It isn’t perfect though.
Its battery life is disappointing and an $8,199 stills camera ought to have a focus joystick.
The Hasselblad X2D 100C is the legendary Swedish manufacturers flagship andbest mirrorless camera.
(Image credit: Future)
Thats not to say its an everyday sort of camera.
That would be like referring to a Koenigsegg (continuing the Swedish theme) as an average daily driver.
No, this is an $8,000 medium format behemoth.
Its about as far from everyday as its possible to get.
So, is the X2D any good?
Good grief, yes.
Should you buy it?
Eh, its complicated.
Find out more in my full Hasselblad X2D 100C review.
This camera is intended for use in professional studio photography primarily portraiture.
Basically, you need a few thousand smackers spare to get into (new) medium format.
But thats only for the body!
(Image credit: Future)
Glass of sufficient quality to resolve 100 million pixels needs to be superior.
So youll want to budget another couple of thousand big onesper lensfor those.
Its a rich mans world were wading into here, people.
(Image credit: Future)
At least, versus Hasselblads own lineup.
Functionality here means possessing the form and mod-cons of a conventional mirrorless camera.
The X2D is shaped like pretty much any other mirrorless camera.
A rectangular profile, with a viewfinder prism up top and a deep sculpted hand grip out front.
Or at least, as easy any other medium format camera.
Just ensure you have a comfortable neoprene strap.
Displays
There are three displays.
The hi-res EVF is very welcome.
Now, I say does the megapixel count justice and not full justice.
Theres also a CFExpress jot down-B port if it’s crucial that you expand storage.
When shooting at 100MP medium format, the faster read/write speeds of CFExpress and SSD can be very important.
With +200MB RAW files and 70MB JPEGs, sustained quicker drive rates would be impossible with SD.
(Image credit: Peter Wolinski / Future)
This is not a high speed camera.
The X2D features wireless connectivity over Wi-Fi, although no Bluetooth.
These are fiddly to use when in motion.
(Image credit: Peter Wolinski / Future)
Nobody wants them, everyone hates them.
But manufacturers still use them to feel contemporary or something.
Now, this is partly excusable in video-oriented cameras, especially vlogging tools without EVFs.
(Image credit: Peter Wolinski / Future)
In an $8,199 stills camera like the X2D, though, its inexcusable.
And this is mostly fine in landscape orientation, especially given the large body and display.
Or when you shoot in portrait orientation, where its extremely difficult to control.
1/8sec(Image credit: Peter Wolinski / Future)
Seriously, what is wrong with a joystick?
Otherwise, the X2D handles pretty well.
Hasselblads menu system is relatively pared back, both in its layout and features.
1/6sec(Image credit: Peter Wolinski / Future)
In general use, I found the AF reasonably fast and accurate unless in extreme lighting conditions.
Annoyingly, you cant combine the focus assist dial with focus peaking or magnification.
Its one or the other.
1/4sec(Image credit: Peter Wolinski / Future)
I had no issues just using the dial, though its really very good.
That means you could normally expect less stabilization potential than on smaller-sensored cameras.
And it doesnt disappoint the 100MP BSI CMOS sensor captures beautifully sharp images.
Obviously, with this much resolution, you have a supreme amount of headroom for cropping.
The second image in the gallery below is an extreme crop of the first.
The fine details of the masonry and stone figures are still easy to make out in the crop.
(Image credit: Peter Wolinski / Future)
This means colors look as natural as they come.
This resulted in warm light, but moderate levels of contrast and vivid but not overly saturated color.
The X2D captured all of that perfectly.
(Image credit: Peter Wolinski / Future)
The image above is a RAW file shot at ISO25,600 and exported as a JPEG in Adobe Lightroom Classic.
Straight out of camera (SOOC) JPEGs look great.
Plenty of detail has been retained in the shadows, with virtually no noise at ISO64.
A very good performance.
The backlit test is obviously somewhat of an extreme and unrealistic scenario.
The photo gallery above, however, demonstrates a more realistic dynamic range.
(Image credit: Peter Wolinski / Future)
So you’re able to expect somewhere in the region of 200 frames.
Hasselblad X2D 100C review: Verdict
So, back to the question from the top.
Should you buy the Hasselblad X2D 100C?
(Image credit: Peter Wolinski / Future)
If what you need is outstanding detail and color reproduction, yes.
And for those people, the medium format Fujifilm GFX100 II waits with open arms.
Theres no getting around it though: the X2D is a masterpiece.
(Image credit: Peter Wolinski / Future)
If you want or need that Hasselblad magic, there is no real substitute.
Shot at ISO25,600 (RAW file exported as JPEG)
Shot at ISO25,600 (SOOC JPEG)
(Image credit: Peter Wolinski / Future)
(Image credit: Peter Wolinski / Future)
(Image credit: Peter Wolinski / Future)
(Image credit: Peter Wolinski / Future)
