Hasselblad Historical - Focal length comparisons

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'Equivalent' 35 mm format (24x36 mm) focal lengths

By Q.G. de Bakker A very frequently asked question is one about the 35 mm format focal length equivalent of the lenses used on Hasselblad's 6x6 format. It is often asked, perhaps because there is no single answer. The aspect ratios of 6x6 format (1:1) and 35 format (1:1.5) differ considerably, and an answer will depend on what aspect is used in the comparison.

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Diagonal
Hardware History How to Manufactureres usually only state the diagonal angle of view of the lenses they produce. As a result, the diagonal often has to be taken as the basis for comparisons. In Figure 1, 6x6 format (black outline) and 35 mm format (red outline) frames that have the same size diagonal are superimposed. As Figure 1 shows, the different aspect ratios of both formats lead to a rather different framing: the 6x6 frame is taller than the 35 mm format frame, yet less wide. A subject just fitting inside the 35 mm frame horizontally will not fit inside the 6x6 frame, and conversely, a subject just fitting inside the 6x6 frame vertically will not fit inside the 35 mm

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Figure 1 Same diagonal angle of view

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frame. Framing in both formats is equivalent only in the rare case that subjects have to be framed diagonally. The differences in both horizontal and vertical aspects then still make it very hard, if not impossible, to crop an diagonally composed image in either format to the image produced by the other format.

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Vertical
Hasselblad Foundation Victor Hasselblad AB Another option would be to select lenses so that their vertical angles of view are the same (Figure 2). The difference in aspect ratios of the two formats then shows itself in the horizontal angle of view, which is 1.5 times as large on 35 mm format as that of the equivalent lens on 6x6 format. It obviously is very easy to crop the larger frame to produce an image exactly the same as that produced inside the smaller frame. The (vertical) equivalence is true.

Figure 2 Same vertical angle of view

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Figure 3 Same horizontal angle of view

Horizontal
Conversely, when the lenses are chosen so that the horizontal angles of view are the same (Figure 3), the difference in aspect ratio leads to a 1.5 times larger vertical angle of view on 6x6 format. Again, cropping the taller frame to produce an image exactly the same as that captured in the smaller frame is not a problem, i.e. the (horizontal) equivalence is true.

The Hasselblad focal lengths given in the table to the right are nominal. The actual focal lengths differ, not only from this nominal focal length, but also from that of other Zeiss/Hasselblad lenses having nominally the same focal length. To keep the table simple, the choice was made to use the nominal focal lengths instead of the true focal lengths. As a result the table only gives an approximation of the equivalent 35 mm format focal lengths. Since the known focal lengths of 35 mm format lenses are also nominal, with their true focal lengths rarely known, an approximation will be the best a general comparison can achieve. For critical purposes, an actual test of all the lenses involved will be necessary.

6x6 format lens same horizontal angle of view 38 mm 40 mm 50 mm 60 mm 80 mm 100 mm 105 mm 110 mm 120 mm 135 mm 150 mm 180 mm 250 mm 300 mm 350 mm 500 mm

35 mm format lens having the same vertical angle of view 16 mm 17 mm 21 mm 25 mm 34 mm 42 mm 45 mm 47 mm 51 mm 57 mm 64 mm 76 mm 106 mm 127 mm 149 mm 212 mm same diagonal angle of view 21 mm 22 mm 27 mm 32 mm 43 mm 54 mm 57 mm 60 mm 65 mm 73 mm 81 mm 97 mm 135 mm 162 mm 190 mm 271 mm

24 mm 25 mm 32 mm 38 mm 51 mm 64 mm 67 mm 70 mm 76 mm 86 mm 96 mm 115 mm 159 mm 191 mm 223 mm 319 mm

6 x 4.5 format
Ever since Hasselblad introduced a film magazine producing 16 frames in 6x4.5 format in 1956, 6x6 is not the only Hasselblad film format.

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Hasselblad Historical - Focal length comparisons

Figure 4 Same horizontal angle of view

The difference in the aspect ratios of 35 mm format and 6x4.5 format is small. The 6x4.5 format is a little bit taller than the 35 mm format. Consequently, the spread in equivalent focal lengths depending on what aspect is chosen to be equal is also smaller.

Figure 5 Same vertical angle of view

Figures 4 and 5 show the difference in framing when lenses are chosen so that either the horizontal or vertical angles of view are equal (blue outline = 6x4.5 format).

6x4.5 format lens

35 mm format lens having the same horizontal angle of view same vertical angle of view 22 mm 23 mm 29 mm 34 mm 46 mm 57 mm 60 mm 63 mm 69 mm 77 mm 86 mm 103 mm 143 mm 171 mm 200 mm 286 mm same diagonal angle of view 23 mm 25 mm 31 mm 37 mm 49 mm 61 mm 65 mm 68 mm 74 mm 83 mm 92 mm 111 mm 154 mm 184 mm 215 mm 307 mm

38 mm 40 mm 50 mm 60 mm 80 mm 100 mm 105 mm 110 mm 120 mm 135 mm 150 mm 180 mm 250 mm 300 mm 350 mm 500 mm

24 mm 25 mm 32 mm 38 mm 51 mm 64 mm 67 mm 70 mm 76 mm 86 mm 96 mm 115 mm 159 mm 191 mm 223 mm 319 mm

The Hasselblad focal lengths given in the table to the left are nominal. The actual focal lengths differ, not only from this nominal focal length, but also from that of other Zeiss/Hasselblad lenses having nominally the same focal length. To keep the table simple, the choice was made to use the nominal focal lengths instead of the true focal lengths. As a result the table only gives an approximation of the equivalent 35 mm format focal lengths. Since the known focal lengths of 35 mm format lenses are also nominal, with their true focal lengths rarely known, an approximation will be the best a general comparison can achieve. For critical purposes, an actual test of all the lenses involved will be necessary.

4 x 4 'superslide' format
The third and last Hasselblad format to consider is the 4x4 cm 'superslide' format. It was introduced in 1957, to produce slides that could be projected using normal 35 mm format projectors. The aspect ratio is the same as that of the original 6x6 format, so the same considerations apply. Though being much smaller than the 6x6 format, the angles of view will be smaller too. The equivalent 35 mm format focal lengths will be longer accordingly.

The Hasselblad focal lengths given in the table to the right are nominal. The actual focal lengths differ, not only from this nominal focal length, but also from that of other Zeiss/Hasselblad lenses having nominally the same focal length. To keep the table simple, the choice was made to use the nominal focal lengths instead of the true focal lengths. As a result the table only gives an approximation of the equivalent 35 mm format focal lengths. Since the known focal lengths of 35 mm format lenses are also nominal, with their true focal lengths rarely known, an approximation will be the best a general comparison can achieve. For critical purposes, an actual test of all the lenses involved will be necessary.

4x4 format lens same horizontal angle of view 38 mm 40 mm 50 mm 60 mm 80 mm 100 mm 105 mm 110 mm 120 mm 135 mm 150 mm 180 mm 250 mm 300 mm 350 mm 500 mm

35 mm format lens having the same vertical angle of view 22 mm 23 mm 29 mm 35 mm 47 mm 59 mm 61 mm 64 mm 70 mm 79 mm 88 mm 105 mm 146 mm 176 mm 205 mm 293 mm same diagonal angle of view 28 mm 30 mm 37 mm 45 mm 60 mm 75 mm 78 mm 82 mm 90 mm 101 mm 112 mm 134 mm 187 mm 224 mm 261 mm 373 mm

33 mm 35 mm 44 mm 53 mm 70 mm 88 mm 92 mm 97 mm 105 mm 119 mm 132 mm 158 mm 220 mm 263 mm 307 mm 439 mm

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Hasselblad Historical - Focal length comparisons

Figure 6 Relative sizes of 6x6 (black), 6x4.5 (blue), superslide (green) and 35 mm (red) formats superimposed

Online calculator Click here for an online calculator, comparing the angles of view for a number of popular formats.
Copyright 2009 - Q.G. de Bakker. All rights reserved. All material on this site is protected by law. Unauthorized use is prohibited. - Hasselblad Historical -

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