Hasselblad Releases an $8,200 Camera Without Video Capabilities. Why?
Hasselblad Releases an $8,200 Camera Without Video Capabilities. Why?

Hasselblad Releases an $8,200 Camera Without Video Capabilities. Why?

2022-09-08
3 mins read

The Hasselblad X2D 100C Medium Format Mirrorless Camera has just been released, presenting some outstanding still features. However, there’s no option for capturing motion. The X2D 100C does not shoot video. Why is that? It’s expected from this acclaimed camera manufacturer to release a flagship mirrorless with some video features, especially in 2022.

The Hasselblad X2D 100C Medium Format Mirrorless Camera. Picture: Hasselblad
The Hasselblad X2D 100C Medium Format Mirrorless Camera. Picture: Hasselblad

Hasselblad X2D 100C Medium Format Mirrorless Camera

The X2D 100C offers some medium format goodness. This $8,200 mirrorless owns a newly developed Sony sensor, an upgraded phase detection autofocus design, and an all-new 5-axis 7-stop in-body image stabilization system. The X2D 100C also boasts a built-in 1TB SSD and a CFexpress Type B card slot for unprecedented storage performance in the digital photography realm. Let’s elaborate a bit:

The Hasselblad X2D 100C Medium Format Mirrorless Camera. Picture: Hasselblad
The Hasselblad X2D 100C Medium Format Mirrorless Camera. Picture: Hasselblad

100MP BSI CMOS Sensor

Engineered with a large 100MP (43.8 x 32.9mm) BSI CMOS sensor, the X2D 100C features an extremely wide dynamic range of up to 15 stops along with vivid 16-bit color depth. The camera’s 16-bit color depth can deliver up to 281 trillion colors, 64 times higher than 14-bit. When combined with the Hasselblad Natural Color Solution system, tonal transitions and skin tones show immense depth, detail, and clarity for lifelike image quality. This color management system also creates imagery with exquisite color and detail for exceptionally smooth tonal transitions reminiscent of analog film capture.

The Hasselblad X2D 100C Medium Format Mirrorless Camera. Picture: Hasselblad
The Hasselblad X2D 100C Medium Format Mirrorless Camera. Picture: Hasselblad

Fast and Accurate Phase Detection Autofocus

Designed with a newly developed phase detection autofocus (PDAF) system, the X2D 100C utilizes 294 PDAF zones to provide fast and accurate focusing at the press of a button. Additionally, an updated electronic platform enables a quick 3.4 fps continuous shooting rate to capture fleeting moments in fast-paced environments.

The Hasselblad X2D 100C Medium Format Mirrorless Camera. Picture: Hasselblad
The Hasselblad X2D 100C Medium Format Mirrorless Camera. Picture: Hasselblad

5-Axis 7-Stop In-Body Image Stabilization

Featuring 5-axis 7-stop in-body image stabilization (IBIS), the X2D 100C compensates for five different types of camera shake encountered during handheld shooting of stills. This precise and efficient system significantly reduces motion blur at slower shutter speeds and enables you to confidently capture handheld 100MP images in real-life scenarios.

The Hasselblad X2D 100C Medium Format Mirrorless Camera. Picture: Hasselblad
The Hasselblad X2D 100C Medium Format Mirrorless Camera. Picture: Hasselblad

Built-In Storage

Equipped with a built-in 1TB SSD with a writing speed up to 2370 MB/s, the X2D 100C can store approximately 4600 raw photos or 13,800 JPEG photos. Although ample storage is built-in, additional space can be utilized via the camera’s CFexpress Type B card slot. Thanks to its high-speed storage performance, the X2D 100C is able to continuously shoot 16-bit raw images in Continuous Drive Mode, providing a stable and reliable continuous shooting experience.

The Hasselblad X2D 100C Medium Format Mirrorless Camera. Picture: Hasselblad
The Hasselblad X2D 100C Medium Format Mirrorless Camera. Picture: Hasselblad

But there’s a catch: No video

Yes, you got it right. The Hasselblad X2D 100C Medium Format Mirrorless Camera does not shoot videos. It’s worth mentioning that even the previous and more adorable model, X1D II 50C, can shoot medium format video. If I’m not mistaken, the X1D II 50C was released without the ability to shoot video as well, but these capabilities were implemented with firmware update1.2.0 which added video capture functionality. Hence, in the X1D II 50C, video can be recorded at 29.97 FPS with 4:2:0 8bit color. The 2.7K resolution option delivers improved capture of detail, whilst balancing the final video capture size. However, in the newly released X2D 100C, there’s zero option for capturing video.

Hasselblad X1D II 50C video interface
Hasselblad X1D II 50C video interface

Discussion

Although the Hasselblad X2D 100C was designed to fulfill the needs of professional photographers, an option for video capturing is crucial. It’s a bit strange that in 2022, an acclaimed camera manufacturer releases a flagship camera with zero video capabilities. Not only that the X2D 100C needs this option, but it should be upgraded in comparison to the previous X1D II 50C, which owns video features. Come on, Hasselblad, it’s 2022, and it’s an $8,200 mirrorless. When will you start to better utilize this huge sensor for videos?

Product List

Here’re the products mentioned in the article, and the links to purchase them from authorized dealers. 

Yossy is a filmmaker who specializes mainly in action sports cinematography. Yossy also lectures about the art of independent filmmaking in leading educational institutes, academic programs, and festivals, and his independent films have garnered international awards and recognition.
Yossy is the founder of Y.M.Cinema Magazine.

2 Comments

  1. Finally! It’s actually refreshing that they DIDN’T include video capabilities on this camera. Personally speaking I feel it’s a mistake that most every (what should be) photography centric camera released these days is expected to shoot photos AND video. Why? It simply muddies the water when purchasing these cameras and more often than not the functionalities and features get stretched thin. Finally someone grew a pair and said “let’s do something different, we narrow our focus, do exactly what we should and release a photographers camera, **** the marketing department”. Bravo

  2. Recently ordered an X2D & some lenses. DELIGHTED it has no video. Those bent out of shape because theres no video clearly do not understand what this camera is for.

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