Designed to further the capabilities of all X System cameras by taking high-quality imaging even further out into the world, Hasselblad launches the new XCD 4/45P. Designed for the utmost in portability, the XCD 45P stands as the most lightweight and compact member of the XCD lens family. Weighing only 320g (0.7 lbs) and measuring 47mm (1.85 in) in depth, the XCD 45P is the world’s lightest digital medium format autofocus lens on the market today.

“We’re extremely proud we could produce a lens with as high optical performance as the rest of our XCD lenses in such a compact form,” said Hasselblad Lead Optical Designer, Per Nordlund.

The XCD 45P allows photographers to bring high-quality optics on any adventure, ranging from travel photography across deserts and up mountains to urban exploration and documentary. The minimal weight combined with superior image quality, the XCD 45P coupled with the X1D II and Phocus Mobile 2 lets creatives go physically further with their creative visions with lighter gear in their kit and a highly portable workflow.

“I was immediately impressed with how compact and quiet the XCD 45P lens is. Traveling internationally and shooting mostly in urban and street environments, portability while not sacrificing quality can be difficult to achieve. The Hasselblad XCD 45P lens paired with the X1D II 50C provides me an unrivaled quality and portability in one system.”
– Hasselblad Master Ben Thomas about the XCD 45P

“This lens enables full, intimate portraits with a minimum depth of field and pinpoint sharpness – glorious capabilities to apply to street shooting. It is unobtrusive and low key, lightweight and so readily portable. Shooting medium format to this quality, with this much spontaneity was great fun and the results sing this result loudly.”
– Tom Oldham

The XCD 45P features an optical design incorporating two aspherical elements, resulting in state-of-the-art optical performance within compact dimensions. The XCD 45P has been designed with discreet portability in mind and thanks to evolved designs, both the autofocus motor and leaf shutter have been reduced in audible noise. Photographers will find that the new XCD 45P leaf shutter is less audible than many focal plane mechanical shutters.

With a minimum focus distance of 35cm (13.8 in) and a maximum image scale of 1:5.2, the XCD 45P is even suitable for food or still life photography. Its mechanically connected focus ring gives the lens a responsive and accurate manual focus experience. Just as the other XCD lenses, the XCD 45P is uncompromising in its build quality, technical excellence, optical performance, and balance in handheld use in addition to its built-in leaf shutter that allows for flash sync up to 1/2000s.

“The XCD 45P lens is a very innovative product for the X System. The main innovation is, of course, the compactness (it’s shorter than the first XCD 45) which makes the lens more portable and compact, especially for photographers that like to walk around in nature or the city with their X1D paired with a light lens. It was a very clever idea to create a more compact lens because the 45mm focal length can be adapted to many situations, conditions, and subjects. I tested the XCD 45P to immortalize the beginning of winter in the Dolomites, marked by snowy hills, valleys, little huts and sharp peaks in the background. What I also appreciated when photographing with this lens was that it is very silent and really sharp.”
– Isabella Tabacchi about the XCD 45P

Here are the official sample images from Hasselblad. Hasselblad H System photographer Tom Oldham was one of the first in the world to put the new XCD 45P lens, the world’s lightest digital medium format autofocus lens on the market today, to the test in the low winter light of London. Its compact design and nearly silent shutter coupled with the X1D II made for an ideal combination for shooting street portraits, minimizing the feeling of a camera between the photographer and subject.

“The XCD 45P created an alternative style of shooting I’ve not adopted for a really long time and tested ideas and workflow which is always healthy for someone very familiar with their regular shooting techniques. There’s no doubt what a solid, welcome and popular position this lens will find itself amongst the XCD lens family.”

Available at the end of this month the lens will cost $1099 excluding VAT. The existing f/3.5 lens costs $2700.
For more information see the Hasselblad website.