The long-suffering Hasselblad X2D II 100C camera has finally officially entered the market. It has very advanced stabilization with an efficiency of 10 exposure steps, continuous autofocus, and a 100-megapixel medium format matrix with support for 16-bit color depth ( 281 trillion colors !). At the same time, as expected, the new XCD 35-100mm F/2.8-4 E lens was introduced, which supports the new autofocus system. The cost of the camera is $7,399, and the lens is $4,599.
Hasselblad X2D II 100C
The main innovation of the medium format model is the continuous autofocus function, which has been significantly improved compared to the first-generation camera, which was released in 2022.
The update is based on an improved phase detection autofocus system and a LiDAR system built into the front of the camera.
It is worth noting here that not all Hasselblad optics support continuous autofocus. However, the new lens (and some other lens models) received support.
In addition to the advanced hardware autofocus, the Hasselblad X2D II 100C also features deep learning-based object detection . The system recognizes people, animals, and cars.
Now about the heart of the camera — its matrix. The new Hasselblad X2D II 100C is equipped with a 100-megapixel medium-format back-illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor. It is also installed in the first-generation model, but the company claims that this matrix has been improved in the new camera. In what exactly — is not specified.
The sensor produces 16-bit RAW images with a dynamic range of up to 15.3 stops . The original camera had 15 stops. The base ISO is now 50, up from 64.
Also, Hasselblad X2D II 100C received support for shooting in HDR . Foreign media write that this is the first medium-format camera on the market with such a feature. This became possible thanks to the implementation of the proprietary processing technology Hasselblad Natural Color Solution HDR (HNCS HDR).
The Hasselblad X2D II 100C shoots in Ultra HDR JPEG and HDR HEIF formats. RAW photos in HDR can be processed using the proprietary Phocus Mobile 2 application and compatible software, including Hasselblad Phocus and Adobe Lightroom.
When viewed on HDR-enabled platforms, images taken with the Hasselblad X2D II 100C display brighter highlights and an expanded tonal range.
Another innovation is the improved five-axis image stabilization (IBIS). It now has an efficiency of 10 exposure stops. This is the highest figure among all medium-format cameras . To put this into perspective: in the original 2022 camera, the stabilization had an efficiency of 7 exposure stops.
The exterior design and controls of the Hasselblad X2D II 100C
The new medium format camera also received a number of important improvements in the design and control systems. A joystick appeared for more convenient menu navigation and autofocus control. There is a 3.6-inch touchscreen display (more about it later in the article).
Next to the new joystick is a new customizable control button, bringing the total number of customizable camera buttons to eight.
The display has become brighter. It now supports brightness up to 1400 nits and has a P3 color gamut, as well as D65 white balance.
Hasselblad claims that the updated OLED display is great for accurately displaying HDR images. The camera’s electronic viewfinder is still large, bright, and sharp. It has 1x magnification and 100% frame coverage. Like the back panel, it can also display HDR photos taken with the camera.
The camera body also gets a slightly updated matte gray finish that Hasselblad says is more durable, a new black logo, and a subtler texture on the grip.
In addition to these aesthetic and functional changes, the camera is 7.5% lighter than its predecessor, despite numerous improvements. The camera still features a built-in 1TB SSD drive and a CFexpress Type B memory card slot for storage expansion.
Key features of the Hasselblad X2D II 100C camera :
100MP 43.8 x 32.9mm BSI
HNCS CMOS sensor HDR, 16-bit colour,
15.3 –
stop dynamic range 5-axis stabilisation (10-stops)
Advanced AF with 425-point PDAF and LiDAR
AF-C mode with target detection and tracking
5.76 million-dot OLED electronic viewfinder with 1x magnification
3.6-inch dual-tilt OLED touchscreen
ISO 50-25600, up to 3 fps shooting
1TB internal SSD storage and CFexpress B card slot
Updated Phocus Mobile 2 app
Hasselblad X2D II 100C is now available for $7,399.
Hasselblad XCD 35-100mm F/2.8-4 E Lens
Along with the new camera, Hasselblad has released the premium XCD 2.8–4/35–100E lens, a wide-angle and mid-range zoom lens that covers the most common focal lengths.
With a wide F/2.8 aperture and high-tech optical elements designed to deliver the highest levels of quality (including the 100MP sensor resolution), it should handle low-light shooting and offer the fastest autofocus speeds in the Hasselblad XCD lens lineup.
The new XCD 2.8–4/35–100E is a versatile standard zoom lens. With approximately 3x optical zoom, it provides an equivalent focal length of 28–76mm (on a full frame) and a minimum aperture range of F/2.8 to F/4. Thus, according to foreign media, it effectively combines the capabilities of seven Hasselblad fixed lenses in one.
The “E” in the XCD 2.8–4/35–100E stands for “ Exclusive ” and symbolizes the highest level of optical performance, delivering the same edge-to-edge image quality as Hasselblad’s XCD prime lenses.
Its advanced optical design comprises 16 elements in 13 groups, including three aspherical and five ED elements, ensuring high resolution and realistic colour reproduction to match the demands of a 100-megapixel sensor.
The XCD 2.8–4/35–100E features the fastest stepping motor in the XCD lens lineup. This compact internal focusing group, combined with optimized control algorithms, delivers smooth, precise autofocus.
When combined with the X2D II 100C’s AF-C autofocus system, it should be able to track moving subjects and ensure accurate focusing even when shooting fast-paced scenes, Hasselblad writes.
The built-in leaf shutter provides full flash synchronization from 1/4000 second to 68 minutes.
The lens is 138mm long and weighs 894g. It features the same control rings as the XCD V series lenses, allowing you to quickly adjust shutter speed, aperture, ISO, exposure compensation and switch between subjects.
The cost of optics is $4,599.
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