Hasselblad XCD 45mm F 4 P Review | 54 Data compared

The Hasselblad XCD 4/45P is an excellent, lightweight medium format lens that offers a moderate wide-angle view equivalent to a 35mm lens on a full-frame system. Measuring 2.1 by 3.2 inches and weighing 11.3 ounces, it stands out as an exceptionally compact and aggressively priced option for the Hasselblad X mirrorless system. Key advantages of the lens include its ultra-sharp optics that reach outstanding resolution at f/5.6 and f/8, minimal distortion, and a weather-sealed build matching the X1D camera body. Additionally, it features a mechanically coupled focus ring providing tactile resistance, and a quiet in-lens leaf shutter supporting exposure times from 1/2,000-second up to 68 minutes. However, the lens does come with several distinct compromises. Its autofocus system is noticeably slow and produces audible noise during operation. Optically, users will experience natural vignetting and a slight loss of edge resolution when shooting wide open at its maximum f/4 aperture. The f/4 aperture also limits background blur compared to faster lenses, and it lacks built-in optical image stabilization. Finally, the lens cannot focus close enough for true macro photography, though it...

The Hasselblad XCD 45mm f/4 P lens is a highly portable, minimalist option designed for the X1D camera line, making it part of the lightest digital medium format system on the market. Built with a beautiful and sleek all-metal chassis, it avoids a focus-by-wire system, allowing the focus ring to physically shift the internal elements even when detached. Optics are the lens' greatest strength, delivering exceptionally crisp detail even when wide open at f/4, while showing no signs of chromatic aberration or fringing. Priced at a relatively reasonable $1,099, its tiny, lightweight form factor makes it an incredibly fun tool well-suited for extended periods of travel and street photography. However, the lens is severely hindered by its autofocus capabilities, which the reviewer described as terrible and highly ineffective. Relying on a dated contrast-detect system, it constantly struggles to lock onto still and obvious subjects even in broad daylight. Furthermore, the autofocus motors are incredibly loud, making noises comparable to a printer clearing a paper jam. These issues ultimately forced the reviewer to abandon autofocus entirely in favor of using the...

The Hasselblad XCD 45mm f/4 P lens paired with the medium-format X1D II mirrorless camera delivers outstanding, high-utility performance for daily use, standing out primarily due to its unprecedented $1,099 price tag and incredibly compact, lightweight footprint. Architected as a sleek wide-angle prime with a 36mm equivalent focal length, its mechanical manual focus system offers superb, tactile control. The lens produces vibrant, bold colours and exceptional raw file depth powered by the body's 50MP Sony sensor. Key advantages include an integrated, near-silent central lens shutter that allows flash sync up to 1/2000 second, and an optical layout featuring two aspherical elements that generate sharper corner-to-corner images with more "bite and pop" than the bulkier, $2,695 XCD 45mm f/3.5 version. Despite its superb imaging capabilities, the combination has distinct functional limitations regarding speed and operational efficiency. The autofocus mechanism is relatively slow and prone to hunting when shooting in low-light environments, such as typical indoor daytime settings. Additionally, because the lens is limited to a maximum physical shutter speed of 1/2000 second, photographers working in direct, bright sunlight may be forced...

The Hasselblad XCD 4/45P is a compact, high-performance medium format lens that significantly outperforms its predecessor, the XCD 3,5/45, in several key areas. Mechanically, it is roughly half the size of the older model and 97 grams lighter, weighing in at just 320 grams. A major standout feature is its mechanically coupled focus ring, a welcome departure from the "fly-by-wire" system found on other XCD lenses, which makes precise manual focusing much easier. Optically, the inclusion of two aspherical elements helps deliver superior center and corner sharpness, as well as higher contrast across the entire aperture range, even when shooting wide open. Furthermore, it boasts improved close-up capabilities thanks to a shorter minimum focusing distance of 35cm and a slightly longer actual focal length of 46.2mm, resulting in a larger reproduction ratio that stays sharp without needing to stop down. Despite its strong performance, the lens does come with a few notable drawbacks. Unlike most lenses, it lacks a lens hood and does not feature a bayonet mount to attach one, leaving the front element vulnerable to stray fingerprints and...

The Hasselblad XCD 4/45P is recognized by PCMag as a highly portable, moderately wide-angle lens that perfectly matches the compact X mirrorless system, offering a "pancake" design and an accessible $1,099 price point. It provides exceptionally sharp, detailed images, particularly when stopped down, while also featuring an extremely quiet, high-speed leaf shutter. However, the lens sacrifices performance in some areas, specifically with a slow, noisy autofocus motor and the absence of in-lens optical image stabilization. While it offers great value, users may notice minor corner vignetting and reduced edge resolution at the maximum f/4 aperture, which is also less ideal for extreme low-light scenarios.

The B&H Explora review positions the Hasselblad XCD 45mm f/4 P as a remarkably compact and lightweight (under 335g) autofocus lens, designed to make medium-format shooting highly portable for travel and street photography. It features excellent edge-to-edge sharpness, a 1.1-foot minimum focus distance, and a silent mechanical leaf shutter supporting flash sync up to 1/2000s. B&H ·B&H Photo However, the lens is limited by its relatively slow f/4 maximum aperture, resulting in less dramatic bokeh compared to alternatives, and its autofocus motor, which is audible during operation. Despite the lack of a lens hood and slower focusing, the lens offers high value, positioning it as an accessible, high-performance option in the Hasselblad ecosystem.

The DPReview sample gallery for the Hasselblad XCD 45mm f/4 P highlights the lens as an exceptionally compact (320g) medium format autofocus optic, ideal for walk-around use. Key strengths include outstanding corner-to-corner sharpness at f/4, low chromatic aberration, and a competitive $1,100 price point, coupled with a quiet, responsive leaf shutter. Conversely, the lens is limited by a slow, hunting-prone autofocus system in low-light, and its f/4 aperture restricts, rather than maximizes, shallow depth-of-field capabilities.