Can a Hasselblad Zeiss Distagon 50mm f/4 be adapted to a Nikon D800, and what should I expect?
Asked 8/15/2012
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I have a Hasselblad Carl Zeiss Distagon 50mm f/4 T* and I’m considering using it on a Nikon D800 with an adapter. Is this practical, and what kind of results should I expect?
Specifically:
- Will the field of view remain the same as a Nikon 50mm lens on full frame?
- Is operation fully manual for focus and aperture?
- Will metering work on a Nikon DSLR?
- Is this setup only really useful for certain types of photography?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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50mm is still 50mm, you can expect exactly the same AoV, with a significantly smaller aperture. Both focusing and controlling the aperture would be manual, but metering might not be, I believe Nikon cameras will allow Av and metered M modes even with unchipped lenses. As for the optical quality, I've heard nothing but good things (though I've never tried one myself, YMMV.)
Also, without a chipped adapter, no EXIF information from the lens. This might not matter much to you, but can make photo management a complete pain.
That said: Since the Hasselblad lens throws a larger image-circle, and has a significantly larger flange-distance (74.9mm to Nikons 46.5), you could use it as a tilt-shift lens with an appropriate adapter (or freelensing.)
Originally by user5016. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user5016
14y ago
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Yes, it can be a practical adaptation on a full-frame Nikon like the D800. A 50mm lens remains a 50mm lens, so the angle of view will be essentially the same as a Nikon 50mm on full frame. The main difference is speed: this lens is f/4, so it’s much slower than a 50mm f/1.4.
Expect fully manual focus and manual aperture control using the lens’s aperture ring. Metering may still work on Nikon in aperture-priority or manual mode, but stop-down metering behavior can vary, so you may need to check exposure and compensate if needed.
You also typically won’t get lens EXIF data unless the adapter is chipped.
This kind of setup is best suited to slower, deliberate shooting such as landscape, studio, or other static subjects. Fast action is possible, but much harder because you’ll be focusing and stopping down manually.
One extra advantage is that medium-format lenses project a larger image circle, so with the right adapter they may also be useful for tilt/shift-style movements.
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