Hasselblad XCD 25mm f/2.5 V Review: Bright and Wide
Hasselblad has introduced a new 25mm prime lens to add to its already crowded wide-angle assortment. I’ve reviewed the 30mm f/3.5, and Hasselblad also has 28mm f/4 and 21mm f/4 lenses. However, this new wide prime splits the difference and has an even brighter f/2.5 aperture.
Hasselblad XCD 25mm f/2.5 Review: How It Handles
Hasselblad has been working hard lately to reduce its the size and bulk of its lenses while increasing light-gathering potential. The 25mm lens has an ordinary 72mm filter diameter, and at only 20.8 ounces (592 grams), it is very lightweight for its capabilities.
![Interior view of a vibrant, ornately decorated temple ceiling showcasing intricate patterns and a central dragon motif, with colorful lanterns and kites hanging below.](https://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/05/B0000023-800x600.jpg)
Hasselblad lenses are always built to a high standard and have good weather-sealed designs. I like the manual focus ring with its quick push-pull clutch, and the rubber grips are very grippy, for lack of a better term.
![Close-up of a hasselblad xcd 25 camera lens hood against a dark background, highlighting the brand name and model in white text.](https://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/05/Hasselblad-25mm-Badge-800x450.jpg)
![Close-up of a camera lens showing detailed focus distance and aperture scales, with a blurred dark background.](https://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/05/Hasselblad-25mm-Aperture-Click-800x450.jpg)
Hasselblad has also added a customizable ring that can be set to click or de-click functionality. I used it primarily as a clicked aperture ring to facilitate faster exposure control.
![Black and white photo of a dimly lit room with a window casting shadow patterns on the floor. a trash bin and a large dumpster, both tagged with graffiti, are visible.](https://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/05/B0000028-600x800.jpg)
![Silhouettes of three people walking and biking in a sunlit urban area, with tall buildings, a mural, and buses under a clear blue sky.](https://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/05/B0000062-800x600.jpg)
Hasselblad XCD 25mm f/2.5 Review: How It Shoots
The autofocus motor isn’t blisteringly fast. Still, Hasselblad cameras don’t tend to focus that quickly anyway, and for the architecture and landscape shots that the 25mm is intended for, the fastest autofocusing isn’t critical.
![Vibrant street art on sidewalk tiles featuring the ukrainian flag in yellow and blue, partially covered with snow, with the word "solidarity" printed over in large, white letters.](https://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/05/B0000045-600x800.jpg)
![A dynamic view of modern skyscrapers with reflective glass facades under a clear blue sky, featuring a foreground of a curved building with a sunburst reflecting off one tower.](https://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/05/B0000069-600x800.jpg)
Hasselblad is known for having excellent lens coatings, and the 25mm does not disappoint. Contrast is excellent even when shooting toward bright light sources, and ghosting is well controlled even at tighter apertures. The lens also delivers stunning sunstars, which landscape and cityscape photographers will appreciate.
![Sunstar through the eye of a dragon](https://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/05/B0000011-600x800.jpg)
![Black and white image looking up at towering skyscrapers with sharp geometric shapes dominating the frame. the name "fasken" is visible on one building.](https://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/05/B0000056-600x800.jpg)
I wanted to test bokeh and the look of specular highlights, so I popped into a local dessert cafe called Rocky Dessert Market. Tommy, the owner, was kind enough to allow me to shoot inside. I found the highlights at f/2.5 to have no cat’s eye effect and to be free from onion rings or a strong soap bubble effect.
![A person sits alone at a table in a dimly lit cafeteria with rays of light casting shadows through large windows, highlighting a pattern of empty chairs and tables around them.](https://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/05/B0000044-600x800.jpg)
![A black and white image displaying a stone lion sculpture casting a stark shadow under a bright light in a dark environment, emphasizing dramatic contrasts.](https://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/05/B0000027-600x800.jpg)
Even more surprising was the round shape of the highlights when the aperture was stopped. Hasselblad lenses typically have a distracting polygonal look to the highlights, but the 25mm lens renders them smooth and round-looking. This gives out-of-focus areas of the image a soft and creamy look and makes the transitions across areas of the image smooth and buttery.
![A plush teddy bear with a red bow sitting at a wooden table in a cafe, next to a glass of milk and a decorative cup. the cafe has a modern interior with hanging lights and patrons in the background.](https://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/05/B0000052-600x800.jpg)
Next, I tested sharpness and found the 25mm exceptionally sharp in the center of the frame at f/2.5. Stopping down slightly improved contrast, but just barely. Even the corners look good wide open, and the lens shoots very flat, which means that if the center is in focus, the corners are too.
![Side-by-side comparison of a canadian one-dollar bill photographed at two different aperture settings, f/2.5 on the left and f/5.6 on the right, with visible depth of field differences.](https://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/05/Hasselblad-25mm-Corner-sharpness-800x450.jpg)
A Welcome Addition to Hasselblad XCD
There aren’t many lenses intended for night photography on the Hasselblad medium format system. But this 25mm is the closest we’ve got so far, and I wanted to shoot some night scenes. At f/2.5, there was almost no Coma in the corners, but there was some Sagittal Astigmatism, which creates a bat-wing look to highlight the edges of the frame. It wasn’t terrible, though, and by f/4, the Coma and SA essentially go away. This is not a perfect astrophotography lens, but it’s the best we’ve seen from Hasselblad.
![](https://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/05/B0000073-800x600.jpg)
So you have a lens with some of the nicest bokeh you’ll get, a usable f/2.5 aperture, and sharpness as well. If you want a fast wide-angle with excellent optics and the versatility to shoot nightscapes, look no further.
![Sunset over a calm sea with rocks in the foreground and small islands in the distance under a golden sky.](https://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/05/B0007059-Edit-copy.jpg)
![A black and white photo of a serene lake with smooth water, featuring large rocks in the foreground and a small, tree-covered island in the background under a cloudy sky.](https://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/05/B0007071-Edit-copy.jpg)
![Twilight settles over a serene harbor with boats moored peacefully on calm waters. a small floating dock in the foreground holds two boats, against a backdrop of a quaint hillside town.](https://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/05/B0007076-Edit-copy.jpg)
![Black and white photo of a flowing stream with cascading rapids swirling around a central rock, bordered by forest and patches of grass.](https://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/05/B0007110-Edit-copy.jpg)
![An older man in a jacket and cap stands at a sunny crosswalk in a city, looking towards the shaded street flanked by modern buildings. shadows create a stark contrast on the pavement.](https://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/05/B0000067-600x800.jpg)
Are There Alternatives?
The 21mm and 28mm primes are good options, but I find the 21mm to be too wide in most scenarios, and this new 25mm gives you more light to boot. If you want one wide-angle prime to handle as much as possible, the 25mm is the way to go.
Should You Buy It?
Yes. The versatility and bright aperture make this an excellent choice for the Hasselblad system.