Scenes Seen/Test Pics For A Review: Kipon BAVEYES Hasselblad V-Fuji G 0.8x – Zeiss Hasselblad Distagon 50mm 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 main topic of this post. That Hasselblad 50mm f/4 I had purchased from the Professor.
The occasion.
After a challenging work day, I took a run at a local downtown area to see what I could capture. Here are the pics.
Sweet merciful Minerva, this lens is great. I am in trouble because I now must have this lens.
Thoughts.
About the lens?
This lens is so good. ZEISS does not disappoint. Typical top notch medium format lens stuff.
- Very sharp.
- Great colors.
- Very pleasing bokeh.
- Wonderful rendering.
In the 67 55mm f/4 post I said I was leaning towards that over this lens. After this test run, I will need to conduct some additional testing. This lens may be worth the additional cost.
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.
Well done, Kipon.
That is all for now. Next up will be the Hasselblad V 120mm f/4 adapted test images.
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 