Photography News Issue 40

Photography News | Issue 40 | absolutephoto.com

Camera test 48

Hasselblad X1D-50c

Specs

Price Body only £7788, XCD 30mm f/3.5 £3348, XCD 45mm f/3.5 £1908, XCD 90mm f/3.2 £2268, X-H lens adapter to fit H-series lenses on the X1D £288. X1D-50c 4118 Edition with XCD 45mm lens £10,788 Sensor 16-bit CMOS, 43.8x32.9mm, 50 megapixels Sensor format 8272x6200 pixels ISORange 100-25,600 Shutter range 60mins to 1/2000sec, flash sync at all speeds Drivemodes 1.7-2.3fps Metering system Spot (2.5%), centre-weighted and CentreSpot Exposuremodes PASM Exposure compensation +/-5 EV in 1.0, 0.5 and 0.3EV steps Monitor 3in 920k with touchscreen functionality. EVF with 2.36 million dots Focusing Contrast detect AF, instant manual override Focus points Grid of 35 covering 85% of the image frame Video HD 1920x1080p Connectivity Wi-Fi, GPS, mini HDMI, audio in/ out, USB 3.0 type-C connector

Join us for a close look at the world’s first mirrorless medium-format digital camera

Words and pictures by Will Cheung

It’s not mass market, but that’s because the digital medium-format cameras are very, very expensive. But things are changing with the launch of the X1D with a body price of £7788 and the Fujifilm GFX 50S expected this spring with a competitive price. The X1D was the world’s first medium-format camera to do away with a reflex mirror. As we have seen with smaller image formats, dispensing with a mirror means cameradesignerscanmakeproducts smaller, lighter and more portable. That’s exactly the result with the X1D, and its 50-megapixel sensor means incredibly high image quality helped in no small way by Hasselblad’s XCD lenses. Three are available to order now, the XCD 30mm f/3.5 (£3348), XCD 45mm f/3.5 (£1908) and the XCD 90mm f/3.2 (£2268). In 35mm terms these lenses equate to 24mm, 35mm and 71mm focal lengths. More XCD lenses will be introduced in the future while users with H-series lenses can buy an adapter for the X1D. I tested the X1D with the 45mm and 90mm lenses and they combine very well on the body. Portability rates highly; toting the X1D around is akin to a full-frame DSLR. It weighs 1242g with the 45mm which compares with the 1285g of the Nikon D810 with 35mm f/1.8G lens. I found the body design excellent, both ergonomically and cosmetically. It’s slim and the bold right-side grip gives a comfortable, secure hold while the control layout is uncluttered with a minimalist feel. The neat design is helped by locating many of the camera’s functions on the fixed, touch- sensitive 3in LCD rear panel. Here, depending what screen you’re in, you can engage the self-timer or turn on the Wi-Fi as change ISO or set exposure compensation. The menu system is good to use which is helped by large icons and fewer items compared with many cameras. Having fewer items does mean fewer customisation and set-up options. This does throw up some anomalies though. The secondary SD card slot can be set up as overflow but there’s no option to back up the primary card, nor can you save JPEGs to one and Raws to the other. There is no option to shoot just JPEGs only either.

Storage media Two SD card slots Dimensions (wxhxd) 150.4x98.1x71.4mm Weight 725g body with battery Contact hasselblad.com

The monitor is lovely for when you want to view image previews too, and you can move from shot to shot by swiping or pinching to enlarge the image. The viewfinder image is provided electronically. The EVF is decent rather than exceptional and I did see moiré effects on-screen though with finely patterned subjects. This was not on the final shots. Autofocus is responsive and fairly quiet – but not silent as you get withmany current AF lenses. It’s quick too, not as quick as the leading CSC or DSLR, but still impressive given we are talking medium- format. Accuracy is very good. The AF system uses a wide spread central grid of 35 points covering 85% of the image area and individual points can be selected by touch on the rear monitor. With the camera to the eye the AF point can be chosen using the two scroll dials. The exposure and white-balance systems proved very capable too

The reason why many photographers use medium-format is for the really high image quality

dealing skilfully with a variety of lighting situations. Of course the reason why many photographers use medium-format is for the really high image quality. Or should I say higher image quality as the latest full-frame 35mm cameras from Canon, Nikon and Sony do offer very high pixel counts. The X1D’s 43.8x32.9mm CMOS sensor is anti-alias filter free and offers 16-bit capture with a claimed 14EV dynamic range. I shot in Raw and JPEG and there is no denying the quality of the images coming out of the X1D. Bitingly sharp, detail-packed,

noise-free and capable of serious enlargement without artefacting; just impressive (and big) files. I did a few comparison shots with a full-frame DSLR just out of curiosity. Were the X1D images superior? Yes, I think they were, but we are not talking black or white here but delicate shades of grey. The pictures are excellent and if your ambition is to make big prints and enjoy the slower pace of medium- format photography, the X1D could be for you. You just get lovely photographs and that, at the end of the day, is what it’s all about, isn’t it?

Above The X1D’s uncluttered, handsome looks promote good handling. The large touch-sensitive 3in monitor is good to use, although more set-up and custom options like swapping what the scroll dials do would be nice.