V lenses on X mount cameras – stacking adapters

[polychloros]

I know Hasselblad sell the XV adapter for directly mounting V lenses on the X camera bodies but it requires the use of the electronic shutter (and all the associated disadvantages that comes with that). Is it possible to stack the XH adapter and CF adapter (for the H system) and regain the use of the leaf shutters? I realise that you have to manually recock the lens with the CF Adapter but avoiding the electronic shutter would be a real boon.

[MSuser]

I know Hasselblad sell the XV adapter for directly mounting V lenses on the X camera bodies but it requires the use of the electronic shutter (and all the associated disadvantages that comes with that). Is it possible to stack the XH adapter and CF adapter (for the H system) and regain the use of the leaf shutters? I realise that you have to manually recock the lens with the CF Adapter but avoiding the electronic shutter would be a real boon.

No. The CF Adapter only works on the H–system cameras.

[JCM-Photos]

CF adapters for H and X systems are completely different

On X it's just an empty pipe with bayonets, and CF lenses work just like any other adapted lens (except adapted H which can be fully shutter and AF X compatible)

On H it's a complex item with manual CF cocking lever, release etc...

Using your stacking method would be very difficult to manage, perhaps dialing the X camera e-shutter a very long exposure time 2s or 3s and during this time triggering manually the CF leaf shutter ?

[polychloros]

No. The CF Adapter only works on the H–system cameras.

I know it is meant to go on the H system cameras but presumably it will also mount on the H mount end of the XH adapter too? In other words, X camera > XH adapter > CF adapter > C/CF/CFE lens.

[polychloros]

CF adapters for H and X systems are completely different

On X it's just an empty pipe with bayonets, and CF lenses work just like any other adapted lens (except adapted H which can be fully shutter and AF X compatible)

On H it's a complex item with manual CF cocking lever, release etc...

Yes, I get that they are different in concept and complexity (a difference reflected in the price). Given that the X camera can fire the leaf shutter in an HCD lens (when using the XH adapter) I wondered if it could fire the leaf shutter in a C/CF/CFE type lens when connected to the XH adapter via the CF Adapter? In other words, can the X camera treat the C lens and CF Adapter 'combo' as a pseudo HCD lens, at least for the purposes of simply firing the leaf shutter. I know that there wouldn't be AF, auto exposure or anything like that and I imagine that, missing the stuff in the H system firmware, the X camera would not be able to know which C type lens is being used or have this specified via a menu. As far as I know, the CF Adapter can be used on an H camera with simple extension tubes which sever the database connection between C type lens and H camera but still allow the camera to trigger the lens shutter.

[polychloros]

Replying to my own thread but looks like I missed a discussion about this from 2020 which includes the experience of some who have tried this. It appears that the CF Adapter doesn't fully mount on the XH Adapter, does mount on the XH 0.8 Converter, but in either case doesn't trigger the leaf shutter in the C lens.

https://www.hasselbladdigitalforum.com/index.php?topic=6844.0

[dece]

Replying to my own thread but looks like I missed a discussion about this from 2020 which includes the experience of some who have tried this. It appears that the CF Adapter doesn't fully mount on the XH Adapter, does mount on the XH 0.8 Converter, but in either case doesn't trigger the leaf shutter in the C lens.

https://www.hasselbladdigitalforum.com/index.php?topic=6844.0

(I started the 2020 discussion)
Yes too bad, although I would like to try by myself, maybe with H CF adapter "variability" & luck it could work... but the H CF adapter is difficult to find and expensive!...

That's why I started to use again my 2011 CFV-50 ccd (on 500/CM) after having fell for the X1D 4116 lure ... to be able to use the Zeiss "V" lenses (CF), that gave a better rendering/look (to me) ... + 'don't mind the 50 iso sensitivity.
(but I'll probably buy an X2D for low light photography)

[JCM-Photos]

Replying to my own thread but looks like I missed a discussion about this from 2020 which includes the experience of some who have tried this. It appears that the CF Adapter doesn't fully mount on the XH Adapter, does mount on the XH 0.8 Converter, but in either case doesn't trigger the leaf shutter in the C lens.

https://www.hasselbladdigitalforum.com/index.php?topic=6844.0

(I started the 2020 discussion)
Yes too bad, although I would like to try by myself, maybe with H CF adapter "variability" & luck it could work... but the H CF adapter is difficult to find and expensive!...

That's why I started to use again my 2011 CFV-50 ccd (on 500/CM) after having fell for the X1D 4116 lure ... to be able to use the Zeiss "V" lenses (CF), that gave a better rendering/look (to me) ... + 'don't mind the 50 iso sensitivity.
(but I'll probably buy an X2D for low light photography)

Yes I too love the "softer" Zeiss rendering on my CFV II 50c, if you choose the best and recent CF lenses the amount of details is quite the same as with XCD lenses but really smoother, my lenses are : CF50 FLE, CF80, CF250 SA, Mutar 2x on 80 and 250; I appreciate less the CF180.

But all depends also on post processing, for dreamy women portraitures I use exclusively the old V1  Phocus RAW engine in place of the modern crisp V3 engine

[MSuser]

...Given that the X camera can fire the leaf shutter in an HCD lens (when using the XH adapter) I wondered if it could fire the leaf shutter in a C/CF/CFE type lens when connected to the XH adapter via the CF Adapter?...

The XH Lens Adapter simply passes signals from the electronic contacts in the HC/HCD lens and the X-system camera. There is no mechanical linkage, so it's pretty straightforward. What differences might exist in the commands sent from an X-system camera to an XCD or HC/HCD lens shutter, I have no way of knowing and they may actually be the same for both.

In other words, can the X camera treat the C lens and CF Adapter 'combo' as a pseudo HCD lens, at least for the purposes of simply firing the leaf shutter. I know that there wouldn't be AF, auto exposure or anything like that and I imagine that, missing the stuff in the H system firmware, the X camera would not be able to know which C type lens is being used or have this specified via a menu.

I realize you're already aware this does not work, but I thought I would add some commentary. Hasselblad has expended a lot of effort over the decades to insure that new generations of products have a high degree of compatibility with existing equipment which owners have purchased. It's clear when you look at the transitions from the V to H-system and later from the H to X-system, they've worked hard to provide compatibility with existing lenses from the preceding generation to insure that your lens investments are not rendered obsolete. The degree of support, compatibility, and interoperability between three very different systems produced over a span of almost 70 years is pretty extraordinary!

Using H lenses with X cameras, is largely a matter of electronics and software/firmware. V Lenses functioning with an H camera is a much bigger challenge, not only due to the need for mechanically triggering the V lens; but the additional complexity of synchronizing the triggering of: the mechanically controlled leaf shutter in the lens, the mirror and auxiliary shutter in the body, the sensor in a digital back, and flash with enough precision that it all works together seamlessly.

I switched from the V to the H-system soon after the H1 was introduced. The first time I tried the CF Adapter, I was quite surprised at the functionality and capabilities and the amount of work that had to go into engineering all of that. The combination of the H1 and CF Adapter gave me the definite impression that the CF Adapter and H1 were designed together from the start to make transition from a 45 year old mechanical system to a new digital electronic system as seamless and painless as possible. Perhaps someday I'll be surprised and find Hasselblad has gone to the effort of creating a solution which allows V lens shutters to function on an X camera, but I suspect we will have sensors which make shutters unnecessary before that happens.

As far as I know, the CF Adapter can be used on an H camera with simple extension tubes which sever the database connection between C type lens and H camera but still allow the camera to trigger the lens shutter.

The CF Adapter mounts directly to an H body and is not compatible with any H lens accessories. If an extension tube or converter is used, it would require a V-series model between the CF Adapter and the V lens. Whatever V-series extension tube or converter is attached, the lens shutter will still be mechanically triggered as it would if mounted on a 500C/M or other V-series camera. Any connection for shutter triggering is mechanical.  hasselblad.com/manuals/accessories/CF Adapter User Manual V7 2018.pdf