the last word

LensRentals has loaned me a Hasselblad XCD 135mm f/2.8 lens for testing. Today I tested for focus curvature with the matched 1.7 X teleconverter (TC), using Roger Cicala’s (Ps>Filter>Stylize>Find Edges) test method. I found a flat surface with some texture, set the lens to wide open, and got this image: In order to show the… [Read More]

LensRentals has loaned me a Hasselblad XCD 135mm f/2.8 lens for testing. Today I tested with the matched 1.7X teleconverter (TC), and looked at the out of focus (OOF) point spread functions (PSFs) using the mechanical shutter. I focused the lens to minimum focus distance (MFD), set the aperture wide open, and aimed it at… [Read More]

LensRentals has loaned me a Hasselblad XCD 135mm f/2.8 lens for testing. Today I attached the matched 1.7X teleconverter (TC) and the lens collar between the XCD 135 and the X2D body. At first glance, the foot of the lens collar looks like it has an Arca Swiss dovetail. No such luck; it’s the same… [Read More]

LensRentals has loaned me a Hasselblad XCD 135mm f/2.8 lens for testing. I made some images with the XCD 135 to check the bokeh. All were made with the mechanical shutter. Specular highlight exhibits the leaf shutter artifact. The rest of the bokeh is edgy in places. More of same. Same effect in specular highlights. With… [Read More]

LensRentals has loaned me a Hasselblad XCD 135mm f/2.8 lens for testing. Today I tested for focus curvature, using Roger Cicala’s test method. I found a flat surface with some texture, set the lens to wide open, and got this image: In order to show the in-focus area, I brought the image into Photoshop, and selected… [Read More]