of identical subjects into a pile for the 40mm FLE and for the 38mm biogon on the basis of sharpness. I went for the biogon.

[john_brabyn]

I recently went through the same dilemma and ended up getting the

40 CFE FLE. My choice was influenced mainly by the convenience factor of being able to just change lenses on the same body, keeping the

convenience of through-the-lens metering, accurate focusing,

undistorted viewing etc. (I also wanted the electronic contacts provided in the CFE lenses for the 203FE body -- this influenced my decision of 40 mm vs 50 mm).

 

However I do think from what I have read that the Biogon would give marginally higher image quality. With regard to flare, I do not think this is a problem, especially with the new CFE design which has enhanced flare suppression.