In the realm of medium format photography, few names resonate with the same weight and elegance as Hasselblad. Known for their meticulous craftsmanship and pioneering technology, the iconic Swedish brand has continuously redefined the boundaries of visual storytelling. Among their illustrious lineup, the Hasselblad XCD 2.5/90V stands as a symbol of excellence, entwining a majestic legacy with the desolate beauty of the landscapes it captures.
Designed specifically for the X System, the XCD 2.5/90V is more than just a lens; it’s a gateway to a world where exquisite detail and harmonious bokeh coexist with an ethereal clarity that few lenses can offer. At a focal length of 90mm, this prime lens serves not only as a tool for portrait and landscape photography but also as an instrument to explore the nuanced textures of life. The 2.5 maximum aperture allows for a soft, dreamlike quality that envelops subjects in an alluring depth of field, transforming even the most mundane scenes into an evocative tapestry of light and shadow.
The optical construction of the XCD 2.5/90V is a marvel of engineering, incorporating multiple lowdispersion elements that minimize chromatic aberration and ensure color fidelity. As twilight descends upon a desolate landscape, the lens captures the fading hues of day with an inspiring depth, revealing a stunning spectrum of colors that would be all but lost to lesser optics. In the hands of a discerning photographer, each shot becomes an exploration of form and space, where the sharpness of detail meets the softness of pastels.
Built with the modern artist in mind, the lens features a robust yet lightweight design that beautifully complements the compact X System camera bodies. With its weathersealed construction, shooting in unpredictable environments becomes a testament to the lens’s resilience, embracing the elements in pursuit of that perfect shot. Whether angling the lens toward the weatherbeaten cliffs of a coastal landscape or the subtle curves of a portrait subject, the XCD 2.5/90V offers confidence and reliability, enabling photographers to lose themselves in the creative process.
Incorporating Hasselblad’s signature advanced autofocus system, this lens ensures precise and rapid focusing on subjects, allowing artists to delve deeper into their vision without the restraints of technical limitations. Yet, there lies a profound beauty in the manual focus ring, which provides tactile feedback and an element of tactile engagement—a delicate dance between craftsmanship and artistry. This interaction creates a unique synergy that resonates with the tranquil rhythm of creative exploration.
The XCD 2.5/90V excels in symbiotic relationship with natural light, uncovering textures that celebrate the majesty of simplicity. In the hands of visionary photographers, every click captures fleeting moments that seem to hover between reality and the surreal. Shadows elongate, details emerge, and landscapes transform into atmospheric wonderlands, evoking the sense of place and time that is often lost in the frenetic pace of contemporary life.
As dusk draws near, the lens reveals its true character, a transcendent ability to capture both the delicate intricacies of flora and the stark, desolate allure of open landscapes. Photographs become a dialogue between the seen and the unseen, where unyielding mountains stand sentinel against a backdrop of evershifting skies. It is in these sublime moments that the XCD 2.5/90V truly shines, reflecting Hasselblad’s enduring commitment to excellence and artistry.
Through the lenses of the XCD 2.5/90V, photographers have the means to express the complexities of human emotion and the elegance of our natural world. Amid the vastness of existence, this lens becomes a channel for immersive storytelling—a bridge between the photographer, their subject, and the ephemeral beauty of the world around them. The perspective it offers is profound, capturing not just images but the essence of moments suspended in time.