The new Hasselblad X2D II 100C arrived with incredible still photography features—but with absolutely no video. In 2025, that sounds almost shocking. Yet when you look closer, Hasselblad’s decision makes perfect sense.
A legacy of still photography
This isn’t the first time photographers have wondered whether Hasselblad would embrace video. Back in June, Will the Hasselblad X2D Mark II Finally Introduce Video Capabilities? addressed exactly that question. The answer, once again, is no. But this philosophy goes deeper. As explained in Hasselblad Releases an 8200-Camera Without Video Capabilities – Why?, Hasselblad sees itself as a pure photography brand. It chooses to refine still image quality, color science, and the shooting experience rather than stretch into hybrid territory.
The engineering challenge
Medium format sensors are extraordinary for stills, but they are not friendly to video. Reading 100 MP at high frame rates creates extreme heat, demands enormous data throughput, and eats through batteries. Hasselblad experimented once, as seen in Hasselblad Unleashes Medium-Format Video Capabilities for the X1D II 50C, but that step remained limited. The reality is that building a serious video pipeline around such large sensors would compromise design, weight, and reliability.
The role of DJI
There is also a business reason. DJI owns Hasselblad, and DJI already dominates in video—whether through drones, cinema cameras, or the Ronin 4D platform. If Hasselblad suddenly added advanced video, it would overlap with DJI’s other products. By keeping the X2D II 100C still-only, Hasselblad and DJI neatly divide their strengths.
Crafted for stills, not hybrids
The soul of the company can be felt in Hasselblad’s Factory: Assembling the Medium-Format Magic. Every camera is built with precision and intent. Hasselblad’s minimalist design language strips away distractions. Adding video would clutter the user interface and dilute the experience for the artists who rely on the brand for timeless image making.
Final thoughts
So is the lack of video a disappointment? Not really. Fujifilm’s GFX100 II has gone all in on hybrid, offering 8K and professional codecs. Hasselblad went the opposite way, and that’s okay. Hasselblad doesn’t want to be everything to everyone. It wants to be the ultimate still photography tool. For photographers who live for color nuance, detail, and the tactile joy of shooting, the absence of video is not a limitation—it is a promise.
Hasselblad X2D II 100C Medium Format Mirrorless Camera + Hasselblad XCD 35-100mm f/2.8-4 E Lens
I must say that I agree. One thing I don’t like about the Fuji XH-2 is its excess of menu options, due to trying to be both a cinema machine and a photography machine.
It does a good job with video, but it doesn’t hold a candle in that area to Black Magic.
It is however a great photography tool, and will probably be my photo device of choice until I get a an C2D mkii.
Your captions say 35-100mm lens but the photos clearly show a 55mm lens.