- New leaked pictures seemingly show a Hasselblad X2D II top plate
- The camera will likely be an iterative X2D 100C upgrade
- It could be the camera Hasselblad registered with the FCC in December 2024
If I could have one camera, money no object, the Hasselblad X2D 100C would probably be it. However, I might soon be adding a ‘II’ to that moniker, following leaks of my dream camera’s upcoming successor.
The folks at Photo Rumors shared a post containing a Hasselblad FCC registration for product ‘HB722’, dated December 4, 2024, followed by a photo that seemingly shows a top plate of an X2D II camera, leading us to believe the upcoming product could be a X2D successor, and that it’s coming soon.
The current model is a 100MP medium-format camera with stunning minimalist design and stripped-back user experience. I loved reviewing the camera when it launched in 2022, but an upgrade could deliver meaningful improvements
Yes, the X2D 100C floats my boat, but that doesn’t make it the perfect camera.
The next model, seemingly being called a X2D II, suggests an iterative update – I’d expect a major upgrade to be called an X3D instead. However, that’s pure speculation, and there’s no leaked specs to go off, yet.
I’d be all for a new Hasselblad camera, be it a modest or substantial upgrade. Here are the top 5 upgrades I’m hoping for.
Getting up to speed
I’ve no complaints with the X2D 100C’s image quality – its 100MP stills are packed full of detail and divine natural color. A higher-resolution sensor next time around would grab headlines, but I don’t think it’s necessary, or likely.
Nor would I change much of anything design-wise; the grip provides a firm hold whether shooting in vertical or horizontal format, there’s a lovely balance with most lenses, while the minimalist control layout and menus give you quick access to the settings you use the most, doing away with the rest.
If image quality and form factor are fine as they are, what would I change? My desired upgrades largely center on focusing and speed.
First and foremost, I’d love a precise subject detection autofocus mode, specifically people autofocus with eye detection. The X2D 100C features Hasselblad’s best-ever autofocus system, but it’s still years behind the best mirrorless cameras from Sony, Canon, Nikon and more.
Autofocus precision is key, especially given the huge 100MP files that further highlight poor user technique / camera limitations. Being armed with reliable eye detection AF would make photoshoots way more relaxed.
In addition to precise autofocus, I’d also like autofocus to be significantly faster and reliable. Not that I would plan on using the X2D 100C for sports and wildlife photography, but speedier focusing for portraits would be appreciated.
While we’re on the subject of speed, the X2D 100C’s continuous burst shooting is limited to just 3.3fps. Understandable given the huge file sizes, but Fujifilm‘s rival GFX100 II goes at more than double that speed. Again, I’m not shooting action with a medium-format camera, but I would like the option there for faster frame rates, especially for portrait sessions.
Quicker burst shooting could also power a usable high-res shot mode – the type you get with smaller format cameras to quadruple resolution. Imagine a 400MP file from a Hasselblad!
Landscape photography is an obvious strength of a 100MP medium-format camera, for which better weather-sealing and improved battery life could be really useful in a future X2D II – I wasn’t overly impressed by the X2D 100C on those two fronts.
Video recording is completely absent in the X2D 100C. Again, I wouldn’t naturally think of using such a camera for video work, but when I think about how stunning Hasselblad’s color science is for stills, the prospect of 8K video with such gorgeous color is exciting.
To summarize: a faster processor, precise and speedier autofocus, refined handling, and video recording. Those asks amount to a modest and entirely doable upgrade. More lenses are always welcome, too.
Have you experienced the Hasselblad X2D 100C? If so, what improvements would you like to see? Let me know in the comments below.
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