The Hasselblad X1D 50c is a tiny system camera with a medium-format CMOS sensor of 43.8 x 32.9mm and a resolution of 50 megapixels. It is smaller than the sensors found in most full-frame 35mm cameras.
Raw images with 16-bit color depth and 14 stops of dynamic range are also featured on the X1D-50c, along with an ISO range of 100-25600, 1080p video with a frame rate of 30fps, 2.3fps continuous shooting, shutter speeds ranging from 60 minutes to 1/2000th of a second with full flash synchronization throughout the range, a 2.36MP XGA electronic viewfinder, a 3.0″ 920k-dot touchscreen LCD, dual SD The body only of the Hasselblad X1D-50c is priced at £7788 or $8995 according to the manufacturer’s suggested retail price.
See: Best Flash for Hasselblad X1D 50C | Best Lenses for Hasselblad X1D 50C | Best Memory Cards for Hasselblad X1D 50C
Build Quality
The Hasselblad X1D-50c is an extraordinarily well-built camera that is handmade in Sweden. It is manufactured from four pieces of solid aluminum and has almost no flex in any body region. Therefore, it immediately brought to mind the Leica SL, a camera that we also highly praised for its excellent construction quality. However, in contrast to the SL, this camera is comparatively compact and lightweight, measuring 150 by 98 by 71 millimeters and weighing 725 grams with the battery installed.
Because it is resistant to dust and elements, the X1D-50c is a medium format camera that can be taken outside the photography studio. The Hasselblad X1D-50c has an exquisite and expensive appearing silver, black colorway, complete with an orange shutter button. It also has a firm handgrip, and the rear of the camera features a “sticky” rubber covering to help you keep a firm grip on the camera.
Nittoh, a Japanese firm, is the manufacturer of both the XCD 45mm f/3.5 and the XCD 90mm f/3.2 lenses, both of which were used in our testing of the X1D-50c. Both of these lenses included an integrated central shutter and were manufactured in Japan.
The former gives the X1D a sense of well-balanced stability, while the latter causes it to be much more front-heavy and noticeable. It will cost you around $5000 or £5000 to add both lenses to your X1D kit. In the latter half of this year, Hasselblad is also planning to launch a 120mm macro lens. Through the use of the X-H adapter, which is sold separately, the X1D is also compatible with all 12 lenses and accessories that are part of the H system.
The central shutter mechanism allows flash sync at all shutter speeds up to 1/2000 second and shutter speeds as long as 60 minutes, with almost no vibration, even at prolonged exposures. The maximum shutter speed is also increased to 1/2000 second. Incredible as it may seem, it’s also been officially graded to more than one million exposures! No image stabilization system is built into the body, depending on the lens.
Hasselblad X1D 50C image Quality
During this examination, the Hasselblad X1D-50c generated photographs of exceptionally high quality. Images taken with this camera are entirely free of noise from ISO 100 up to ISO 1600; however, at ISO 3200, some noise is introduced.
The quicker levels of ISO 6400 and 12,800 can still be used, but we recommend staying away from the ISO 25,600 setting whenever it’s feasible. The night shot came out exceptionally well, and the fact that you could use the maximum shutter speed of 68 minutes meant that you could catch sufficient light in practically all scenarios.
Hasselblad X1D 50C Specs
| Body type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
|---|---|
| Sensor | |
| Max resolution | 8272 x 6200 |
| Image ratio w h | 1:1, 4:3 |
| Effective pixels | 51 megapixels |
| Sensor photo detectors | 53 megapixels |
| Sensor size | Medium format (44 x 33 mm) |
| Sensor type | CMOS |
| Color space | sRGB, AdobeRGB |
| Color filter array | Primary color filter |
| Image | |
| Custom white balance | Yes |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Uncompressed format | RAW |
| File format | JPEG (Exif v2.3)Raw (3FR format)TIFF |
| Optics & Focus | |
| Autofocus | Contrast Detect (sensor)Multi-areaCenterSelective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousTouchFace DetectionLive View. |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Lens mount | Hasselblad X |
| Focal length multiplier | 0.79× |
| Screen/viewfinder | |
| Articulated LCD | Fixed |
| Screen size | 3″ |
| Screen dots | 920,000 |
| Touch screen | Yes |
| Screen type | TFT LCD |
| Live view | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | Electronic |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100% |
| Viewfinder resolution | 2,360,000 |
| Photography features | |
| Minimum shutter speed | 68 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/2000 sec |
| Exposure modes | ProgramAperture priorityShutter priorityManual |
| Built-in flash | No |
| External flash | Yes (Nikon compatible) |
| Flash X sync speed | 1/2000 sec |
| Continuous drive | 2.3 fps |
| Self-timer | Yes |
| Metering modes | MultiCenter-weighted spot |
| Videography features | |
| Resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (25p) |
| Format | H.264 |
| Microphone | Stereo |
| Speaker | Mono |
| Storage | |
| Storage types | Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots |
| Connectivity | |
| USB | USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) |
| HDMI | Yes (mini-HDMI) |
| Microphone port | Yes |
| Headphone port | Yes |
| Wireless | Built-In |
| Wireless notes | 802.11b/g/n/ac |
| Physical | |
| Environmentally sealed | Yes |
| Battery | Battery Pack |
| Battery description | 3200 mAh li-ion battery |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 725 g (1.60 lb / 25.57 oz) |
| Dimensions | 150 x 98 x 71 mm (5.92 x 3.86 x 2.81″) |
| Other features | |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| GPS | Built-in |
Hasselblad X1D 50C Conclusion
The Hasselblad X1D-50c is a beautifully designed and superbly manufactured camera that provides image quality equivalent to that of a medium-format camera in a body about the same size as a DSLR camera. Unfortunately, despite the rough it has been on the market for purchase since the close of 2016, it continues to be a frustratingly peculiar and incomplete product in terms of its features’ functionality and the speed at which it operates.
The still image quality is superb, with bags of detail owing to the 50-megapixel sensor, considerable depth of focus that makes it simple to isolate your subject, and good noise performance from ISO 100-3200. Additionally, the camera has excellent low-light performance.
Despite their high prices, the new XCD lenses we tested the X1D with are of exceptionally high quality. However, those who are serious about their videography should search elsewhere.