NiSi NC UV for Hasselblad: 72mm vs 77mm vs 86mm Size Guide

Quick answer

Buy the NiSi NC UV for Hasselblad in the exact thread size printed on your lens: 72mm, 77mm or 86mm. If you own several Hasselblad lenses, size the filter to the largest thread you use most and step up smaller lenses with adapters.

Why the brass frame matters on a Hasselblad lens

The brass frame is the mechanical reason to choose this filter line. Brass threads wear more slowly than aluminium when you mount and remove a filter often, and they hold tolerances better on heavy, high-value glass. That matters on Hasselblad lenses because you are screwing a filter onto a lens that costs far more than the filter itself.

Brass is also heavier than aluminium. On a compact lens the extra weight is negligible, but on a long lens it shifts the balance slightly forward. That is a real trade-off, not a reason to avoid the filter.

The 72mm, 77mm and 86mm difference is only the thread

All three NiSi NC UV for Hasselblad filters share the same optical construction: lens-grade optical glass, neutral colour rendition, and NiSi's Ultra Low Reflection Coating with up to 99.9% light transmittance. The only difference is the mounting thread diameter.

That means you are not choosing between optical quality levels. You are choosing the one that physically fits your lens. The 72mm and 77mm sizes cover many standard Hasselblad lens threads, while 86mm suits larger front elements. Check the lens barrel or the lens cap for the exact figure before ordering.

When a step-up ring is the smarter buy

If your lenses have different thread sizes, buying one filter per size gets expensive. A step-up ring lets a larger filter fit a smaller lens thread, so a single 86mm filter can serve 72mm and 77mm lenses as well.

The trade-off is practical: a step-up ring adds depth, can make the lens hood fit poorly, and prevents you from using the original lens cap on the filter. For a one-lens kit, buy the exact size. For a multi-lens kit, one large filter plus adapters is usually the better investment.

The resolution question on 100+ megapixel sensors

Hasselblad's 100+ megapixel sensors resolve fine detail that lesser filters can soften. NiSi states these filters are engineered to meet that resolution demand, and the lens-grade glass and ULRC coating are the relevant specifications. What the catalog does not supply is a measured resolution figure or a comparison against other filter brands, so treat the resolution claim as a design intent rather than a test result.

In practice, the safest choice is the filter designed for your sensor generation rather than a general-purpose UV filter. If you are adapting vintage or third-party lenses, confirm the thread size first; the optical design is Hasselblad-oriented, but the thread is the only fit variable.

Decision rules for choosing your size

• One lens, one filter: Read the thread size on the lens barrel or the inside of the lens cap and order that exact size: 72mm, 77mm or 86mm. Do not estimate from the lens name. If the marking is worn, check the lens manual or measure the cap diameter before ordering.
• Several lenses, different threads: Buy the largest size you need, then add step-up rings for the smaller lenses. An 86mm filter covers 72mm and 77mm lenses with the right adapters. Budget for adapters and check that your lens hood still fits over the stepped-up filter.
• Frequent filter changes: Choose the brass frame over an aluminium alternative if you mount and remove the filter often. Brass threads resist wear better and keep a precise fit. Accept the slight weight increase; it is the price of long-term thread durability.
• Maximum optical confidence: If you shoot on a 100+ megapixel Hasselblad sensor and want the filter designed for that resolution, stay within the NiSi NC UV for Hasselblad line rather than a general UV filter. No measured resolution data is supplied, so judge by your own files after a test shoot.

Product facts

• NiSi 72mm NC UV for Hasselblad (Brass Frame): 72mm thread, brass frame, lens-grade optical glass with up to 99.9% light transmittance. This is the size to choose if your Hasselblad lens barrel or cap shows 72mm, giving you the brass durability without an adapter.

  

• NiSi 86mm NC UV for Hasselblad (Brass Frame): 86mm thread, brass frame, same optical construction and coating as the smaller sizes. The 86mm version is the practical base for a step-up system if you own several Hasselblad lenses with different thread sizes.

  

• NiSi 77mm NC UV for Hasselblad (Brass Frame): 77mm thread, brass frame, engineered for Hasselblad's 100+ megapixel sensors. Pick this if your lens thread is 77mm; it avoids adapters and keeps the filter seated close to the front element.

Who should choose which size

Best for

• Hasselblad shooters with a single lens who want an exact-thread brass-frame UV filter
• Photographers who frequently swap filters and value durable brass threads
• Multi-lens kits built around one large filter and step-up rings

Not for

• Lenses with a thread size other than 72mm, 77mm or 86mm
• Buyers who want the lightest possible filter and do not need brass threads
• Anyone expecting a measured resolution comparison between filter brands