Nearly 3 years after the launch of X2D 100C (curr. $8,199 on Amazon), Hasselblad has now unveiled the X2D II 100C. The new 100‑megapixel medium‑format mirrorless camera gets continuous autofocus, end‑to‑end HDR imaging and a lighter, refined body. The camera is launching alongside the XCD 2,8-4/35-100E, a standard zoom lens spanning wide‑angle to medium telephoto.

The X2D II 100C has a 100MP backside‑illuminated CMOS sensor that records 16‑bit color with a claimed 15.3 stops of dynamic range and a new base ISO of 50. A key feature of the new camera is Hasselblad Natural Colour Solution with High Dynamic Range. This enables true end‑to‑end HDR capture and viewing. The camera can process HDR images in‑camera as HDR HEIF or Ultra HDR JPEG, preview them on its much brighter 3.6‑inch, 1,400‑nit OLED, and – critically for post‑production – apply HNCS HDR processing to RAW files in Phocus Mobile 2. HDR RAW is a neat addition because it preserves full editing latitude through the workflow.

Autofocus is overhauled with the company’s first AF‑C implementation on a Hasselblad body. PDAF coverage rises from 294 to 425 zones, aided by LiDAR‑assisted focusing and a new AF illuminator that also works as a self‑timer indicator. Stabilization is rated at 10 stops across five axes. Hasselblad says that it yields up to eight times the stability of the previous model for distant subjects, so multi‑second handheld exposures should be way sharper.

The body still has one of the X2D line’s biggest practical advantages – 1TB of internal SSD storage – and adds a CFexpress Type B slot for overflow or backup. The chassis is lighter, about 7.5 percent less than the X2D 100C. It has a graphite‑grey matte finish, a reworked textured grip, a pull‑out tilting rear display, a new five‑direction joystick, and a total of eight customizable buttons. Phocus Mobile 2 for iOS now supports HDR editing and Hasselblad Natural Noise Reduction for RAW files.

Coming to the lens, the new XCD 2,8-4/35-100E lens covers a 28-76mm full‑frame equivalent range with an f/2.8-4 aperture. Its optical formula consists of 16 elements in 13 groups, including three aspherical and five ED elements. Hasselblad says it uses the fastest stepping motor in the XCD lineup with internal focusing and tuned control algorithms to pair with the camera’s AF‑C for subject tracking. The integrated leaf shutter synchronizes flash at all speeds from 1/4000 second to 68 minutes. The lens measures 138mm and weighs 894g, and it adopts the control‑ring ergonomics seen on the XCD V Series. New 86mm UV, ND8 and CPL filters ship alongside.

The X2D II 100C is priced at $7,399 / €7,200, and the XCD 2,8-4/35-100E comes in at $4,599 / €4,800. The X2D 100C launched at €8,700, making the X2D II 100C €1,500 cheaper at release. Hasselblad also mentions that HDR isn’t supported in every situation and some functions require compatible XCD lenses with updated firmware; more details are in the company’s FAQs.

Related Articles

Anubhav Sharma – Tech Writer – 916 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2024

Fueled by a childhood spent taking apart video game consoles to see how they worked, I turned my passion for tech into writing. I have a double Bachelor’s in Computer Science Engineering (2018) and English (2024). I’ve been writing on a variety of tech topics since 2016, with a particular interest in gaming. When I’m not hunting down the latest tech news, you’ll find me producing music, gaming, or hiking.