For the past six months I have had the opportunity to thoroughly test the Hasselblad XCD 35-100 E - Hasselblad's brand new all-round zoom lens. With this lens, I have photographed advertising campaigns for Hasselblad, accompanied a family wedding high up in the Alps and documented my photo workshop in southern Spain - all without changing lenses once. And to be honest: the 35-100 E absolutely convinced me in every single situation. But there is something that made me wonder. After half a year of relying completely on this zoom, I'm faced with an interesting decision. Because the very thing that makes this lens so incredibly versatile and powerful could also be the reason why I don't want to use it permanently. You can find out what I mean by this - and what experiences I have had with the XCD 35-100 E - in the following blog post.

You can find the full video review with lots of sample shots here:

First impression and technical classification of the Hasselblad XCD 35-100 E

When I took the Hasselblad XCD 35-100 E out of its packaging for the first time, I was immediately impressed. This is exactly how I have always imagined a medium format lens to be: robust, precise and with tangible substance. In contrast to its prime siblings in the V series, the new zoom looks much more massive. With its diameter of 90 mm, it feels powerful in the hand and immediately conveys the feeling of working with a tool of the highest quality.

The workmanship is top class. The focus and zoom ring run smoothly with just the right amount of resistance. The metal housing has a high-quality appearance and the engravings and controls are immediately reminiscent of the iconic lenses of the classic V series. The only thing I miss on this model is the focus clutch for quickly switching to manual focus.

Despite the large image circle for the medium format sensor, the lens is surprisingly compact. With a weight of 894 g, it is almost exactly on a par with the Canon 24-70 mm f/2.8 (900 g) and is significantly lighter than the Fujinon GF 45-100 mm, which weighs over 1 kg. At 13.3 cm in length, it is slightly larger than its Canon counterpart (12.6 cm), but a far cry from the massive 17.5 cm of the Fuji.

Different information on focal length conversion is circulating on the Internet. This is probably due to the fact that Hasselblad states an actual range of 36-97 mm in the official data sheet. Converted to full-frame format, this results in a 28-76 mm f/2.2-3.2 - a versatile range that covers many fields of application. Compared to the classic "Holy Trinity" of full-frame photography (24-70 mm f/2.8), you lose around 4 mm in the wide-angle range, but gain 6 mm in the telephoto range - an advantage that is particularly noticeable in landscape photography. With a starting aperture of f/2.2, the 35-100 E competes with the legendary Canon 38-70 mm f/2, and is only about a third of an aperture slower than the usual f/2.8 zoom at the long end. The 35-100 E is also unrivaled by Fujifilm's medium format competitor. No Fuji zoom offers a comparable focal length range or a speed greater than f/4.

The maximum aperture changes over the zoom range as follows:

- 35 mm: f/2.8

- 38 mm: f/3.2 (approx. ⅔ aperture weaker than the XCD 38V)

- 55 mm: f/3.5 (approx. 1 f-stop slower than the XCD 55V)

- 70 mm: f/4 (approx. ⅓ aperture fainter than the XCD 75P)

Although these fine gradations make the lens slightly slower than some fixed focal lengths, they ensure constant optical performance over the entire range. Hasselblad also relies on the highest quality for the shutter. The integrated leaf shutter operates between 1/4000 of a second and 68 minutes and, thanks to the low base ISO of 50 or 64, enables shots with an open aperture and soft bokeh even in bright sunlight. The XCD 35-100 E thus combines technical precision, versatility and classic Hasselblad haptics in a remarkably well-balanced lens.

Night photography with light painting with the Hasselblad X2D II and the XCD 35-100E, @35mm, 40 seconds, f/2.8, ISO 200

Practical experience with the Hasselblad XCD 35-100 E - flexibility without compromise

Enough of the technical details - how does the XCD 35-100 E perform in everyday photography? While during the campaign shoot for the Hasselblad XCD 20-35 E I kept feeling that the lens was too wide-angle for me, I immediately felt at home with the XCD 35-100 E. It covers exactly the focal lengths I use most often and combines my two favorite lenses, the XCD 38V and the XCD 90V, in one body. Accordingly, for the first two months I used the lens almost exclusively at the ends of the zoom range - at 35 mm for wide overviews and at 100 mm for compressed details.

This flexibility proved to be a great advantage, especially when shooting for the Hasselblad X2D II Launch. The light and weather conditions were constantly changing during production, but the 35-100 allowed me to react quickly to any situation and create a varied, coherent portfolio. If you're unsure how to set up your Hasselblad X2D or X2D II to get the best possible efficiency and image quality, you can find my X2D setup guide on my website, where I explain step by step how to get the best out of your camera:

X2D Setup Guide

On windy days, I noticed that the lens picks up significantly more movement when extended than the more compact fixed focal lengths. Where the subject allowed it, I therefore positioned myself in front of the camera as a windscreen - a simple but effective trick to avoid camera shake. A special experience was my brother-in-law's wedding in Zillertal, where I had the opportunity to test the lens under real reportage conditions. As no official photographer was booked, I took over the photographic accompaniment of the wedding ceremony and some couple shots. In this spectacular mountain setting, I wouldn't have been able to resist the shutter release anyway - and the XCD 35-100 E was the perfect companion. In combination with the new X2D II, photography was simply fun. From tight portraits to wide landscape shots and detailed images of the rings - this setup creates a real "flow" feeling. Over 300 shots were taken in just 40 minutes, and not a single one was out of focus. The continuous autofocus with subject detection kept the focus precisely on the bride and groom while I ran across the alpine meadows, zoomed in and was able to concentrate fully on the image composition. If you understand the interplay of focal length and subject distance, you can create a wonderfully vivid bokeh with this lens in every setting - one that preserves context and yet gently separates the main subject from the background. Even during the wedding ceremony, where no shot could be repeated, the 35-100 E and the X2D II worked reliably and quickly.

Handheld long exposure at the beach of Nerja, Spain. Hasselblad X2D II with XCD 35-100 E, @70mm, 1 second, f/9, ISO 50

Traveling light - The XCD 35-100 E on the road in a practical test

The portability of the lens was the main focus of my last photo project. For my photo workshop in southern Spain, I traveled exclusively with hand luggage - no additional backpack, no superfluous equipment. Clothing, camera equipment and the laptop for the image processing sessions had to fit completely into the new Peak Design Roller Pro and a Medium Camera Cube as a personal item. This meant: no tripod, no lens alternatives - just the Hasselblad X2D II, the XCD 35-100 E and a set of ND and polarizing filters.

Despite this minimalist setup, the weight became noticeable over the course of long days of shooting. At a summery 30 °C, the camera felt increasingly heavy and when walking, hanging on the shoulder strap, it pressed noticeably against the hips. Not dramatically, but significantly more than the 500 g lighter XCD 38V. The advantage of this setup was obvious: I didn't have to worry about dust on the sensor. A zoom lens that you don't have to change is probably the most effective dust protection you can get for a Hasselblad camera.

Once again, the strength of the system - its versatility - became apparent. With just one camera and one lens, I was able to switch easily between different subjects:

- Long exposures of up to one second from the hand,

- Architectural photography with precise lines,

- Close-ups in the botanical garden,

- and even a spontaneous portrait shoot on the beach with an influencer.

Everything was feasible - and the image quality was outstanding, as you would expect from Hasselblad. Even at open aperture, details are razor sharp right into the corners of the image. Chromatic aberrations did not occur in everyday use, and the slight vignetting that is visible at open aperture disappears completely from around f/8 to f/11 - exactly in the aperture range in which I work most frequently.

The 35-100 even proved to be surprisingly useful for astrophotography. At 38 mm and f/2.8, impressive results can be achieved even without moonlight. For pinpoint stars, the exposure time should be limited to a maximum of eight seconds - in combination with ISO 3200, this produces detailed images, such as those I was able to take in El Torcal National Park. The workshop participants were also enthusiastic about the handling and image quality of the new zoom - so much so that I hardly got the lens back in between. By the way, you can already find my new workshop dates for 2026 on the website:

Workshops

The Hasselblad XCD 35-100 E feels great in the hand and is lighter than you might think.

Personal conclusion on the Hasselblad XCD 35-100 E - Between versatility and photographic discipline

Let's come back to my initial hesitation about the Hasselblad XCD 35-100 E. After all the positive impressions and justified enthusiasm, one might think that there is hardly anything wrong with this lens - and that is basically true. I am convinced that the 35-100 E could become one of the best-selling lenses in the Hasselblad line-up. It is versatile, optically excellent and at the same time smaller, lighter and cheaper than buying two high-quality prime lenses. By the way, if you want to save money on your next purchase of DJI or Hasselblad technology, use this link to the online store of DJI Stores Germany and get your discount directly credited.

Nevertheless, after six months of intensive use of the zoom, I'm looking forward to using my trusty XCD 38V and XCD 90V again. My approach to photography is very structured. As you may know from my projects and videos, I usually work on clearly defined subjects with a conscious visual language and a precise approach to composition and focal length. With the 35-100, I've realized that I tend to "just go with the flow" - intuitively zooming in rather than specifically choosing the focal length for its characteristic look and effect on the composition.

A fixed focal length forces me to work more consciously. My eye gets used to the fixed image section and I start to look specifically for motifs that fit into this frame. That's what I've really been missing in recent months - this focused, reduced work that leads to a more consistent visual language. I also really appreciate the focus clutch of the V series when focusing manually - even if the focus wheel of the 35-100 E is technically precise and pleasant to use.

This leads to a conclusion that describes the balance between technical perfection and personal sense of style. The Hasselblad XCD 35-100 E delivers top performance in every respect - aperture, sharpness, contrast and color fidelity are on a par with the best fixed focal lengths. In some respects it even surpasses them, for example with its modern stepping autofocus motor and the maximum shutter speed of 1/4000 second. Although it is not quite as light and compact as a single fixed focal length, those who regularly work between two focal lengths save weight, space and money. You also protect the sensor by changing lenses less often, work faster and can capture fleeting moments more easily.

The lens is a true all-rounder and will be a loyal companion in many areas - from advertising and fashion photography to reportage and travel photography to portrait and product photography (with the exception of macros). In these situations, you will hardly miss a fixed focal length. Especially in combination with the XCD 20-35 E or the XCD 25V, the zoom covers a focal length range that is sufficient for a photographic life's work - with maximum image quality, the best processing and the latest autofocus technology.

However, if you prefer the deliberate reduction, the lighter luggage and the creative discipline of a fixed focal length, the 35-100 E still fits perfectly into Hasselblad's system. It can be excellently combined with lightweights such as the XCD 28P or specialists such as the XCD 120 Macro. And not to forget: Hasselblad itself describes the 35-100 E as the second lens of the "Holy Trinity" - so many of us are eagerly awaiting the missing real telephoto lens. By the way, I'm currently working with a completely different kind of Hasselblad lens - one that you've probably never heard of. If you want to know what it's all about, please subscribe to my YouTube channel.

See you next time and have fun taking photos!