A Bridge Between Analog & Digital Medium Format: KIPON BAVEYES Hasselblad V-Fuji G 0.8x.
This is a rewrite of an earlier Kipon Baveyes post:
My Hassselblad CFV II 50c Pacifier: Kipon Baveyes 0.7x Optical Focal Reducer.
There was also a follow up post with a few more sample photos.
Before I go further, a disclaimer:
After coming across the review above…
…KIPON reached out and offered this adapter and another in exchange for a review. And I quickly agreed.
No other instructions or influences from Kipon. My honest take follows.
But the mere fact that I am writing this is already an indicator that I like them. I tend to only review products I like here with a few cranky posts. Ok, one.
And even that one, I had to come back later and soften up a bit.
With that sorted. Onward.
For the longest I had a well documented digital Leica problem (or more accurately I cannot afford a digital Leica problem). I eventually joined the digital M fray.
I had my fun for a couple of years, but this dance ended when I ran headlong into another type of camera I prized. But more on that later.
Having possession of a film Hasselblad…
I also had a digital Hasselblad problem. To fend this off, I gave Pentax digital medium format a try.
Even used it as a second shooter at a friend’s wedding.
Ultimately traded it on. A great camera but I had become spoiled by modern AF. Something like I eventually traded my way towards.
That is much more like it. Digital medium format allied with modern AF. Perfect. For me, anyway. Used it for a wedding also.
So… I am done, right?
Very funny. That is not how GAS (gadget acquisition syndrome) works.
I had already taken to adapting manual focus glass to the GFX.
A simple task with Fujifilm’s excellent two-screen manual focus aid.
Thought I was done.
Up to this point, I was aware of the Kipon medium format to full-frame focal reducer mentioned above.
Had not put any thought into applying the same solution to digital medium format. That is, until Kipon reached out to me recently.
Analog medium format lens with a focal reducer to fit a digital medium format sensor? Genius.
As much as I enjoyed that Hasselblad V to Sony FE solution, GFX is a better fit.
- Larger camera body will provide a more balanced user experience.
- Less of a stretch to fit a Hasselblad V image circle to a GFX sensor.
And far less expensive than the native Hasselblad path to using V lens with a digital sensor. At a minimum that would require:
- Hasselblad V lens.
- Hasseblad V body.
- Hasselblad viewfinder.
- Hasselblad 907x back.
I will not bore you with all the numbers, but even used a 100MP 907x back alone would cost more than a used GFX100S, Hasselblad V lens, and this adapter combined. And that would leave out features. While it is a path that is closer to the original analog use case, the GFX100S path has advantages:
- IBIS.
- EVF.
- Ready for TTL out of the box.
- Native GFX lenses offer access to modern phase detect AF.
- The focal reducer adds a bit of light.
Having said all of that I would not fault anyone for going the Hasselblad route. But the KIPON route is more up my alley.
Moving on.
The lenses.
Hasselblad Carl Zeiss Distagon 50mm f4 T* C.
First up, a great wide lens that I scored from a legend, Professor Lonnie Graham.
A 50mm f/4 that also was a deal I could not refuse.
The lens is far better traveled than I am. Read this interview I did for KEH Spotlight blog as confirmation.
Once owned by me and sold on when I traded the 501c for the GFX it was still at the camera shop. It was an easy pick for this test.
So, how did I get on with this lens adapted to GFX with the KIPON BAVEYES focal reducer?
Wonderfully. Better than I did with both the Hasselblad 501c…
…and the Sony A7III.
So much better that I racked up more images in a couple of days than I did over a much longer time with the 501c and A7III. Here are some of my favorites.
I will start with the photo that sealed the deal for me.
Hasselblad 120mm f/4 Makro-Planar CFi T*.
This second lens was not going to hang around long. A lovely lens. Never did take a proper product pic. The only pic I have is from the day I borrowed it.
Why so hasty? Easy. $1,300.
Worth it? Yep. But I would likely go for the much less expensive 150mm f/4.
Back to the 120mm f/4. Here are the sample pics.
A great lens… that now needed to hurry up and go back before I got any bright ideas about trying to purchase it.
Thoughts.
I like this rig. A lot.
What I like.
- Easy to focus with the Fujifilm two-screen manual focus aid.
- IBIS works great with these lenses.
- Side and up tilting screen makes for great low and odd angle photos.
- I love the IQ available with this set up.
- As good, if not better than every other image capturing medium I have tried before.
- The larger body brings a larger grip that makes easy work of wielding Hasselblad V lenses.
All this comes together for a fantastic image capturing experience and resulting images.
What I do not like.
I have nothing.
Do I recommend it?
Yes, but with qualifiers.
Do you have a GFX or a Hasselblad X digital medium format camera and Hasselblad lenses already?
Definitely.
Do you have a GFX or a Hasselblad X digital medium format camera?
Still a yes. All Hasselblad V lenses I have ever tried are fantastic. And some are available at very reasonable prices.
Have a Hasselblad V camera and lenses?
Maybe. If you have ever been on the fence about picking up a GFX body, here is your push.
Have none of this stuff?
That is on you. This is certainly not the only path to excellent IQ. I take no responsibility if you do decide to make the jump.
Certainly do not start here.
If you already have a mirrorlesss full frame camera or a Pentax K-1 (like I used with an M-42 to K adapter) something very affordable like a Helios 44-2 comes to mind.
You may be happy with that or any number of solutions in between.
Do I still want a 907x?
Last time in the first Kipon review, I said yes. Now?
No.
I prefer this. Well done, KIPON.
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 
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