Hasselblad Joins The 100MP Club
It’s still a very exclusive club, but now Fujifilm and Phase One have been joined by Hasselblad in offering 100 megapixels capture. Phase One does it via its IQ4 series capture backs (and has a 150MP model too), while Fujifilm and now Hasselblad pack 100MP sensors into medium format mirrorless camera bodies. The Hasselblad X2D 100C has essentially the same smartlooking, hand-crafted aluminium bodyshell as the original 50MP model, but it’s finished in a new dark grey tone that makes it even more elegant in appearance. There are, however, quite a few changes compared to the two 50MP X-series bodies, including a new monitor design and top deck info panel with a full colour display, plus the X2D is fractionally bigger and 140 grams heavier, now weighing in at 790 grams.
On the inside, the sensor is a BSI-type CMOS with an imaging area of 43.8x32.9 millimetres, an effective pixel count of 102 million and a claimed dynamic range of 15 stops. It is, of course, the same Sonymade imager that’s used in the Fujifilm
GFX 100 models, but with some tweaking by Hasselblad via a new processor. The sensitivity range is equivalent to ISO 64 to 25,600. Images can be captured as ‘3FR’ RAW files with 16-bit colour (at around 250MB in size) or full-sized JPEGs at 11,656x8742 pixels. Continuous shooting is possible at up to 3.3fps and the X2D 100C has a built-in SSD with a massive 1TB of storage capacity. It’s supplemented by a single memory card slot for CFexpress Type B memory devices.
A new feature for the Hasselblad X series line is in-body image stabilisation with five-axis movement and up to seven stops of correction for camera shake.
The stabilisation is optimised for the focal length of the fitted XCD lens. Also new is phase-difference detection autofocusing made possible by the 100MP sensor and provides 294 measuring zones. Obviously the new hybrid autofocusing is a lot faster than the contrast-only system in the 50MP bodies, so Hasselblad has introduced a new series of ‘V’ XCD lenses that use linear stepper motors to deliver a three-fold increase in their focusing speed compared to the existing models. Initially, three primes are available – a 38mm f/2.5, a 55mm f/2.5 and a 90mm f/2.5 – which also have more compact designs and introduce new external styling (see separate new item).
The X2D 100C also gets a new EVF module that uses a 1.27cm OLED panel with 5.76 million dots resolution, a refresh rate of 60fps and 1.0x magnification.
It also has built-in refractive error correction to ensure corner-to-corner sharpness. Eyepiece dioptre correction is now performed digitally rather than mechanically. Fixed on the 50MP cameras, the X2D’s monitor screen is adjustable for upward tilts and has a resolution of 2.36 million dots. The touchscreen implementation includes menu navigation, image browsing and review, AF point selection and an AF ‘touchpad’ for AF point selection when using the EVF.
Other notable features of the X2D 100C include in-camera charging via USB-C, an intervalometer, auto exposure bracketing, weather sealing (and insulation to allow shooting in subzero temperatures), Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and TTL flash metering that supports selected Nikon SB-series flash units. However, the camera does not shoot video and the facility won’t be added down the track.
The X2D 100C is priced at $12,460 for the camera body. Hasselblad products are distributed in Australia by C.R.
Kennedy & Co.
For more information visit https:// crkphotoimaging.com.au.
To keep up with the X2D 100C’s new hybrid phase/contrast-detection AF system, Hasselblad has introduced a new series of XCD primes designated as ‘V’ lenses. These are significantly different from the earlier X System lenses in many ways, including being smaller and lighter. Hasselblad has also taken the opportunity to introduce new styling with distinctive grip patterns on the focusing ring and aperture collar created from the company’s ‘H’ logo. The all-metal barrels have engraved (rather than screen printed) distance scale markings and the focusing collar has pull/push switching between AF and MF operation (similar to many OM System M.Zuiko Digital lenses). The aperture collar is actually a multi-function ring that can be assigned other duties. Autofocusing is performed via linear stepping motors for faster and quieter operation. They also feature more compact leaf shutter modules
There are initially three Hasselblad XCD V lenses and all are f/2.5 speed primes – a 38mm wide-angle (equivalent to 30mm), a 55mm standard (42mm) and a 90mm short telephoto (71mm). Their arrival brings the total XCD line up to 13 models.
The 38mm f/2.5 employs a 10-element construction in nine groups which includes three aspherical types and two with extra-low dispersion (ED) characteristics to minimise chromatic aberrations. The minimum focusing distance is 30cm and it weighs a modest 350 grams.
The 55mm f/2.5 construction comprises nine elements in eight groups, including three aspherical types and one with ED glass. Its minimum focusing distance is 45cm. This model weighs in at 372 grams.
There are also nine elements in the 90mm f/2.5’s optical construction, but in six groups and with one aspherical type and one ED type. The minimum focusing distance is 67cm, and the 90mm tips the scales at 551 grams.
In Australia, the Hasselblad XCD 38mm f/2.5 V and the XCD 55mm f/2.5 V cost $6,019 each, and the XCD 90mm f/2.5 V is $6,879. Hasselblad products are distributed in Australia by C.R. Kennedy & Co.
For more information visit https://crkphotoimaging.com.au.