Review: Hasselblad X2D 100C Medium Format Mirrorless Camera

The medium-format ‘megapixel race’ has been going on now for a few years, with incredible 50-megapixel bodies from both Fujifilm and Hasselblad—like the Fujifilm GFX 50S and the Hasselblad X1D-50c. But in 2018, when Fujifilm released the 100-megapixel Fujifilm GFX 100, Hasselblad lagged behind. But with the much-anticipated release of their three-figure resolution body, the Hasselblad X2D 100c, was it worth the wait? We sent MPB resident photographer Ian Howorth to see how the Hasselblad X2D 100C stacks up. Over to you Ian.

Overview

One hundred megapixels—such a big number. Of course, this isn’t anything new. Before the Fujifilm GFX 100 release, Hasselblad and Phase One had given us triple-digit resolution. 

However, both systems that housed the backs with this resolution were huge SLR-type bodies. These cost over thirty grand and weren’t designed to be carried around comfortably. 

There’s a simple reason why there’s such a vast price difference between the Hasselblad H6D and Hasselblad X systems. Aside from complex construction, it’s all about the sensor size. On the H6D system, the digital back is 53.4 by 40mm. Meanwhile, regardless of the megapixel count, the Hasselblad X system is 43.8 by 32.9mm. While that size difference may not seem like a lot, it is. Once you get to these mega-sized sensors, those increments mean a lot more data and a lot more processing power to get the sensors cooled down. And all of that means cost. 

So, with that out of the way, let’s get back to the Hasselblad X2D 100C, their first camera designed from the ground up after DJI took over Hasselblad. 

Upsides

• 1TB internal storage is awesome

• Seven-stop in-body image stabilisation (IBIS) is out of this world

• Speedier start-up and less laggy 

• Image quality and lens combo are arguably the best there is

• Leaf shutter lenses allow for flash sync at all speeds

• Ergonomically almost perfect

Downsides

• Camera is expensive, and the lenses even more so

• Improved autofocus, but could be better still

• No joystick

• No black-and-white simulation mode

• Lack of video might be a problem for some

Specs

Let’s examine the features and specifications of the Hasselblad X2D 100C and compare them to those of the Hasselblad X1D II and the Fujifilm GFX 100S.

As you can see, the Hasselblad X2D 100C offers much more than the Hasselblad X1D II. These specs place the X2D 100C squarely in the territory of the Fujifilm GFX100S. 

But what makes the Hasselblad X2D 100C truly special is the improved autofocus. The autofocus of the X1D series was rather lacklustre, but more on that later. Aside from the obvious increase in resolution over the X1D II, there’s also the addition of 1TB of internal storage—something previously only offered by the weird and wonderful Zeiss ZX1.

Autofocus

It’s a welcome change on the Hasselblad X2D 100C for Hasselblad to finally add phase detect autofocus. And it certainly works well. The Hasselblad X2D 100C offers a marked improvement in autofocus over that of the Hasselblad X1D 50C and Hasselblad X1D II 50C, both of which were known to be hit-and-miss—even under perfect conditions. However, autofocus still leaves much to be desired and it will still spend some time hunting, and often incredibly slowly. 

One of the most significant issues with the Hasselblad X system is that it feels and looks like a normal camera. So, often, you’ll want to just take this out and snap away. If something happens in front of your eyes and you require fast and precise autofocus, you must keep your fingers crossed. Sometimes the Hasselblad X2D 100C does the job, and sometimes it just won’t.

I found a good workaround. Close down the aperture and set the camera to shutter priority. Then, preset the focus point to around three or four feet to infinity. This should ensure that your shots are in focus. For any other times, the autofocus generally worked fine for well-illuminated subjects. 

In extreme low-light conditions, the autofocus is practically useless. In this case, you’ll just have to set it to manual focus with focus peaking—another benefit of mirrorless technology—as an aid. 

Image Stabilisation

The in-body image stabilisation (IBIS) of the Hasselblad X2D 100C was a revelation. To be fair, I didn’t push its boundaries. But I could shoot confidently at 1/11—and even 1 sec—with an 80mm lens, without any blur in the images. Very, very impressive. 

Of course, you can’t be clumsy when you’re shooting at such low shutter speeds. You might still have to press the camera body firmly against your chest and hold your breath. Still, the image stabilisation of the Hasselblad X2D 100C works incredibly well—especially when tripods aren’t an option.

Design and Handling

Design-wise, it's really more of the same. The Hasselblad X2D 100C is a beautifully made piece of machinery cut from a single block of aluminium. Up until the release of the Hasselblad X2D 100C, I believed the X1D was probably the most comfortable and ergonomic camera I've ever held. The grip just sits perfectly in hand. I’d have happily used it without a strap.

From a functionality point of view, I’d say its function and form are very closely matched. Gone is the big scroll wheel. Instead, you get a small LCD that shows you useful data like f-stop, shutter speed, ISO and Exp compensation. And, of course, battery life. 

Your function controls are now within the main menu and can be accessed via the rear LCD touchscreen. The menu always worked well for me. With the X2D's much faster speeds, using it never felt laborious at all. 

Control of aperture and shutter speed is still done via two scroll wheels. One is controlled by your index finger and one by your thumb as you grip the camera. The touchscreen is phenomenal. It’s large, incredibly responsive and all the digital buttons are huge. 

However, if you’re using single-point autofocus, it isn’t easy to change the focus point. Especially when the electronic viewfinder is pressed against your eye. You have to squeeze your finger between your face and the touchscreen to move the autofocus point. While this does work, it can look and feel a little strange. Instead, you might want to just use the touchscreen to preview your shot.

Storage

The beauty of the Hasselblad X2D 100C is that it has both an SD card slot and 1TB internal SSD storage. So, if you forget your SD, the internal SSD is there to save you. To be frank, I would just use the internal SSD as the main storage solution and keep an SD card inserted as an overflow option. It's a real game-changer.

Battery Life

Surprisingly, the Hasselblad X2D 100C battery life is pretty good at 420 shots per charge. Considering the size of the images and the data they hold, it’s not bad. 

When it comes to shooting, I’m not much of a sprayer—so, on most days, one battery was more than enough. But I would still carry a spare battery or two. 

Image Quality

Now, the reason why we’re all here is the image quality. I won’t beat about the bush, the Hasselblad X2D 100C image quality doesn’t disappoint. I could bore you to death with stats—like 15 stops of dynamic range—but the proof is in the shots. And, of course, the robustness of the files.

Where to begin? Well, I guess it’s important to mention the Hasselblad XCD lenses. I used the Hasselblad XCD 45mm f/4 P, 55mm f/2.5 V and 80mm f/1.9. They are staggeringly good—and also staggeringly expensive. But if you’re a landscape artist, or if out-and-out detail is important to you, then there is no substitute. 

Sure, you can use adaptors to fit other lens types—like Hasselblad V-fit lenses or even Hasselblad H-fit lenses—but if resolving as many of those 100 megapixels is key, then the XCD lenses won’t disappoint. 

The detail is staggering even when shooting fully open or close to it. The only things you will notice are a slight amount of vignetting and depth of field issues. 

The smoothness and transition from shades of colour and light are really beautiful. It’s a joy to behold in the viewfinder. Colour just pops. With the amount of data per RGB channel, there’s plenty of scope for editing and pushing your Photoshop or Lightroom sliders. 

Shooting at ISO 64 yields the cleanest image. But even going as high as 1600 renders nicely. Even with the high megapixel count, the size of the sensor hides any noise extremely well.

The IBIS performs well in tandem with the ability to cleanly shoot at a high ISO. This does make you wonder if you need a tripod. Of course, there’s no substitute for a tripod. But it’s nice to know that if you leave your tripod at home, you’ll still get usable images from the camera.

The ability to crop into a 100-megapixel image shouldn’t be scoffed at. And here’s why. Lenses are expensive. More specifically, Hasselblad XCD lenses are expensive. Furthermore, there aren’t that many zooms available—but there are a ton of primes. Most people are unlikely to own too many lenses. If they do, they’re likely to be prime lenses. 

Stuck for a shot that might be too far away or simply inaccessible? Hasselblad X2D 100C allows you to get into that image and still get a 25-, 30- or even 50-megapixel image. And that is truly incredible.

Just look at the amount of detail you can pull, even at close to 100% crop. It’s staggering! And yes, I am aware of the ridiculous settings on this shot.

So, what about colour? Medium format is famed for its vibrant colour. And, owing to the larger sensor, the ability to spread tonality over a wider area makes it closer to what the human eye can see. The story is much the same with the Hasselblad X2D 100C as was with the Hasselblad X1D 50C—tons of juicy data.

It’s amazing that the image doesn’t break up, even at high ISO. It retains its vibrancy and just adds a little bit of texture, which is easy enough to disguise (should you wish to get rid of it in post-production).

Some people will say that, aside from resolution, full-frame cameras offer the same benefits as medium-format cameras. I disagree. When pushed to the limit, and when colour is being exploited, that’s where medium format shines. I’d be more than willing to take a Pepsi challenge on that! 

Verdict

So, what did I learn from shooting the Hasselblad X2D 100C? For one, it wasn’t a total revelation to shoot with a 100-megapixel sensor. I’ve used the Fujifilm GFX100S a lot. And, frankly, from an image quality point of view, there is nothing in it.

But with this level of tech, there are other things to consider. From a design point of view, the Hasselblad X2D 100C will appeal to those with a bit more money to burn who want something that is also aesthetically pleasing, robust and functional. There is much more to this camera than just looks and a great name.

However, the lenses are very expensive. They’re leaf shutter lenses, which make them slightly more complex to build but allow them to sync to any shutter speed. This is useful for those wanting to shoot outdoors. If this is important to you, then it’s a no-brainer.

The Hasselblad X2D 100C also has an easy-to-use menu system—rather than the space-shuttle controls of the Fujifilm GFX cameras. The simplicity of the Hasselblad X2D 100C means it’s less of a headache to operate. It keeps what you need and gets rid of what you don’t. 

What about the lack of video? That’s not an issue for me. Video tends to bring many other problems, often requiring more cooling, weight and size. I much prefer that size and weight to go towards creating better stills. 

If you buy a Porsche, you don’t expect it to do the job of a Land Rover. Hasselblad cameras are photography tools—they always have been—and I’m glad that they removed the video function.

Is the Hasselblad X2D 100C worth it over the Hasselblad X1D II 50C? Yes, absolutely. The changes in IBIS, resolution, the improvement in autofocus and the SSD internal storage are all bonafide reasons to upgrade. 

But would I choose the Hasselblad X2D 100C over the Fujifilm GFX100S? Honestly, I’m not sure—but then I’d probably give you the same answer if the question was reversed. If I absolutely had to answer, it would be that my brain would say Fujifilm GFX100S, but my heart is all about the Hasselblad X2D 100C. 

Read Ian’s Hasselblad X1D II 50C review, Del Francis’ Fujifilm GFX 100S review and more camera gear guides on the MPB content hub.