EXCERPT page containing first few paragraphs. 2024-05-09 17:55:18
UA_SEARCH_BOT_compatible_botmozilla/5.0 applewebkit/537.36 (khtml, like gecko; compatible; claudebot/1.0; +claudebot@anthropic.com) @ 3.129.22.135
For full access, subscribe here. Or click title to login. 
Flare
This page demonstrates the severe veiling flare behavior of the Hasselblad HC 120mm f/4 II.
The lens hood must be used at all times and yet that is not enough—shade the lens from any bright light source, such as the sun, or even a very bright sky. The lens visibly falters with veiling haze and while it is an outstanding performer in general, its flare suppression is woefully inadequate.
Backlit aspen comparison — unshaded vs shaded
Identical exposure and processing for both the unshaded and shaded frames—that veiling flare can easily ruin images should be obvious. The lens hood was of course used, but it did not prevent the sun from shining directly onto the front element.
Toggle to compare the unshaded image to the one in which I used my hand to block the sun from hitting the front lens element. Shaded, performance is outstanding but unshaded the image is destroyed utterly.
Article continues for subscribers...
Diglloyd Medium Format is by yearly subscription. Subscribe now for about 33 cents a day ($120/year).
BEST DEAL: get full access to ALL 8 PUBLICATIONS for only about 75 cents a day!
Diglloyd Medium Format covers medium format camera systems, including the Hasselblad X1D and Fujifilm GFX.
These systems are hugely expensive, so make the right choice for your own needs (full frame vs medium format).
- In-depth lens evaluations covering behaviors not likely to be found anywhere else, based on real-world field shooting.
- How to configure menus and buttons and best operating practices, gotchas and how-to.
- Real world examples with insights found nowhere else. Make sharper images just by understanding lens and camera behaviors.
- Jaw-dropping image quality found nowhere else utilizing Retina-grade images up to 100 megapixels filling up to 5K display, plus large crops.
- Aperture series from wide open through stopped down, showing the full range of lens performance and bokeh.
- Optical quality analysis of field curvature, focus shift, sharpness, flare, distortion, and performance in the field.
Hasselblad H6D-100C + HC 120 II @ 79mm equiv (120mm)
[low-res image for bot]