Metabones' Speed Booster mounts 'full-frame medium format' Hasselblad V glass with an increased field of view and aperture
(Image credit: Metabones)
Good news for users of Fujifilm GFX cameras: the Metabones Hasselblad V Lens to Fuji GFX Cine Speed Booster Ultra 0.71x enables you to use classic Hasselblad glass with an increased field of view and maximum aperture.
Bad news for users of Fujifilm GFX cameras: it comes with the necessary acknowledgement that Fujifilm's medium format cameras are in fact cropped medium format cameras.
The Metabones Speed Booster makes the Hasselblad 110mm f/2 a 78mm f/1.4 equivalent (Image credit: Metabones)
However, the new Metabones Speed Booster makes it possible to use 6 x 6 Hasselblad V-mount optics while receiving a significant improvement (the titular "speed boost") in maximum aperture.
The Booster introduces a 0.71x crop factor, which effectively increases both the focal length and the speed of an adapted lens. So the legendary Hasselblad 110mm f/2 Planar FE, for example, becomes a formidable 78mm f/1.4 equivalent.
Boasting an advanced, six-element design, the Metabones Speed Booster has been engineered to match the optical characteristics of Hasselblad lenses. According to Metabones:
"All of the Hasselblad V lenses were analyzed for exit pupil size and location, and this was fully taken into account in the new Speed Booster Ultra for the Fuji GFX. This approach dictated the use of extremely large lens elements throughout in order to avoid vignetting and maintain high quality imagery into the corners".
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The Speed Booster has been engineered to complement the characteristics of Hasselblad V glass (Image credit: Metabones)
While Fujifilm GFX bodies do not support traditional medium format leaf shutters, such lenses are fully usable via the GFX focal plane shutter. In addition, the Speed Booster features true electronic integration of the aperture diaphragm and records full EXIF data.
The Metabones Hasselblad V Lens to Fuji G mount Cine Speed Booster Ultra 0.71x is available for $899 (£741). A non-speed boosting version, the Metabones Hasselblad V Lens to Fuji G mount T Cine Adapter, is also available for $399 (£329).
The editor of Digital Camera World, James has 21 years experience as a journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014 (as an assistant to Damian McGillicuddy, who succeeded David Bailey as Principal Photographer for Olympus). In this time he shot for clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal, in addition to shooting campaigns and product testing for Olympus, and providing training for professionals. This has led him to being a go-to expert for camera and lens reviews, photo and lighting tutorials, as well as industry news, rumors and analysis for publications like Digital Camera Magazine, PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine, Digital Photographer and Professional Imagemaker, as well as hosting workshops and talks at The Photography Show. He also serves as a judge for the Red Bull Illume Photo Contest. An Olympus and Canon shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and a fondness for vintage lenses and instant cameras.
