Abstract. Isotope shifts and hyperfine structures in three optical transitions of Hfl are investigated. Magnetic dipole coupling constant A and electric quadrupole coupling constant B of four atomic levels for both stable odd-even isotopes 177Hf and lvgHf are determined. Nuclear charge radii changes 6 (r 2) of the stable Hf isotopes and 182Hf (T1/2-=9 x 106 y) are extracted using the standard semiempirical procedure. Strong deviation from muonic atom data on 6(r 2) is observed. The course of the fi (r 2) dependence on mass number indicates changes in nuclear deformation at A = 174 and influence of higher order deformations on nuclear shape in this region.