A few years ago, I reviewed the Hasselblad H6D 100c, and one of my biggest complaints was the lenses. This is not the case with Hasselblad’s X1D system. Every XCD lens I’ve tested has far outperformed my expectations, and now, I’ve found the best portrait lens I’ve ever shot with. 

For many photographers, a good 85mm lens is the perfect portrait lens. Personally, I find that lens a little too long, and I prefer a slighter wider lens. Unfortunately, the only wider option available from most manufacturers is a 50mm lens, which I find is just a little too wide. This is why I absolutely loved shooting with the XCD 80mm f/1.9 lens from Hasselblad. Being that this is a medium format lens, the field of view it produces would be very similar to a hypothetical 65mm f/1.5 lens on a full-frame camera. 

The results this lens produces are simply incredible. The detail it’s able to capture even when shot wide open truly put it in a league of its own. This is without a doubt the best and sharpest autofocus portrait lens I’ve ever shot with. 

Check out the full video linked above to see how it performs.