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The Mitakon Speedmaster 65mm f/1.4 is the fastest lens available for Hasselblad XCD

Mar 16, 2023 by John Aldred 1 Comment

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ZY Optics has announced that its Mitakon Speedmaster 65mm f/1.4, initially released for Fujifilm GFX cameras, is now available in Hasselblad X flavour. This makes the manual focus lens the fastest lens available for the Hasselblad X system. It has an aperture range from a bright f/1.4, stopping down to f/16, with a field of view on Hasselblad X cameras similar to that of a 50mm lens on full-frame cameras.

Being such a wide aperture lens and taking advantage of a medium format sensor, its relative depth of field is also shallower than it would be at f/1.4 on full-frame for the same field of view. Its diaphragm contains nine aperture blades for what ZY Optics describes as “outstanding bokeh” and they say it produces no vignetting at all, with consistent sharpness from edge to edge.

The video above is the only review I’ve been able to find on YouTube, where photographer Bobby Tonelli uses it on the 100-megapixel Hasselblad X2D. In the sample images shown in the review, you can really see just how shallow that depth of field really gets. As it’s a manual focus lens, though, you do have to be extremely precise when focusing before taking your shot. It doesn’t appear to be a very forgiving lens at all.

Focal length65mm
FormatMedium Fromat
MountHasselblad X
Focus typeManual focus
Aperture RingYes
Max aperturef/1.4
Min aperturef/16
Min focus distance70cm
Optics11 elements in 7 groups
Angle of view46°
Aperture blades9
Filter diameter72mm
Dimensions82 x 96mm
Weight1,050g

The lens contains two ultra-low dispersion elements and two high refractive index elements, which ZY Optics says “are precisely arranged to deliver optimal sharpness and clarify”, with minimal field curvature and edge-to-edge sharpness.

They also say that it distinguishes itself from other XCD lenses due to its internal focus design. This allows for easy focus adjustments without any extension or retraction of the lens housing. It also means that it can be used in rigs using matte boxes in fixed positions without worrying about shifting things when focusing. One thing they don’t mention in the product listing, however, is focus breathing. So, its performance in that respect is currently unknown.

The Mitakon Speedmaster 65mm f/1.4 for Hasselblad XCD cameras is available to buy now for $599 from the ZY Optics website. There’s no word yet on when it’ll arrive at retailers around the world, but given that the Fuji GFX version is available to buy elsewhere, I expect it’ll be coming eventually.

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Related posts:

Hasselblad announces three new XCD lenses, including their fastest ever 80mm f/1.9 ZY Optics completes its MFT cine lens lineup with the new Mitakon Speedmaster 50mm T1.0 MFT Cine ZY Optics unveils second-gen Mitakon Speedmaster 35mm f/0.95 lens ZY Optics announces super bright Mitakon Speedmaster 17mm f/0.95 lens for Micro Four Thirds

Filed Under: Gear Tagged With: 65mm f/1.4, Gear Announcement, Hasselblad X, Lens Announcement, Mitakon, Speedmaster, XCD, Zhongyi Optics

John Aldred: from diyphotography.net

About John Aldred

John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

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