As one of the first to try out the new XH Converter 0,8 on the 907X 50C, British photographer Tom Oldham executed a brilliantly dynamic studio session with Greek model and activist Billie Dellios. Allowing H System Lenses to be used on X and 907X cameras with a wider field of view and improved maximum aperture, the XH Converter 0,8 opened Tom’s typical portrait-taking style of shooting on f/11 to a wide f/1,8 to create stunningly bold visuals.
QUICK BACKGROUND ON
XH CONVERTER 0,8
The XH Converter 0,8, used on HC/HCD lenses attached to an X System or 907X camera, reduces the focal length of the lens by a factor of 0,8x, which delivers a wider field of view and improves the maximum aperture of the lens by two-thirds of a stop. Additionally, the XH Converter 0,8 improves lens performance in terms of contrast and apparent sharpness across the entire frame.
WHAT LENS AND CAMERA COMBINATION DID YOU USE WITH THE XH CONVERTER 0,8?
I used the HC 80mm and HC 100mm lenses, which were perfect for this shoot, on the 907X 50C. Faster and wider works well for me right now.
HOW WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE USING THE XH CONVERTER 0,8 TO SHOOT?
The experience was very different as I was shooting manual focus. Helpfully, zooming into 100% on the rear screen enabled me to really pinpoint the millimetres I had to play with wide open. It was challenging but when it’s right, the quality I found stunning.
WHAT DID IT DO FOR YOUR IMAGERY?
It brought me closer to my subject and without question gave me new encouragement to step away from f/11 and try to shoot portraits at f/1,8 to harness that incredible feeling that shooting this open can bring to portraits.
HOW DID THE CONVERTER OPEN UP YOUR LENS LINEUP?
Faster lenses are really useful as can be wider lenses. Challenges can encourage new thinking and that’s positive.
ABOUT TOM OLDHAM
British portrait photographer Tom Oldham has photographed all sorts of talented folk around the world. Finding his calling at the ripe age of 21, some of Tom's biggest works include: Eldmodur, featuring Icelandic crossfit athletes; The Herder Boys of Lesotho, his proudest series; The Longest Day, where Tom stayed awake for 40 hours and shot one portrait per hour. Check out more of his compelling portrait work at @tommyophoto.
ABOUT BILLIE THE MODEL
Billie Dellios is a non-binary model and artist from Greece. They've lived in London since 2013 and originally moved here to pursue an academic career in psychology. However after coming in contact with the world of fashion their life changed course. Having grown up in poverty as an LGBTQ+ person made them want to change things for people in similar situations and so they now actively try to create safe spaces in their immediate circles. They now work as a model and performer and even though they've never had any professional dance training, they love exploring new ways of moving. See more of Billie at @billiedellios.
THE REST OF THE CREATIVE TEAM
Styling: @stylistjjr
Make up: @annainglishall_makeup
Lighting: @holephoto
Assistance: @hbzhwry
Retouch: @milkandmetalstudio
UNLOCK A WHOLE NEW SET OF LENSES WITH XH CONVERTER 0,8
More Hasselblad stories
All stories ⟶
ISABELLA TABACCHI
Magical Mountainous Landscapes
on the XCD 30
Italian photographer Isabella Tabacchi escaped to the dreamy mountain views of the Dolomites and the Swiss Alps to capture the beauty of the Milky Way across the skies and the grand Matterhorn Mountain with the X1D II 50C and XCD 30 lens.
Mathias Elmeskog
Image Quality Specialist Tests X and 907X Cameras in Namibia
As team leader and specialist in the Image Quality Team at Hasselblad, Mathias Elmeskog constantly puts Hasselblad cameras to the test in multiple locations to ensure the sharpest quality and smoothest colour accuracy.
Ken Karagozian
Documenting Thirty Years of the Los Angeles Metro
What started out as going underground for a one-time photo session with his Hasselblad 503CX turned into 30 years of documenting the creation of the Los Angeles Metro system by artist Ken Karagozian.
MARIA SVARBOVA
SWIMMING POOLS OF ANOTHER ERA
2018 Hasselblad Master in Art Maria Svarbova is widely recognised for her captivating Swimming Pool series. After switching to the X System, Maria tells us about how it has dramatically affected creating her dream-like compositions.
Julia Fullerton-Batten
The Art of Contortion
Dazzled by the enormous strength and flexibility of a young troupe of female contortionists, Hasselblad Ambassador Julia Fullerton-Batten brilliantly photographed these girls bending in all sorts of unimaginable positions.
100 Years of Nature Photographer Sven Gillsäter
Swedish photographer and a friend to Victor Hasselblad, Sven Gillsäter used Hasselblad cameras to capture stunning wildlife photography from all corners of the globe while driving environmental concern and sustainability efforts.
Qiu Zifeng
Capturing the texture and colours of local cuisine
Using the XCD 45P lens on the X1D II 50C, food photography expert Qiu Zifeng shares his thoughts on using this lightweight combination for capturing the rich colours found within his local cuisine.
Linus Englund
Finding the Dramatic and the Delicate in Swedish Nature
Whether wandering through forests or farmland, Swedish creative Linus Englund finds spectacular lighting that helps elevate his flora and fauna images on the X1D II 50C to another level.
Gavin Goodman
The Powerful Simplicity of Symmetry
A limited tonal palette and simple yet sharp props combined for a superb photoshoot with a focus on form, colour, and symmetry for South African photographer Gavin Goodman and his team.
COOPER & GORFER
DELIRIUM
Sweden-based Hasselblad Ambassadors Cooper & Gorfer embarked on a new piece, Delirium, that embodies the Covid-19 pandemic, capturing the constant struggle of healthcare workers fighting through this historical tragedy.