ISSUE 123
4 / NEWS
MEDIUM FORMAT Deluxe Hasselblad is more affordable
Hasselblad’s latest medium format X2D II 100C gives you 100 megapixels of HDR magic for less
BLADDY GOOD NEWS The brand- new X2D II offers incredible spec and quality, as well as a large price drop
Hasselblad is taking aim at medium format rivals by cutting
the price of its new flagship camera, the 100-megapixel X2D II 100C. At around £1000 less than the current X2D, the Mark II version introduces a brand- new end-to-end HDR workflow, plus continuous autofocus and ten-stop IBIS in a redesigned body for £6400. That’s less than Fujifilm’s £6999 GFX 100 II flagship, which shares the same BSI CMOS 100-megapixel sensor. The biggest technical upgrade is that the X2D II 100C is the brand’s first to offer continuous AF and subject tracking. It also boasts expanded phase detection AF coverage – now offering 425 zones, up from 294 – as well as LiDAR-assisted focusing and an AF illuminator to provide an improved low-light performance. The Hasselblad Natural Colour Solution HDR (HNCS HDR) delivers 16-bit colour depth and 15.3 stops of dynamic range to control highlight clipping. HDR images are available as HDR HEIF or Ultra HDR JPEGs. These can be edited in the brand’s
The X2D II is the brand’s first to offer continuous autofocus and tracking
own Phocus Mobile 2 app, which supports HDR Raw processing and wireless control. Hasselblad says its HDR images don’t rely on HLG or PQ response curves used by other brands, but the wider P3 setting. It uses a linear response and roll-off in the highlights to give a more natural look. Unusually, HDR images are only captured in P, S or A modes, where the camera has some control over exposure. With a new base ISO of 50, HDR images are processed in camera and
The real cost of moving up
can be reviewed on the new 3.6-inch OLED touchscreen, which offers 1400- nit brightness – 75% higher than the X2D 100C. The screen tilts 90° upward and 43° downward. The new five-axis, ten-stop IBIS system delivers up to eight times the stability of the X2D 100C when capturing distant subjects. Hasselblad
says handheld exposures lasting several seconds can be shot without a tripod. Maximum frame rate is 3fps. The X2D II 100C is lighter than the original model by around 7.5%, weighing in at 840g with battery. It retains 1TB of internal SSD storage, adds a CFexpress Type B slot and adopts a textured graphite-grey matte coating, improved grip, plus a redesigned joystick. Also new is the £4100 XCD 35– 100mm f/2.8-4 E zoom lens, covering 28-76mm full-frame equivalent, with a fast aperture. This flagship Exclusive range lens consists of 16 elements in 13 groups, including three aspherical and five ED elements, and is powered by Hasselblad’s fastest stepping motor. It also features a leaf shutter with flash sync up to 1/4000sec. It’s 133mm long and weighs 894g, with three control rings inspired by the XCD V Series lenses, which can be set to adjust shutter speed, aperture, ISO, exposure or subject switching. Hasselblad has also released some new 86mm filters and a specially branded backpack that are more in line with the brand’s premium pricing. The UV filter is £239, ND8 £249 and CPL £399, with the Vandra bag costing £359. hasselblad.com
Upgrading isn’t just about the pricing reshuffle of the medium format deck, with the Hasselblad X2D II becoming the premium-name version that’s now cheaper than Fujifilm’s GFX100 II. That’s because the Japanese brand has other cameras that use the same sensor, such as the more affordable GFX100S II at £4999. Each brand puts an emphasis on its different offerings. The X2D II is a stills- only camera that majors in its colours and HDR for stills. Fujifilm’s GFX100 II counters with its faster burst shooting, deep video options up to 8K, class-leading AF tracking and eight-stop IBIS. The GFX100S II brings similar image quality at a lower price and smaller size. Lenses are where system costs really diverge. Hasselblad has a leaf shutter in its optics, which adds significant costs. Fujifilm’s GF ecosystem offers a much wider range of price points and includes tilt-shift options, a 500mm telephoto and fast f/1.7 prime lenses.
AWESOME UPGRADES
The large screen is brighter than the original X2D model, while the 35-100mm zoom is super sharp
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