Hasselblad XCD 35-100mm f/2.8-4 E

This zoom covers 35-100mm on Hasselblad X mount medium format bodies. That span suits portrait, fashion, and editorial work with people. The 35mm end handles wider views of groups and their surroundings, while 100mm favors tighter single portraits.

It works well as the one lens in a location or studio bag, since framing can change faster than a shoot allows for swapping glass. The trade-off is the variable maximum aperture, which narrows as you zoom toward 100mm.

Hasselblad released it in 2025, making it a recent addition to the X system.

The lens weighs 1 lb 15.5 oz (894 g). It measures 5.24 in (133 mm) long at its wide end and 3.54 in (90 mm) across. It extends as you zoom. Consider the camera and lens together when choosing support for a long portrait session.

Screw-in filters attach at the front, and a polarizer or ND filter must match the 86mm thread. Filters let you tame reflections and bright skies on outdoor jobs.

The 35–100mm range gives broad framing options on medium format. The wide end suits groups, interiors and portraits with a setting. Zooming toward 100mm makes a subject larger from the same position. Moving the camera changes perspective too, so check how the background relates to the person as you choose a viewpoint.

Light handling is the main compromise. The widest opening is f/2.8 at 35mm, which helps when shooting indoors without flash. Zoom to 100mm and the maximum becomes f/4. That widest opening fades just where single portraits often sit, so plan your lighting there. At the long end indoors, expect to add light or raise sensitivity.

Closest focus is 1.3 ft (40 cm) at 35mm, measured from the sensor. The minimum distance is longer at 100mm. Maximum magnification reaches 0.25x at the long end, useful for nearby product details. These limits apply at different zoom settings, so check both focus and framing as you change focal length.

There is no built-in stabilization. Handheld work in dim light depends on shutter speed and steady support. A monopod or tripod helps most at the 100mm end, where small shakes show more in the frame. Support steadies the camera; it will not freeze a moving subject.

Use cover when working in rain and keep the lens away from sea spray or blowing dust. Remove loose grit before wiping the front glass. Keep both ends capped during transport.

The built-in leaf shutter supports flash synchronisation throughout its shutter-speed range. That gives you more options when balancing flash with bright ambient light in a location portrait.

Three aspherical elements sit in the optical path. Their shaped surfaces help correct optical faults, including distortion, which can bend straight edges. That matters for interiors at the 35mm end, where straight edges are common.

Five low-dispersion elements help reduce chromatic aberration, where colours focus at different points and leave fringes along high-contrast edges such as rim-lit hair. Internal focusing keeps barrel length unchanged as focus shifts. Zooming is a separate movement and changes the length.