Hasselblad Sonnar · 250mm f/5.6 C T*

{"overview":"The Hasselblad 250mm f\/5.6 Sonnar in C mount is a medium telephoto lens for the V-system, designed by Carl Zeiss for 6x6 film bodies such as the 500C and 500C\/M. It was the standard portrait-to-short-tele option in the classic Hasselblad line-up, with a leaf shutter built into the barrel for full flash sync at all speeds. Buyers shopping today typically want it as an affordable way into Zeiss medium format glass.","market_narrative":"At UK auction in 2026, hammer prices for the 250mm f\/5.6 C Sonnar sit in a wide band: recent results range from £44 for a rough example up to £211 for a clean one, with a median around £100–£110. Earlier saleroom results were noticeably higher — £298 in 2004 and £600 in 2006 — so what the lens is worth has clearly softened over the last two decades as demand for film medium format narrowed. These are hammer figures, so the price a retail buyer pays from a dealer will be meaningfully higher than what the lens sells for under the gavel.","buying_guide":"Inspect the front and rear elements for fungus, haze and cleaning marks, as the large Sonnar elements collect all three; internal haze on older C glass is common and knocks value hard. Check that the aperture blades are dry and snappy with no oil film, and confirm the leaf shutter fires consistently at all speeds, particularly 1s and 1\/500. Focus should be smooth without grinding, and watch for separation at the cemented groups, chrome pitting on silver barrels and damaged T* coating on later versions.","specs":"Key specifications from the product record: 250mm focal length, f\/5.6 maximum aperture, Sonnar optical design, Hasselblad C bayonet mount with an integral leaf shutter, intended as a telephoto for the V-system.","faq":[{"q":"How much does a Hasselblad 250mm f\/5.6 C Sonnar sell for at UK auction?","a":"Recent UK hammer prices have ranged from about £44 to £211, with most clean, working copies falling around £94–£136."},{"q":"What is a Hasselblad 250mm f\/5.6 C Sonnar worth today?","a":"On the current UK auction evidence the lens is worth roughly £100 at median hammer, though condition, shutter accuracy and whether it is the later T* coated version all move the price within the observed range."},{"q":"Has the value of the 250mm C Sonnar gone up or down?","a":"Down. Saleroom results of £298 in 2004 and £600 in 2006 are well above anything seen in the last five years, reflecting softer demand for manual-focus medium format telephotos."},{"q":"Is the chrome or black version more desirable?","a":"Both are C mount lenses and trade in a similar band at auction; buyers tend to pay more for clean glass and a reliable leaf shutter than for a particular finish."}],"confidence":62,"reasoning":"Eight sales records give a workable price picture, but SPECS and variant data are sparse, so detailed optical and production claims are deliberately omitted."}