Hasselblad X2D 100C

The X2D 100C is Hasselblad's 2022 mirrorless take on medium format. A 100-megapixel sensor behind the Hasselblad X lens mount makes it a camera built for stills, and it offers no video recording at all.

That combination suits photographers who work deliberately: studio, landscape and product shooters who want maximum detail and the freedom to crop hard or print big. Anyone expecting a quick hybrid body will find the scope here quite different.

Ownership is also a physical matter. At 895 grams before a lens is attached, the body asks for a considered bag rather than casual carrying.

The heart of the camera is a 100-megapixel medium format CMOS sensor. That resolution gives room for very large prints and for heavy cropping while keeping files usable. It also rewards careful technique, since any focus error or blur is recorded with equal fidelity.

In-body stabilisation addresses the blur part of that equation. It reduces camera shake, which helps when you shoot handheld at slower shutter speeds, and that matters on a camera you will not always want on a tripod. Subject movement is a separate problem that stabilisation cannot solve.

The design shows its priorities in its shooting pace. The maximum burst is 3.3 frames per second, which suits considered framing of static or cooperative subjects rather than action. Shutter speeds of 1/4000 second are available, and the autofocus system offers 294 points.

Framing goes through a 5.76-million-dot electronic viewfinder, whose resolution makes for a detailed composition view. Base ISO 64 favours bright, controlled light, with sensitivity available up to 25600 when conditions demand it.

The X2D 100C does not record video, so it cannot capture motion clips alongside its stills.

A project that needs both photographs and motion footage will require a second camera for the video part.

That makes this a specialist stills body for photographers whose projects do not require clips from the same camera.

Composition and review use a 3.6-inch LCD with 2.36 million dots. The screen tilts for angled framing, giving you more freedom at waist level or above the head.

The 5.76-million-dot electronic viewfinder provides a detailed eye-level composition view when you prefer to hold the camera to your face.

For wireless connections, the camera carries both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Weather sealing protects against dust and moisture in outdoor use, though it is not waterproof. There is no built-in flash, but an external flash can be fitted when you need one.

Storage supports CFexpress Type B cards, a format suited to the large stills files this camera produces. Carry enough card capacity for a long, high-resolution shoot.

The battery is rated at 420 shots per charge. A charged spare is sensible for a full day away from a charger.

USB charging lets you top the battery up between sessions. Plan time to recharge and carry a spare when continuous work leaves little time to stop.