Hasselblad 40mm f/4 Distagon C T* Lens for Hasselblad 500 Series V System, Black {Bayonet 104}

Hasselblad 40mm f/4 Distagon C T*: Wide-angle authority for the V System.

The 40mm f/4 Distagon C T* is the wide-angle workhorse of the Hasselblad 500 Series ecosystem. Built around Zeiss's Distagon optical design, it places the rear element well back from the focal plane, a configuration that allows genuinely wide coverage on 6x6 medium format without the compromises that plague simpler wide designs. T* anti-reflective coating keeps contrast high and flare controlled when shooting into light, which matters on a format where every detail reads at print size.

This is a manual focus lens with a Bayonet 104 mount interface, placing it squarely in the hands-on, deliberate working style that V System shooters already embrace. At f/4 maximum aperture, it rewards careful exposure discipline. The black finish is period-correct for late-production V System bodies and maintains a low profile in the field.

For a lens produced to Hasselblad's exacting tolerances, finding one on the used market represents access to a level of optical engineering that was built to last decades, and has.

Who It's For

Architecture photographers working on 6x6 film or digital V System backs will find the 40mm's wide angle of view on medium format well suited to interior and facade work where perspective control and edge-to-edge rendering matter. Landscape photographers who prefer deliberate, tripod-mounted composition get a lens calibrated for that pace. Documentary and street photographers shooting V System film bodies benefit from the Distagon's contrast and T* coating in mixed or backlit conditions. Studio photographers using the 500 Series for environmental portraits gain a focal length that renders generous space without distortion-heavy optics.

Key Features

• Zeiss Distagon optical design with rear-element positioning
• f/4 maximum aperture
• T* anti-reflective coating for contrast and flare control
• Bayonet 104 mount for Hasselblad 500 Series V System
• Manual focus operation
• Black finish, period-correct for late V System bodies

FAQ

What optical design does this 40mm use?

Zeiss Distagon, which positions the rear element well back from the focal plane. This configuration delivers genuinely wide coverage on 6×6 medium format without the optical compromises of simpler wide designs.

Is this lens autofocus?

No, it's manual focus only. That deliberate working style is standard for V System shooters.

What's the T* coating?

Zeiss's anti-reflective coating that keeps contrast high and flare controlled when shooting into light, which matters when every detail reads at print size on medium format.

What mount does it use?

Bayonet 104 mount interface for Hasselblad 500 Series V System bodies.

At f/4, how much light does it gather?

f/4 is the maximum aperture. It demands careful exposure discipline, but that's the trade-off for the optical engineering built into this design.

Why black finish instead of chrome?

Black finish is period-correct for late-production V System bodies and maintains a low profile in the field.