Hasselblad X2D 100C Review

By encapsulating a big sensor within a small and aesthetically beautiful body, the Hasselblad X1D 50C and X1D II 50C contributed to reinventing the paradigm of medium format photography. Hasselblad accomplished this. Since it was introduced, the Hasselblad X2D 100C has a resolution that is twice as high as its predecessors and has many other astounding improvements and brand-new features. Its predecessors had a solution that was only half as high. In this review, we take a look at the camera and explore the many features it possesses as well as what we can anticipate from using it.

I had the opportunity to test out the X1D 50C for a few hours a few years ago. Unfortunately, while I loved having a medium format sensor in such a compact body and the gorgeous files it produced, I found it to be a frustrating camera with a difficultly slow interface and performance. In addition, while I loved having a medium format sensor in such a compact body, I also found that having a medium format sensor in such a tight body was incredibly frustrating. As a result, my time with the camera was limited, and I could only utilize it for a few hours.

Therefore, when I was offered the opportunity to use the X2D 100C, I had great aspirations of obtaining the same image quality as the Hasselblad and achieving those gorgeous colors in a more compact and quicker package. I was successful in accomplishing both of those goals. If you want more detail, you may continue reading, but if you wish to the substance in one statement, the camera lives up to the hype.

Hasselblad X2D 100C Design and Body

The 100-megapixel medium format sensor with 16-bit color is the feature that attracts the most attention. As you will see in the following paragraphs, it lives up to its billing by creating files that are highly detailed and abundant in color. Having this kind of file makes you want to snap images of even the most uninteresting of things since you can be confident that the renderings you end up with will be unique to you.

In addition to that, Hasselblad includes a large number of additional improvements as well as brand-new features. In addition to that, there is a 7-stop image stabilization mechanism that performs exceptionally well in general. During the whole month I owned the camera, I never once used a tripod, and every file I took came out exceptionally clear and crisp.

The autofocus system now has roughly three times as many potential zones, and it also receives an enhancement in its phase detection, which results in a notable rise in speed. In addition, the PD 3.0 rapid charging capabilities are an excellent addition to the device’s quality of life, and the fast Wi-Fi makes it easy to download files quickly. I have never removed the battery from the device; all I have done is add an extra charge while downloading data from the internal SSD via the USB connection.

Having a solid-state drive (SSD) that’s one terabyte in size is a significant improvement. I have been requesting this feature from camera manufacturers for years, and I am overjoyed to announce that it has finally been incorporated into this model. The performance was lightning-fast, and I never had to open the camera as I downloaded photographs from a memory card.

Because I don’t ever want to use memory cards or battery chargers again after charging the camera and downloading pictures through USB, I’m hoping that more camera manufacturers will start integrating rapid charging into their products shortly so that they can offer both of these features to consumers.

The one crucial feature is absent from the demonstration, and Hasselblad has stated that the company has no plans to integrate it in any form or fashion. I couldn’t care less about it if my life depended on it. Because this is not the type of camera that any video professional would use, Hasselblad has gone to great pains to ensure that the user interface is both simple to use and does not have a lot of unnecessary bells and whistles. This is done so the user can concentrate on the creative process without being sidetracked by modifying settings and browsing menus. This is done so the user can focus on the creative process.

An important step forward in aesthetics was taking the allure of the models that came before it and maintaining it in this newer model. Even though it weighs 31.6 ounces and has a body that is somewhat larger and heavier than the X1D variants, the device is still quite portable (895 grams). Even though it is just 35% more severe than a Sony a7R IV and only 21% heavier than a Canon EOS R5, the camera looks incredibly solid and durable despite these comparisons. The new lenses, which are the same size as the older ones, look fantastic with the dark grey finish, which has a modern and appealing appearance and blends well with the new lenses despite their similar size.

The color top display is large and provides all the standard information you would expect, such as the exposure settings, camera mode, available memory space, and battery life. In addition, this camera has a proper function: once you connect it to a power source to charge it, it quickly tells you the battery percentage still left over.

I quickly acclimated to the camera’s layout, and finally, I could use it without taking my attention off the viewfinder. This was made possible because the buttons and dials are positioned logically and are simple to grasp. Navigating the dials with your thumb and fingers is simple, and the shutter button, together with the other buttons, provides a very satisfying action and sensation.

Hasselblad conducted a thorough analysis of the precise measures, including the grip and the arrangement of the buttons, to ensure that the camera would be simple to operate and have a natural feel.

Let’s talk about that electronic viewfinder, which, in my opinion, is far and away the greatest one I’ve ever worked with. To begin, it employs OLED, which enables an infinite range of contrast ratios to be displayed on the screen. The resolution of 5.76 million dots and a 60 frames per second frame rate both provide credibility to this assertion. However, suppose we are being forthright. In that case, the feature that sticks out the most is the excellent one-time magnification, which has an incredibly high magnification level and makes for a fantastic shooting experience.

If you like to take photos with both eyes open, it will be much simpler to make judgments regarding composition and move around with the camera without feeling bewildered. This is because the picture that is seen by one eye and the image that is seen by the other eye is often going to be of similar size to one another.

Let’s go to the touchscreen now and see its features. In addition to being correct, it has excellent responsiveness. Compared to the superb touchscreens in smartphones, the touchscreens in cameras, which often have a slower reaction time, can be frustrating to use. On the other hand, this does not hold for the model in question. In addition to that, the screen is quite pleasing to the eye, which makes it very simple to inspect images and adjust settings.

Hasselblad X2D 100C Interface

My thoughts are that the user interface is top-notch. It is straightforward to use and ensures that you will never lose time fumbling around in a menu rather than concentrating on the process of creating something new. When I tore open the packing, I could immediately identify everything I needed.

You can see that a lot of thought and effort went into designing Hasselblad’s products in such a manner that they are simple, straightforward, and straightforward. Even though there are fewer methods to customize the camera than some other models, the settings offered are organized in a highly intuitive way and easy to use.

The X2D 100C has an innovative feature called the articulating rear screen. This feature allows the camera to tilt between 40 and 70 degrees, making it appropriate for low compositions. It is always helpful to have something like that available since it enables you to avoid sitting down on the ground to obtain a dramatic shot from a low position. I discovered that I used it a few times while I was shooting. So it is always good to have something like that available.

In conclusion, it is essential to bring attention to the fact that the rate at which one can do duties when utilizing the camera is significantly accelerated. When I was using the X1D camera from its initial generation, there were times when I would accidentally delete images because the camera would randomly pause for a second after I pressed the shutter button. In addition to this, the movement through objects felt choppy, and the experience as a whole just seemed slow overall. However, that is not the case at all. You won’t experience any latency or difficulties while zooming in to check the focus when using this device because the X2D 100C has sufficient power for managing those vast files.

Hasselblad X2D 100C Image Quality

This is why you are here, of course, and the good news is that the X2D 100C generates files that are bursting with detail, have loads of area to be pushed in post-processing, and deliver simply spectacular colors, mainly when you are shooting in 16-bit.

Because the colors and particulars were so pleasing to my eyes, I realized that I was frequently aiming the camera lens toward genuinely unimpressive items that, under normal circumstances, I would not have paid any attention to at all. And while we’re on the topic of specifics, a resolution of one hundred megapixels guarantees that there will be sufficient room for everything.

Adding that other resolution makes it possible to do more than print huge images or provide consumers with incredibly high levels of detail. Additionally, it enables you to crop in and construct a variety of compositions in post-processing while maintaining an adequate degree of resolution, which makes the files far more versatile.

The progressions in tone and color are natural, and the transitions between them are flawless. However, as previously said, considerable wiggle room exists for post-processing the data. For example, in the photograph of the fireworks just above, the shadows were pushed up about two stops and maintained together extraordinarily well, with very little evident noise.

Hasselblad X2D 100C Performance

Stabilization

On paper, a Hasselblad camera’s 5-axis, 7-stop in-body image stabilization ranks it among the best in the industry. [Camera] This is crucial because, when using a picture resolution of 100 megapixels, even the tiniest movement of the camera will be recognizable in the final product. Moreover, in practical applications, it works well.

During the month I had the camera, I chose my own to forego the usage of a tripod. As a result, even though I subjected the camera to various challenging conditions, I never once witnessed the camera wobbling. The accompanying fireworks shot, for example, was captured with a shutter speed of only 0.7 seconds, but it still captures every detail in perfect clarity. I employed that shutter speed to take a series of ten images, and the outcomes of every one turned out to be clear and sharp. That is an incredible feat to have accomplished.

Autofocus

This is another domain that has been the beneficiary of substantial improvement. The significant performance rise can be attributed to Hasselblad’s choice to implement a phase detection technology for this product iteration. Compared to the X1D, I had the impression that it was a lot simpler to acquire focus quickly enough that it did not slow down my workflow. Furthermore, the precision is superb throughout. The camera did an excellent job capturing all available shots when I possessed the camera.

On the other hand, the autofocus technology that is now on the market is relatively easy to use. I say “at the moment” because Hasselblad plans to introduce features like eye autofocus and tracking. Still, for now, you are limited to a straightforward system with only a few point/area sizes and the option to track or single-shot. I say “at the moment” because Hasselblad has plans to introduce features like eye autofocus and tracking, but for now, you are limited to a straightforward system. I say “at the moment” because Hasselblad wants to launch new features, including eye focusing and tracking.

People who use medium format cameras with a maximum frame rate of 3.3 frames per second are not the type who will require highly intricate autofocus tracking functions but features such as eye autofocus will undoubtedly be features that people are delighted to have. However, the functionality of what is presently present is sufficient for now.

Hasselblad X2D 100C Battery Capacity

According to Hasselblad, the X2D 100C can capture 420 pictures on a single charge, and my own experience reflected this statistic. I burned up just 34% of the battery while taking 162 images throughout the day and reviewing on the rear screen. This is similar to having a battery life that will allow you to take 476 shots before it has to be charged again. This performance is pretty impressive for a mirrorless medium size camera.

In addition, because PD 3.0 is equipped with the capability of rapid charging, I needed a quick top-off before I was ready to go again. So, of course, you are highly advised to bring an extra battery. Still, for the purposes that the great majority of people use their medium format cameras, a single battery should be sufficient.

Hasselblad X2D 100C Specs

Body type	SLR-style mirrorless
Max resolution	11656 x 8742
Effective pixels	100 megapixels
Sensor size	Medium format (44 x 33 mm)
Sensor type	BSI-CMOS
Custom white balance	Yes
Image stabilization	Sensor-shift
Image stabilization notes	5-axis
CIPA image stabilization rating	7 stop(s)
Autofocus	Phase Detect
Number of focus points	294
Lens mount	Hasselblad X
Focal length multiplier	0.79×
Articulated LCD	Tilting
Screen size	3.6″
Touch screen	Yes (TFT)
Viewfinder type	Electronic
Viewfinder coverage	100%
Viewfinder magnification	0.79× (1× 35mm Equiv.)
Viewfinder resolution	6
Minimum shutter speed	68 sec
Maximum shutter speed	1/4000 sec
Top shutter speed (electronic)	1/6000 sec
Aperture priority	Yes
Shutter priority	Yes
Manual exposure mode	Yes
Built-in flash	No
External flash	Yes
Flash modes	TTL center-weighted system, compatible with Nikon System Flashes
Metering modes	Center-weightedSpotSpot AF-area
Storage types	CFexpress Type B
Storage included	1TB
USB	USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 GBit/sec)
USB charging	Yes (30W, USB-C PD)
Wireless	Built-In
Wireless notes	802.11b/a/g/n/ac/ax, Wi-Fi with 2×2 MIMO
Battery	Battery Pack
Battery description	USB-C PD (up to 30W)
Battery Life (CIPA)	420
Weight (inc. batteries)	895 g (1.97 lb / 31.57 oz)
Dimensions	149 x 106 x 75 mm (5.85 x 4.17 x 2.93″)
Orientation sensor	Yes

Hasselblad X2D 100C Conclusion

It was the reason for some excitement that the Hasselblad X1D II 50C was so much less expensive than the original X1D 50C and that it continued the pattern of Hasselblad equipment becoming more accessible over the previous decade. However, it should not come as surprise that this new model, which features a sensor with 100 megapixels and a new CPU, costs far more.

Although it is more costly than the Fujifilm GFX 100S, it is significantly less expensive than the Fujifilm GFX 100. Even though it costs more than a Hasselblad, the price is not excessively exorbitant. The Fujifilm GFX 100S can be purchased for around $6,000, while the Hasselblad X2D 100C can be purchased for $8,199. To put that into perspective for you, the price of the GFX 100 will be $10,000.

The new lenses have a higher price tag than the older versions, increasing the total by around 25%. However, if you prioritize increased speed, bigger apertures, and streamlined designs, you will find the additional cost justifiable. The new lenses make the entire camera system far more helpful. They also provide better versatility for handling a wider variety of subjects, which means you receive a sizeable increase in performance for the money.

Hasselblad X2D 100C Price