Hasselblad X1D-50C review
-
-
Written by Gordon Laing
The Hasselblad X1D-50c is a mirrorless medium format digital camera with a large 50 Megapixel sensor, electronic viewfinder, touchscreen, Wifi and GPS, packed into a rugged but relatively compact body milled from aluminium. The 50c is the first in Hasselblad’s X system, and employs a medium format sensor measuring 43.8×32.9mm that’s comfortably larger than the 36x24mm of full-frame sensors. This 50 Megapixel medium format CMOS sensor is likely the same – or a similar – model to that used in the Fujifilm GFX and Pentax 645Z cameras, but each has taken a very different approach to the bodies and controls around them.
By employing a leaf shutter in the lenses, the X1D-50c eliminates the need for a focal plane shutter in the body, in-turn allowing it to be comfortably smaller and lighter than its rivals, while also letting you sync the flash at all shutter speeds. The X1D-50c body impressively measures just 150x98x71mm and weighs 725g including battery.
At the time of writing, the system offered four lenses: a 30mm f3.5 (24mm equivalent in full-frame terms), a 45mm f3.5 (35mm equivalent), a 90mm f3.2 (70mm equivalent), and a 120mm f3.5 (95mm equivalent). A zoom in two more primes are in development.
My podcast partner Doug Kaye put the Hasselblad X1D-50c through its paces for our video and audio podcast reviews below, comparing it closely to the best full-framers as well as rival medium format bodies. Also see my Sony A7r Mark III review, Nikon D850 review, Canon EOS 5DSr review and Fujifilm GFX review.
Check prices at Amazon, B&H, Adorama, eBay or Wex. Alternatively get yourself a copy of my In Camera book, an official Cameralabs T-shirt or mug, or treat me to a coffee! Thanks!
Check prices at Amazon, B&H, Adorama, eBay or Wex. Alternatively get yourself a copy of my In Camera book, an official Cameralabs T-shirt or mug, or treat me to a coffee! Thanks!