Ultra-wide and plenty fast – Hasselblad's new XCD 25V lens adds even more depth to the X System range
(Image credit: Hasselblad)
In what will be music to the ears of X System shooters who want to shoot wide and fast, Hasselblad has just launched its latest lens: the Hasselblad XCD 25V.
Combining an ultra-wide 19.75mm focal length, in equivalent full frame terms, the XCD 25V also boasts a fast f/2.5 aperture – something that Hasselblad hadn't previously offered on its wide-angle optics (the XCD 21mm, which is an old product, and the affordable XCD 28P, both of which are f/4).
The 25V is the fourth lens in the manufacturer's V-series of optics, joining the Hasselblad XCD 90V, 55V and 35V. In addition to sharing the same sleek aesthetic, it benefits from a manual focus clutch, customizable control ring and uniform 72mm filter thread.
Internally the lens has a complex optical formula featuring 10 groups and 13 elements, 4 of which are aspherical and 3 extra-low dispersion, in order to render every micron of detail demanded by the 100MP sensors on the Hasselblad X2D and Hasselblad 907X & CFV 100C.
The Hasselblad XCD 25V mounted to the X2D 100C (Image credit: Hasselblad)
As a V-series lens, it also benefits from Hasselblad's latest mechanical wizardry – namely the new and improved "close-only shutter" that can achieve flash sync speeds of up to 1/4000 sec, thanks to an optimized motor and exposure unit.
I've had the pleasure of using the lens extensively and concluded, in my Hasselblad XCD 25V review, that "the Hasselblad XCD 25V is the wide-angle lens I've been waiting for – and the wait has been worth it.
"I was pleased with the results I got from the 25V at all apertures, but Hasseblad glass is so expertly engineered that you can rely on sharpness even when shooting wide open. The detail in every image is just sublime."
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The Hasselblad XCD 25V is available now, with immediate shipping, for $3,699 / £3,599 (Australian pricing to be confirmed).
The Hasselblad XCD 25V without and with the included lens shade (hood) (Image credit: Hasselblad)
James has 22 years experience as a journalist, serving as editor of Digital Camera World for 6 of them. He started working in the photography industry in 2014, product testing and shooting ad campaigns for Olympus, as well as clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal. An Olympus, Canon and Hasselblad shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes.
