Hasselblad's C-era wide-angle — the Zeiss Distagon C 50mm f/4 standard wide for the 6x6 V system.
The Carl Zeiss Distagon C 50mm f/4 is a wide-angle lens for the Hasselblad V system in its earlier C form, with the coupled leaf shutter and the chrome-and-black barrel of the first-generation V lenses. It served as the standard moderate wide angle for the 6x6 reflex bodies, sitting between the extreme wides and the normal 80mm as a versatile scenic and architectural focal length.
This is a manual-focus Hasselblad V lens with an integral leaf shutter, the C design linking aperture and shutter through the coupled ring. It has a maximum aperture of f/4 and covers the 6x6 frame with rectilinear geometry as a retrofocus Distagon that clears the reflex mirror. It was a widely used wide angle for the system, produced in single-coated and later coated variants over its C-series life.
On the square format a 50mm gives a comfortable wide view that keeps lines straight when the camera is level, making it a natural choice for landscape, architecture, interiors and general location work. It is wide enough to open up a scene without the exaggeration of the shorter Distagons, which is why many photographers treated it as their everyday wide lens alongside the standard 80mm.
The C 50mm is common on the used market and generally affordable relative to the wider Distagons. Check the coupled leaf shutter fires and steps cleanly at every speed, inspect the glass for haze, fungus and separation, and confirm the coating shows no heavy cleaning marks. Verify the focus and combined aperture-shutter ring move smoothly and that the blades are free of oil, as older C shutters can slow with age.