Scenes Seen/First Test Pics For A Review: Pentax 67-Hasselblad XD 0.62x – Kipon Baveyes Focal Reducer – Pentax 67 55mm f/4. @kipon_global @sec_carrboro
Subtitle: Photography can be such wonderful nonsense at times.
Story time.
2020.
Eric obsesses over a Kipon Baveyes Hasseblad V to Sony FE focal reducer adapter. After a sale price and a push from my better half, I purchased said adapter…
…and wrote about said adapter. Not once,…
…not twice,…
…but three times.
So… I like it.
Kept it for a good while. Somewhere in there, I went for a digital medium format spin with the Pentax 645D.
Even used it during a wedding as a second shooter.
Also used it for a bridal session.
I eventually moved on from the 645D, but the Kipon Baveyes remained. That is until…
2025. Part 1.
Enter GFX.
Through a roundabout sequence of events, I traded quite a bit of kit for a GFX100S.
The short version:
- Have wanted a GFX camera since they were announced, but the price.
- Twice threatened to trade for a GFX 50SII, but was undone by Contrast only AF.
- Fujifilm released the GFX100RF and I wanted in.
- Hamish reminded that fast glass was not on the table.
- Around this time, I realized that 1st GFX100S bodies had dipped well into my strike zone if I was willing to trade some gear that I prozed.
- I traded gear that I prized.
Included in that trade fit was the Hasselblad 501c. Do I have regrets?
Nope.
The GFX100S has been far better than I could have ever expected. After a wedding…
…a other sessions like a maternity one,…
…I am well pleased.
Then…
2025. Part 2.
As I was minding my own business one day, I noticed a message in my Instagram inbox from a month ago (I am trash at social media.) from Kipon. Turns out they had also followed me at some point. (I am Mr. finger on the pulse over here.) The message exchange started with:
I would have been happy there. But soon after, I was offered two of their new focal reducer adapters. Seems they have been following my little gear churn odyssey since they offered up two GFX camera adapters. And I said yes, of course.
So… Lenses. I was not concerned. I expected my local camera shop…
…would come through, and they did. The goal was a wide-ish lens and a portrait lens for each.
Took each lens for a quick spin. I am familiar with the Hasselblad 50mm f/4 because…
…it is a lens I used to own. Bought off a legend that I interviewed for my first-ever KEH Spotlight blog post back when I wrote for them for a couple of years. Professor Lonnie Graham.
A great lens with film…
…and digital, adapted to full-frame Sony with the Kipon Baveyes focal reducer.
The portrait lenses are nice, but the 67 55mm f/4 piqued my interest when I was testing them all. Similar to the Hasselblad 50mm…
…in focal length, but two words set it apart. Close focus.
And it is both tack sharp and captures colors well. I am not surprised. I have used and owned numerous Pentax 645 lenses…
…and Hasselblad V lenses,…
…and the Pentax lenses easily hold their own against the ZEISS-branded Hasselblad lenses.
So, why not the usual go-to lenses for each?
The 67 105mm f/2.4 and the V 80mm f/2.8.
Both work out to a mid 60mm full frame equivalent focal length. The camera shop had both. I did not ask for them, though. I guess I just wanted something different.
Back to the lens that interested me most of the four. the 67 55mm, which works out to a 34mm FF equivalent. Seems a great lens to start taking test shots with.
The occasion.
Chorus rehearsal night. Last week I stopped through Durham with the GFX and a fast M lens.
So I decided to do that again. This time with the 67 55mm. Here are the pics.
That concludes the scenes seen on chorus rehearsal night.
Bonus round.
The next lens up is the 67 135mm f/2.8. For a portrait test, my son helped me out, but before I started, I decided to take a test pic with the 55mm first.
Sweet merciful Minerva, this lens is great. I am in trouble because I now must have this lens.
Thoughts.
About the lens?
See the last two sentences before thoughts above, I find no fault with this lens at all.
- Very sharp.
- Great colors.
- Very pleasing bokeh.
- Wonderful rendering.
About the adapter?
I will save the bulk of my comments for a formal review to come, but for now…
- Exceedingly well made.
- No surprise there. Just like the Hasselblad to Sony FE focal reducer.
- A fine-looking thing.
- The focal reducer reaps great benefits by filling the sensor.
- No noticeable vignetting.
- Maintains access to Infinity focus.
Here is the features list from their website:
- Designed by Iain Neil (Module 8) in Switzerland
- Increase the aperture 1.5 stop
- 0.62x wider shooting range
- Built in 5 groups of 7 high-quality optical glasses
- Focus at infinity is available
Well done, Kipon.
That is all for now. Next up will be the 67 135mm f/4 adapted.
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 
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