Hasselblad XCD 80 1.9

It's heavy, and it's one of the slowest focussing XCD lenses, I think the crown there goes to the 120mm Macro. But the way it renders at f/1.9 strikes the perfect balance of sharp in focus and dreamy bokeh, and it is my favourite Hasselblad lens.

This is both my go-to portrait lens and my pretty-picture lens, and lately I've even been using it for some late evening, low summer sun event work. Isolate subjects at a distance, or just shoot into the light for some beautiful hazy flare, it creates beauty that makes me smile.

The 90mm question

When the new XCD 90mm f/2.5 was released, my faith did waver. Would it be just as good, just with faster autofocus? Whilst I understand the 90mm is an exceptional lens, I'm so glad I stuck with the 80.

Where it fights back

Not to say I haven't been frustrated with this lens. I've pushed it beyond what the AF is really capable of. Dimly lit live music bars with flashing lights, so not only do you need to nail focus on a moving subject and capture the emotion, you need to do it when the light hits. But when it all comes together, you get such a beautiful quality.

So who do I recommend this lens for?

For me, this is the pinnacle of the Hasselblad X series lenses, and still it won't be for everyone, owing to its weight and AF performance. But if you can get past that, you'll have something special.

Want one? The 80mm f/1.9 holds its value and doesn't come up often used. See the current Hasselblad XCD 80mm f/1.9 listings on UsedLens, or set an alert and we'll email you the moment one is listed.