Hasselblad Launches The NEW X2D and Three New Lenses
Introducing the X2D 100C, XCD 38V, XCD 55V, and XCD 90V
The Medium Format camera market is still alive as we can see today with the launch of the new Hasselblad X2D 100 megapixel back-side illuminated sensor. Hasselblad has been very quiet the last few years and many of us were wondering if we’d see an upgrade from the X1D. Well, it’s here and announced today with three new lenses. The medium format market is a special segment. Over the last few years, we have seen Fuji Film release a number of camera bodies and lots of lenses with their most popular being the GFX 100s. The Fuji Film GFX 100s has a price tag of $5,999.00 USD.
Phase One is well known for its cameras and they have the XF IQ4 150MP Camera System. Coming in at 50mp more with a price tag of around $50,000 USD. There has been no question that the Phase One cameras and backs set the bar high as far as features and especially image quality, but many photographers have been trading in their system and moving to the Fuji systems.
There is talk that in the not-so-distant future we may see Sony launch a camera that is close to 100MP. Presently their a7riv comes in at 61 mp with a price of $2,998.00.
The question that as a photographer you’ll have to ask is how many megapixels do I need for the photography I do? And, as you may have heard, Apple just released the iPhone 14 Pro Max which offers a 48mp sensor and all sorts of performance specs. Not to mention a RAW format that I have seen produces amazing results. It’s an interesting time again in the photography field.
Let’s take a look at the NEW Hasselblad. Below is information about the new X2D 100C. I have requested a demo/review unit and hope that in October I can have a chance to try this new camera out. I’m sure there will be plenty of reviews and videos from the usual suspects. If and when I get to try this new camera out, I’ll dig into the files and make some big prints. The specs as you see below look great. But, the previous version (X1D) kind of was a disappointment, as I talk about in my video review from 2017. Let’s see if Hasselblad has addressed the previous issues with the NEW X2D 100C.
Share your thought in the Forum.
The good folks at Capture Integration put together a whole page on FAQ’s for the Hasselblad X2D. Check that article out HERE. Steve Hendrix also put together some interesting insight with this article, What Matters About Hasselblad In 2022
After the groundbreaking success of the X1D-50c and its second iteration, the X1D II 50C, Hasselblad unveils the powerful X2D 100C, along with three new lenses to the XCD family, the XCD 2,5/38V, XCD 2,5/55V, and the XCD 2,5/90V, providing the ultimate experience for content creators.
HASSELBLAD X2D 100C – INSPIRATION IN EVERY DETAIL
Hasselblad’s next-generation mirrorless medium format digital camera, the X2D 100C, has been engineered to bring substantial technological enhancements to image quality, camera handling, and system responsiveness. Designed in a new dark grey tone body of machined aluminum, the X2D 100C houses a 100-megapixel back-side illuminated (BSI) (43.8 × 32.9 mm) CMOS sensor, delivering up to 15 stops of dynamic range with a 16-bit color depth. The X2D 100C enables a creative experience unimaginable in the past. It empowers content creators to capture the intricacies of an image’s highlights and shadows, utilizing the Hasselblad Natural Colour Solution (HNCS). Working alongside the new 5-axis, 7-stop in-body image stabilization system (IBIS), handheld image capture is possible in the widest range of conditions. Hasselblad independently developed its own IBIS for the X2D 100C in order to meet the stringent requirements for stabilizing a 100MP sensor. Keeping size and weight in mind for easy portability, the X2D 100C is the most compact medium format IBIS solution on the market.1
With 294 Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) zones, the system ensures the subject is rapidly located and brought into focus. The X2D 100C captures files in 3FR RAW and full-size JPEG, and the cutting-edge, built-in 1TB SSD storage and Cf express Type B card support deliver a high capture rate for fast-moving subjects.
The X2D 100C features an 0.5-inch OLED Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) with 5.76-million dots, high magnification of 1.00x with a refresh rate of 60fps, which supports electric refractive error correction to ensure the whole display is sharp and bright, from corner to corner.2 A 1.08-inch color top display and a 2.36MP, 3.6-inch tilting, touch-capable rear display delivers access to all of these new imaging technologies whilst keeping the intuitive Hasselblad User Interface (HUI) and Scandinavian style of the X System. The battery has a CIPA rating of 420 shots and supports PD 3.0 fast charging.3 Additionally, the X2D 100C is compatible with Phocus, Hasselblad’s free image processing software.
“When developing the X2D 100C, our goal was the same as always, just as Victor Hasselblad himself made decades ago: build a better camera,” said Bronius Rudnickas, Hasselblad Marketing Manager. “This commitment drives us to explore the possibility of improving its performance from all aspects.”
FASTER, MORE COMPACT LENSES ENHANCE THE X SYSTEM LENS LINEUP
The XCD lens range now expands to 13 lenses in total with the launch of the XCD 2,5/38V, XCD 2,5/55V, and XCD 2,5/90V. Each new lens has been designed with a compact, lightweight build, all while maintaining Hasselblad’s top-class optical performance. The fully upgraded focusing module, with its stepping motor, enables faster and more accurate autofocus, and the optimized leaf shutter is more compact, providing flash sync at all speeds.
Each of these new XCD lenses has a full-metal body with an engraved distance scale and an H logo engraved on both the focus ring and the lens control ring, delivering unique aesthetics. Photographers can now conveniently switch to Full-time MF using the lens by simply pulling and pushing the focus ring to change between AF and MF, and check focus and DOF readings in MF mode. Additionally, the new lens control ring supports function customization, and photographers can now change what to control with the ring according to their preferences to make shooting more intuitive and efficient. While the XCD 38V, XCD 55V, and XCD 90V lenses are compatible with any X System camera, they perform to their full potential when used with the X2D 100C.
The XCD 38V is ideal for shooting documentary, street, and landscape photography. The XCD 55V is suitable for full or half-length portraits, as well as for shooting documentary, still life, and daily photography, providing image makers more options for their preferred photography genre. The XCD 90V is a moderate telephoto lens, perfect for close-up portraits and still life imagery, and is 11% lighter than the XCD 90.
Per Nordlund, Hasselblad Lead Optical Designer commented, “The ambitious development goals we set for these lenses proved to be quite the challenge. We looked toward faster focusing, better operational features, and the highest possible optical performance in a more compact shape. The end result has been well worth the effort – everything falls into place, making the user experience straightforward and natural.”
The X2D 100C has an MSRP of EUR €8,699 / GBP £7,369 / CNY ¥54,900 including VAT and USD $8,199 excluding sales tax.
The XCD 2,5/38V lens has an MSRP of EUR €4,199 / GBP £3,599 / CNY ¥24,900 including VAT and USD $3,699 excluding sales tax.
The XCD 2,5/55V lens has an MSRP of EUR €4,199 / GBP £3,599 / CNY ¥24,900 including VAT and USD $3,699 excluding sales tax.
The XCD 2,5/90V lens has an MSRP of EUR €4,799 / GBP £4,059 / CNY ¥28,900 including VAT and USD $4,299 excluding sales tax.
The Hasselblad X2D 100C, XCD 2,5/38V, XCD 2,5/55V, and XCD 2,5/90V are available to order immediately. See details of each new product here: www.hasselblad.com.
1 AMONG INTERCHANGEABLE-LENS MIRRORLESS DIGITAL CAMERAS WITH A 55MM-DIAMETER CMOS SENSOR (ACCORDING TO A HASSELBLAD MARKET SURVEY ON 1 MARCH, 2022).
2 MAGNIFICATION: APPROXIMATELY 1.00X WITH THE XCD 65 AT INFINITY, –1 M-1.
3 TO CHARGE VIA PD PROTOCOL, THE CHARGING CABLE AND POWER SOURCE MUST BE PD-COMPATIBLE.
Headquartered in Sweden, renowned around the globe. Since 1941, Hasselblad cameras have inspired photographers to create classic masterpieces and capture many iconic images, including documenting the historical moment of the first humans on the Moon. For over 80 years, Hasselblad has expanded the boundary of photographic storytelling with its excellent image quality, exquisite Scandinavian design, and meticulous craftsmanship, equipping customers with the ability and inspiration to create excellent images.
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Visit the Hasselblad Press Room at www.hasselblad.com/press to find this press release and more image material.
Kevin Raber
September 2022
Kevin Raber
Indianapolis, IN
Photography is my passion and has been for 50 plus years. My career in photography has allowed me to travel the world, meet some of the most interesting people on the planet and see things I could never have dreamed of. My goal is to share the passion of picture taking through photographs and teaching with as many people as I can, hoping it brings them as much joy and happiness as it has me. I do this through photoPXL.com, this site, as well as Rockhopper Workshops, and other projects, as well as teaching as Artist In Residence at the Indianapolis Art Center.
