Way more than just an incremental update, Hasselblad is finally releasing a new X system mirrorless medium format camera body—the X2D 100C—that revolves around a new 100MP sensor, improved AF, IBIS, and several useful updates to the physical and operational design. This long-awaited successor to the X1D 50C II feels like a complete overhaul, yet hasn’t lost sight of the best aspects of the X1D cameras, namely the distinct Scandinavian design elements, ergonomics, and clear attention to detail.
Before we get into the details of this new camera body and three new lenses for the X system, it’s worth looking holistically at what Hasselblad has done with its mirrorless medium format platform. The X2D represents a significant step forward in terms of what medium format is capable of. It’s always been representative of some of the best image quality possible, and that’s still the key point when considering this system, but this body also ushers in faster speed and the more contemporary camera technologies you’d expect to find in full-frame, APS-C, and smaller systems. No longer is medium format relegated to slow performance and practically difficult camera designs—the X2D is nimble and has the AF and IBIS the photography world now expects; it has convenience features like a tilting screen and onboard storage; and the three new lenses come with noticeably faster performance, both in aperture value (f/2.5) and with quicker focusing speeds and top shutter speed support.
100MP Medium Format
There’s no denying hitting that important 100MP mark is a significant step forward for Hasselblad, in terms of resolution, color, and detail. This new 44 x 33mm BSI CMOS sensor has a lower base sensitivity than the X1D (now at ISO 64 vs ISO 100) and a wider dynamic range (15 stops vs. 14 stops) with impressive 16-bit color depth. And, speaking of color, the Hasselblad Natural Color Solution can be used, offering color responses intended to be as natural as possible for realistic, lifelike image quality.
Autofocus and Image Stabilization
Two of the most important upgrades to the X2D are faster, more accurate focusing performance and in-body image stabilization. Besides having greater resolution and a back-illuminated design, the new sensor also incorporates 294 phase-detection AF (PDAF) zones for improved focusing in a variety of lighting conditions and when photographing moving subjects. The X2D is still not an action and sports camera (it “only” tops out at 3.3 fps with 14-bit color), but more responsive AF makes capturing those fleeting moments that much more of a possibility, especially compared to working with the more methodical pace of a contrast-detection focusing system. Additionally, and more about this in a bit, the three new lenses also being released today sport linear AF motors that benefit from the PDAF system for faster overall performance.
The other key feature introduction with the X2D is the in-body image stabilization (IBIS), which is a 5-axis system that corrects for up to 7 stops of camera shake. Since it’s a sensor-shift system, opposed to an optical IS system, you’ll receive stabilization benefits with any lens in use, included adapted lenses. This is a huge benefit for medium format, since camera shake seems to come about more often due to the heavier, larger nature of the system and greater resolution of the new sensor.
Better EVF, Tilting LCD, and Built-In 1TB SSD
An improved sensor, faster AF, and image stabilization are needed but also very logical evolutions for this X system camera; improvements to the viewing, handling, and saving experience are pleasantly surprising additions that really put the X2D over the top.
With the first gen X1D, the EVF was one of the main shortcomings; this was rectified with the X1D 50C II, but even now that 3.69m-dot finder is starting to feel a little long in the tooth, the X2D now sports a revised 5.76m-dot OLED EVF, which has a greater 1.0x magnification for clearer, sharper, and more realistic eye-level viewing.
At the back of the camera body, the main tweak is that the 3.6" 2.36m-dot touchscreen is now a tilting LCD with two detents at 40° and 70° for shooting from low working angles. The LCD still benefits from Hasselblad’s refreshingly minimalist GUI and the X2D also sports a new 1.08" top full-color status LCD, which gives a heads-up view of exposure settings, battery life, and other shooting parameters.
In a surprise move, the X2D also sports a built-in 1TB SSD for onboard file storage, in addition to a single CFexpress Type B card slot. We’ve seen this configuration before with another camera brand, but it’s a new alternative to the concept of needing dual memory card slots—rather than requiring two slots for backup storage, you now have a wealth of onboard storage for fast file saving, safety backups, and for those times when you might forget or forgo using a memory card. Then, you still have the single card slot for times when you want repetitive file storage or need to share your files independent of the camera. The onboard SSD offers write speeds up to 2370MB/s, read speeds up to 2850MB/s, and can store approximately 4,600 raw files or 13,800 JPEGs. Also, it’s worth noting that Hasselblad recommends working with Sony or SanDisk CFexpress Type B cards when you need a memory card.
Other Design Details
The new EVF, LCD, and built-in storage are the stars of the show in terms of design, but don’t forget that the X1D, and now the X2D, remains possibly one of the nicest designed cameras in terms of ergonomics. That this new camera manages to keep a near identical form factor while including IBIS, a better EVF, a tilting screen, and an internal SSD, is a pretty impressive stat. Some other design details worth pointing out: there is a new USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port, offering 10 Gb/s transfer speeds and in-camera battery charging; the camera still lacks a mechanical shutter (since the lenses have leaf shutters) but has an electronic shutter that tops out at 1/6000-second; it uses Nikon’s iTTL flash system; and uses the same battery as the X1D and 907X cameras. Connectivity-wise, the X2D has improved Wi-Fi, now supporting Wi-Fi 6 with 2x2 MIMO, and will support the same Phocus connectivity for mobile or computer-based control and transferring. The X2D 100C measures 5.85 x 4.2 x 2.9" (which is only slightly taller and thicker than the X1D) and weighs 1.74 lb (which is 0.3 lb, or about 5 oz, heavier than the X1D 50C II).
New XCD V Lenses
In addition to the X2D 100C camera body, Hasselblad is also releasing a trio of new XCD lenses: the XCD 38mm f/2.5 V, XCD 55mm f/2.5 V, and XCD 90mm f/2.5 V. More than just new focal lengths, these lenses are a bit of a stylistic and performance departure from the first round of XCD lenses. Indicated by the “V” in the names, these lenses are styled a bit like the V-mount lenses from the film era but are very much high-performing X system lenses with improved AF, more compact and lightweight profiles, and new control rings. The handling of the lenses has been upgraded, too, and the leaf shutter design has been retained, with all lenses supporting shutter speeds up to 1/2000-second with flash sync at all speeds.
The 38mm is a general wide-angle lens and should feel like a 30mm on a full-frame camera; the 55mm is a slightly wide normal lens akin to a 43mm on full-frame; and the 90mm, the second one in the X lineup, is the short portrait-length lens with a 71mm equivalent focal length. What immediately stands out with these new lenses is their f/2.5 maximum aperture, which makes them among the fastest lenses available for medium format mirrorless. Surprisingly, despite being faster than most of their predecessors, they’re also noticeably lighter and smaller, with more efficient optical designs and more compact focusing systems: the 38mm f/2.5 is only 1 oz heavier than the 45mm f/4; the 55mm f/2.5 is a whopping 12 oz lighter than the 65mm f/2.8; and the 90mm f/2.5 is surprisingly 2.4 oz lighter than the slower 90mm f/3.2.
Besides more compact designs, the other main update for these three lenses is in regard to focusing. They all now have a push-pull focus ring for switching between AF and mechanically linked MF, which is further benefited by a focus distance and depth-of-field scale. Full-time MF is still supported in AF mode, as well, and all three lenses also have internal focusing designs. Also, when used with the X2D, these three new lenses will exhibit faster AF speeds, thanks to the linear stepping AF motor.
Another update for the lenses is a configurable control ring at the base of the lens, which can function as an aperture ring or be set to control a variety of other settings, like ISO or exposure compensation.
It’s a big launch for Hasselblad, moving its mirrorless medium format system into a more contemporary, cutting-edge realm and offering a series of updates and features that make a 100MP medium format camera both portable and usable. The camera takes the best aspects of the original X system and brings them up to speed with better imaging, AF, and IBIS, and the new lenses add even more value to the system, offering faster speeds and improved AF performance.
What are your thoughts on Hasselblad’s X2D 100C and trio of new lenses? Let us know any additional thoughts about mirrorless medium format in general, in the Comments section, below
41 Comments
It seems it will be possible to use V type lenses on X2 with an adapter. Will it be possible to benefit from IS ?
Can I also use my FE lenses? (without shutter)
Yes- the Hasselblad XV Adapter is the perfect tool for using V lenses (film era V-mount lenses, that is) on the X2 100C (or any other X system camera). Since the X2 has in-body IS, stabilization is available for any lens- so you can use your old lenses with all the benefits from IBIS. The one catch with this adapter is that you'll need to rely on the camera's electronic shutter and flash sync won't be possible. Hasselblad FE (assuming you don't mean Sony FE here) lenses work just fine with the XV adapter and the camera's electronic shutter and even the V-mount Hasselblad lenses with a leaf shutter (like the C, CF, etc.) will still need to rely on the camera's electronic shutter since there is no mechanism to fire or re-cock the lens's shutter.
How long it will be take if I preorder all set (1 camera with 3 lens) now, can I get before new year?
Unfortunately, we cannot promise that pre-order items would arrive on or before a certain time. Generally, any orders on the Hasselblad X2D 100C and the newest HC lenses would be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once the order ships, we will e-mail you to confirm.
Any idea if the new lenses will work fine on the 907X?
I mean, the AF/MF clutch and the ability to map the custom control ring.
Thanks!
Yes, they'll be fully compatible with the 907X (as well as the X1D cameras). There will be a future firmware update for the existing cameras to provide the menu option to customize the control ring and address any other compatibility issues.
Will this work with full frame Sony E Mount lenses? Is there a mount adapter that allows us to make the most of it?
The XCD has a flange of 18.14 mm and the Sony E has 18mm, so it's seams too little margin for an adapter.
Bummer, thanks for answering
Andrés is correct- the difference in focal flange distance is too little for making a practically usable adapter. Also, Sony lenses likely don't have a large enough image circle to be too useful with the larger sensor size of the Hasselblad.
Will you take an X1D 50C II in trade for the new model. If so how much will you allow for a pristine camera that has been used very little? I have all the original boxing.
Your best bet would be to contact our Used/Trade-In to obtain a quote on your Hasselblad gear. They can be reached by phone at 1-800-606-6969 / 1-212-444-6615, option 2, extension 2700 or via e-mail to [email protected].
Hello, Can the Camera be tethered to a computer?
Yes, 100%- the X2D 100C has the same tethering capabilities as the other X system cameras. You can use Hasselblad's own Phocus and Phocus Mobile apps for tethering to a computer or to an iPad, or you can use a handful of other third-party software apps as well. The camera has a USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port.
Hello, I hope this question makes sense. I know the X2D is compatible with all XCD lenses. I recently (like, last week, before I realized the X2D was being released because I wasn't paying attention) purchased an X1D 50CII with both an XCD 30mm f/3.5 and a 45mm f/4. I can return the X1D50II's body without a problem, and have already purchased the X2D body. I'm trying to figure out what would be the appreciable difference between these and, say, the 38mm f/2.5 V and 55mm f/2.5, especially given their prices. Would you suggest swapping one out for the newer ones?
Comparing the lenses, the best answer I'll be able to give is "it depends," based on what you value most in a lens and what you're looking for in the camera system. The older XCD lenses are certainly still fine optics, there's nothing at all wrong or outdated with them, especially if you like the more streamlined appearance and prefer the focal lengths. That said, if you're on the fence and don't have a camera to use your current lenses with for the time being, I'd probably take a look at the new ones since you'll be waiting for the camera to ship anyway. One of the main things the new lenses have going for them is a smaller, lighter design as well as being faster aperture-wise. Also, the increased range of tactile control on the lenses is helpful in my opinion- easier manual focus with the push/pull ring and depth of field scale as well as a secondary control ring for manually adjusting aperture or exposure control is pretty helpful.
Bjorn, Ashon mentions the 45 f/4. I think that is the lens known as the 45p. This is already the lightest lens of the series. For the older XCD lenses, it is the quietest of the XCD series. I won't know how it compares to the new lenses until the arrive. The 45p is also limited to f/22 as I recall. I think the new 55 would be an excellent choice -- albeit at a much different price point.
Yes, correct- I believe that lens, the 45mm f/4, is still the lightest. I more meant in general/overall terms, especially compared to the other focal lengths in the system, these new lenses are lighter. I mentioned this in the article- the 38mm f/2.5 is only 1 oz heavier than the 45mm f/4 but you're gaining a pretty appreciable difference in speed (f/2.5 vs f/4); for me, that's a worthwhile trade (and I'm someone who typically values a more compact design over a faster lens). We haven't done a head-to-head comparison on quietness just yet but the new lenses do seem like they have quieter leaf shutters and I'd expect the focusing motor to be a bit quieter, too.
Are there any plans to release a broader range of XCD V lenses and if so, when?
Hasselblad hasn't explicitly announced any additional XCD V lenses yet, or released a roadmap, so we have no concrete information for now about what or when is to come in this lineup. My personal take- I think we're likely to see more XCD V lenses in the future, considering that they revised a lot of the design elements and have some focal lengths that repeat or are close to repeating past lenses, it seems natural to me that they'd want to apply this formula of making additional lenses lighter, smaller, and faster going forward. Hopefully we'll see more soon.
Thanks Bjorn. It would make logical sense that they broaden the XCD V range to include some longer telephotos and a super wide angle too, as the initial three being released are rather close in focal length. Fingers crossed anyway. Thanks for your detailed and thoughtful answers to everyone’s questions - certainly helps us all.
Thanks for the comment, I'm right there with you- I'd love to see some longer lenses for this system that would really be benefitted by the IBIS of the camera.
David, while I only "jumped into" the Hasselblad camera series in 2019 with the X1D II, as I recall, the initial release didn't have a large number of lenses. They line branched out over time, with the 45p being the most recent of the original XCD lenses. Hasselbad seems to be "in it" for the longer time range, so I would suspect the lens lineup will evolve over time. Especially now that most Hasselblad locations are back to working on site rather than in the home offices. There was an excellent Hasselblad webinar, now available on YouTube that discussed the entire range of Hasselblad lenses, from film days onward, with the designer of the XCD 30mm. lens.
Can you provide an approximate Medium Format-to-Full Frame conversion factor for this camera and its lenses? In other words, the 33, 55, and 90 lenses provide equivalent framing to which focal lengths in Full Frame (24mm x 36mm) lenses? (For example, Leica S3 lenses have a .8 conversion factor, so a Summicron-S 100 is equivalent to approximately an 80mm Full Frame lens.)
Crop factor is defined as the diagonal measurement of 35mm film/sensor divided by the diagonal of the specific medium format sensor you are comparing. In this case, the spec sheet indicates that the X2D sensor measures 43.8mm x 32.9mm. The diagonal is then calculated to be 54.78mm. Full frame measures 36mm x 24mm with a diagonal of 43.27. Thus the crop factor of the X2D is 43.27/54.78 = 0.79. (The S3 looks like it has a sensor measuring 45mm x 30mm (from the Leica website) which gives a diagonal of 55.8mm and a crop factor of 0.78.)
This is confirmed by the description of the lenses in the article above: “The 38mm is a general wide-angle lens and should feel like a 30mm on a full-frame camera; the 55mm is a slightly wide normal lens akin to a 43mm on full-frame; and the 90mm, the second one in the X lineup, is the short portrait-length lens with a 71mm equivalent focal length.”
Hope that helps.
David has given a nice and thorough answer here, which gives you an idea how to figure this number given any sensor size. In the case of this 44 x 33mm sensor, 0.79x is the figure to find the "equivalent" focal length in 35mm/full-frame terms. Personally, I'd take these figures with a grain of salt, though, since the difference in aspect ratio between the formats (4:3 vs 3:2) also contributes to equivalent focal lengths feeling a bit different in practice.
Why is there a depth of field scale on the new lenses if there is no scale for feet or meter referenced?
The focusing scale, in both feet and meters, is revealed when you "push" the focus ring forward toward the front of the lens. The product photos above have the ring pulled down, covering this scale, but if you look at the photos of the new lenses on the camera body, you'll see the scale and how the ring is sitting a bit further toward the front of the lens. Also, when the ring is forward, there are light detents at the minimum and infinity focusing positions, which makes it a bit easier to know when you've hit the focusing limits while shooting with your eye to the viewfinder.
The distance scale on the X1D II was available on the back display as an option. It was updated with with one of the firmware adjustments. However, for the new lenses, the scale on the lens is a nice addition.
Yep, and that's still on the X2D, too, as well as a really helpful manual focus aid that surrounds a moveable focusing target; sort of like getting the best of both AF and MF worlds.
Using Nikon TTL ? Wow, Hasselblad is actually thinking !!? Good job. Proprietary flash control would destroy sales….going with Nikon is smart. Finally.
Yep, I definitely agree- I think it's a good decision on their part. Hasselblad has actually been using Nikon's TTL for the past two generations (for the X1D 50C and the X1D II 50C), too.
How about the pixel dimensions ?
100 Meg ? Means nothing.
pixels are the language, speak it !
Wake up and tell me.
Within the context of this product, the jump to 100MP from 50MP is something worth pointing out for sure, especially considering the sensor size (approx. 44 x 33mm) remains the same. The pixel size for the 100C is 3.76μm (compared to 5.3μm from the 50C).
What are the pixel dimensions of this sensor?
NOT THE PIXEL SIZE OR PITCH.
the pixel dimensions! Please
From the specs page...
100 MP (11,656 x 8742)
11656 × 8742 pixels - now calm down. Please. Seriously, google took 2 seconds to find the spec sheet. And Bjorn gave you the pixel dimensions. You maybe want the image resolution assuming here. Yelling at someone for giving you exactly what you asked for... smh.
100 MP = 100,000,000 Pixels
Format 4 by 3. 4/3=1.333333
Area of rectangle = Length x Width Length = 1.33333 x Width
Area = Width x (1.33333 x Width) = 1.33333 x (Width) x (Width)
1.33333 x (Width) x (Width) = 100,000,000 Pixels
Therefore (Width) x (Width) = 100,000,000 / 1.33333 = 75000187.5
Therefore Width = √75000187.5
Therefore Width = 8,660 Pixels
Therefore Length = 8660 x 1.33333 = 11,546 Pixels
Length = 11,546 Pixels, Width = 8,660 Pixels (close enough because 100 MP is rounded)
Now you can convert any sensor and format for yourself.
Unfortunately, Hasselblad hasn't provided any information beyond stating the pixel size is 3.76μm and I'm unsure if they'll be releasing any more information beyond that.
100 MP = 100,000,000 Pixels
Format 4 by 3. 4/3=1.333333
Area of rectangle = Length x Width Length = 1.33333 x Width
Area = Width x (1.33333 x Width) = 1.33333 x (Width) x (Width)
1.33333 x (Width) x (Width) = 100,000,000 Pixels
Therefore (Width) x (Width) = 100,000,000 / 1.33333 = 75000187.5
Therefore Width = √75000187.5
Therefore Width = 8,660 Pixels
Therefore Length = 8660 x 1.33333 = 11,546 Pixels
Length = 11,546 Pixels, Width = 8,660 Pixels (close enough because 100 MP is rounded)
Now you can convert any sensor and format for yourself.
Hey Andrew, can I ask why you think this is an appropriate way to speak to a human being?