Hasselblad Launches Mark II X1D Mirrorless Camera

With Fujifilm’s GFX mirrorless medium format digital cameras selling like hot cakes (and the 50R very keenly priced), Hasselblad has responded with the much-awaited upgrade of its stylish X1D. The new X1D II 50C uses the same 51.3 megapixels ‘44x33’ format CMOS sensor as the earlier model, but benefits from a long list of upgrades, including a new processor to improve the operating speed (i.e. start-up time, shutter lag and the shutter black-out time). There’s a small increase in the maximum continuous shooting speed which is now 2.7 fps. The sensitivity range is expanded to run from ISO 100 up to ISO 25,600, and the dynamic range is quoted at 14 stops.

The new camera gets a bigger LCD TFT monitor screen – which Hasselblad says is the largest so far on a medium format camera – and the resolution is significantly increased to 2.36 megadots. As before, many of the camera’s operations are exclusively controlled via the touch screen, but there’s a new user interface and a revised menu design. Better still, the menus are now displayable (and operable) in the EVF and touchpad AF operation is available. The EVF – which is an OLED-type panel – also increases in resolution up to 3.69 megadots with a refresh rate of 60 fps, and the magnification is 0.87x. A big plus for many potential buyers will be the availability of JPEG capture at the full resolution – giving a typical file size of around 25 MB – and separately from RAW capture. RAW files are captured with 16-bit colour. As before, the X1D II has dual slots for SD format memory cards, but now with UHS-II speed support. The USB-C connection also allows for tethered operation using an iPad Pro or iPad Air tablet (latest generation versions only) via the new Phocus Mobile 2 app, which is a first for a digital medium format camera.

Externally, the machined aluminium bodyshell has a new, darker graphite grey finish with a reshaped handgrip, but the control layout remains unchanged. Other features include a built-in GPS receiver (rather than an add-on device), WiFi connectivity, an intervalometer, Nikon i-TTL auto flash support, auto exposure bracketing and 117-zone contrast-detection autofocusing.

Launched along with the updated X1D is the first XCD zoom, the ninth lens in the system. The XCD 35-70mm f3.5-4.5 (equivalent to a 28-58mm) will be released in October. Like all XCD lenses, it incorporates a leaf shutter which has a speed range of 68 minutes up to 1/2000 second (and with flash sync at all speeds).

The X1D II 50C is available now with local pricing yet to be announced, but the overseas prices indicate that the X1D II 50C will be cheaper than the previous model. The quoted US price is US$5750 which is A$8455 at current exchange rates.

Hasselblad products are distributed in Australia by C.R. Kennedy & Co., and for more information visit https://crkphotoimaging.com.au