Hasselblad XCD 75P review: sharp enough to cut glass, small enough for everyday use

Hassy hits another one out of the park with the Hasselblad XCD 75P – its latest Portable lens that packs premium performance

5 Star Rating
Hasselblad XCD 75P lens, on a wooden surface, against a dark background
(Image: © James Artaius)

Digital Camera World Verdict

The Hasselblad XCD 75P is a wonderful addition to the X System lineup. Its effective 59mm focal length makes this a great general purpose lens, and with stellar sharpness across the frame this is one of the niftiest 50-somethings you'll ever use. Despite being a Portable lens, it's not nearly as small as the XCD 28P or 45P – but it does boast a faster f/3.4 aperture. Plus, it's way smaller and lighter than the old XCD 65mm. If you temper your expectations about its size, the 75P is a dynamite performer – and still compact enough to make it an essential everyday carry companion.

Pros

  • +

    Super sharp

  • +

    Light and compact

Cons

  • -

    Not as small as the 28P & 45P

  • -

    No focus clutch / scale

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It's been interesting seeing Hasselblad update its XCD range over the past few years – and the Hasselblad XCD 75P is one that I've personally been waiting for.

After dropping a few V-series lenses and debuting its first E-series optic (the wonderful Hasselblad XCD 20-35E), I was wondering if we'd see another P-series lens. On top of that, we haven't had a new standard lens in over half a decade.

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Mount optionsHasselblad X
35mm focal length59mm
Image stabilizationNo
Weather sealingNo
FocusAuto, manual
Control ringYes
Lens construction10 elements in 10 groups
Minimum aperturef/32
Filter size72mm
Dimensions (len x dia)71 x 75mm
Weight398g
Image

Hasselblad XCD 65mm
Launched in 2018, this is one of the last-generation XCD lenses – bearing the tulip shape favored by some of that line. It has a faster f/2.8 aperture and a narrower 50mm equivalent field of view, but is considerably bigger and heavier.

Image

Hasselblad XCD 55V
It's slightly wider than standard, at an equivalent 43mm, but fits the bill if you're in the market for something in the ballpark. It comes in slightly smaller and lighter than the 75P, with a faster f/2.8 aperture, and has a focus clutch.

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James Artaius
Editor

The editor of Digital Camera World, James has 21 years experience as a journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014 (as an assistant to Damian McGillicuddy, who succeeded David Bailey as Principal Photographer for Olympus). In this time he shot for clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal, in addition to shooting campaigns and product testing for Olympus, and providing training for professionals. This has led him to being a go-to expert for camera and lens reviews, photo and lighting tutorials, as well as industry news, rumors and analysis for publications like Digital Camera MagazinePhotoPlus: The Canon MagazineN-Photo: The Nikon MagazineDigital Photographer and Professional Imagemaker, as well as hosting workshops and talks at The Photography Show. He also serves as a judge for the Red Bull Illume Photo Contest. An Olympus and Canon shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and a fondness for vintage lenses and instant cameras.