Hasselblad X2D II 100C Review: Elevate Your Photography Game to Grand Dimensions!

It’s hard to discuss photography without mentioning Hasselblad, a name that conjures images of NASA moon missions, fashion studios, and large prints with incredible resolution. This brand has always fought for image quality and color signature over technical specifications.

Launched in 2022, the X2D 100C already embodied this philosophy: a stabilized medium format hybrid camera with a 43.8 × 32.9 mm BSI CMOS sensor and 100 megapixels, featuring a minimalist Scandinavian design. However, it had improvable autofocus, sluggish burst mode, high writing times, and a no-compromise positioning: only photography, no video.

The Hasselblad X2D II 100C continues in the same vein, with some much-anticipated enhancements. Continuous autofocus with LiDAR, 5-axis stabilization advertised at 10 stops, an end-to-end integrated HDR workflow, subject detection autofocus, joystick, revamped ergonomics, and a launch price reduced by 1,000 euros compared to the previous model.

In the market, the X2D II 100C faces two main types of competitors:

• on one side, “sporty” full-frame hybrids like the Sony A7R V, Nikon Z8, or Panasonic S1R II, which are much faster, more versatile, and significantly more affordable as a complete system;
• on the other, the more “accessible” medium formats like the Fujifilm GFX, particularly the GFX 100 II and GFX 100S II, which focus more on versatility (burst, video, softer pricing) rather than an advanced HDR workflow or full flash synchronization.

I spent several weeks with the X2D II 100C and the Hasselblad XCD 35-100 mm f/2.8-4 II zoom, a duo that perfectly summarizes the system: heavy, luxurious, demanding… yet surprisingly enjoyable in the field.

Hasselblad X2D II 100CTechnical Specifications

This review was carried out with a device loaned by Hasselblad.

Hasselblad X2D II 100CA Metal Block That Inspires Confidence

Visually, the X2D II 100C doesn’t change much, but it immediately asserts its class. It’s a machined aluminum monolith with a matte graphite finish, featuring clean lines, softened edges, and a very Scandinavian blend of minimalism and understated luxury. It doesn’t aim to impress with a large grip or a multitude of buttons: it captivates with its purity.

The finishes are as expected: flawless machining, impeccable fittings, a top dial with a distinct click, buttons with a short, precise travel, and a perfectly rigid chassis, resulting in an exceptional grip.

Minimalism, but Well Thought Out

The number of physical controls is surprisingly limited for such a premium body, and that’s a good thing: everything naturally falls under the fingers, without overloading. On the top, there are two adjustment dials, the shutter release surrounded by the main switch, a mode change button, and a small 1-inch status screen that constantly displays speed, aperture, ISO, shooting mode, and battery level.

On the back, a 5-direction joystick is used to select the AF point and navigate the menus, accompanied by two dedicated buttons not present on the previous model. In total, up to eight buttons can be customized (on the top, back, and front of the grip), allowing for very fine assignment of key functions without ever feeling like you’re fighting with the ergonomics.

The menu itself remains a model of clarity. We are far from the complexity of competitors (Sony, Canon, Nikon, Panasonic…): few categories, clear titles, very few options buried in sub-sub-menus. Hasselblad has clearly worked to ensure that users never feel apprehensive about pressing a button or touching the screen. It’s clean, clear, designed for efficiency, and accessible to everyone.

Hasselblad X2D II 100CScreen and Viewfinder: Superb and in HDR

Hasselblad has spared no expense with the screen and viewfinder, both displaying an image in HDR (P3). The 3.6-inch OLED touchscreen displays up to 1,400 cd/m², making it readable in full sunlight.

The screen is mounted on a tilt hinge: about 90° upwards, 40° downwards. It’s sufficient for waist-level, low-angle, or ground-level work.

Importantly, the screen handles HDR. When viewing an HEIF image or an Ultra HDR JPEG (the default format), it really displays the extended dynamic range: denser reflections, richer and more striking highlights, and less blocked shadows.

A Large Format Electronic Viewfinder

The electronic viewfinder (EVF) is a real treat. Large, very defined (5.76 MP), with excellent color rendition, it especially gives an immersion impression (magnification of 1x) that almost recalls the optical viewfinder of an analog medium format.

As a result, you find yourself staying in the viewfinder longer than necessary, refining your framing, enjoying the display.

Hasselblad X2D II 100CThe XCD 35-100 mm f/2.8-4 II, a Versatile Zoom

Hasselblad doesn’t make “consumer” kits: each XCD lens is a premium, expensive, heavy, and high-performing optic with an integrated shutter (leaf shutter) for flash sync at all speeds.

For this review, I primarily used the X2D II 100C with the XCD 35-100 mm f/2.8-4 II.

On the medium format sensor, this zoom covers a field equivalent to about 28-80 mm in full frame. An ideal range for landscape, environmental portrait, architecture, or calm reportage.

The lens follows the same philosophy as the body: metal, impeccable finishes, smooth zoom ring, focus ring with a long and progressive travel. Moreover, in manual focus, the X2D II 100C does not display a cloud of points (focus peaking) on the screen, but a green logo to validate where the image is sharp. Just tap the screen to indicate where you want to focus, turn the ring on the lens, and you’re notified when everything is sharp.

Optically, the sharpness is already excellent at the center from wide open, across the entire focal length range. The edges quickly catch up, and one can confidently use the lens at f/2.8 or f/4 even for extreme cropping later.

The main criticism concerns vignetting. On RAW files opened in Lightroom, it is not automatically corrected: there is a noticeable drop in brightness in the corners, especially at wide apertures. In JPEG from the camera, it is corrected.

Hasselblad X2D II 100CLiDAR Autofocus, IBIS 10 Stops, and 100 MP, but Still Not a Sprinter

The X2D II 100C is Hasselblad’s direct response to the criticisms of the X2D: slow autofocus, no continuous tracking, suboptimal stabilization, and lengthy writing times. It has significantly improved… but still embraces a certain slowness.

Autofocus: A Real Leap Forward, Without Catching Up to the Best Hybrids

The big new feature is the introduction of continuous autofocus combined with a LiDAR system and on-sensor phase detection. LiDAR, a technology well mastered by DJI with its drones (major shareholder of Hasselblad since 2017), allows for highly accurate distance measurement of subjects, especially in low light.

What does this change in practice?

• The lock-on is faster and more reliable than with the X2D, especially indoors and in low light.
• Face, eye, animal, and vehicle detection works well: the camera identifies a face, locks onto the eye, and tracks it accurately as long as the subject doesn’t move too quickly or against a too contrasting background — which unfortunately happens.
• AF-C is now compatible with burst mode, but at only 3 fps, the rate is significantly lower than any hybrid camera with a full-frame or APS-C sensor.

On subjects moving smoothly and against plain backgrounds, AF-C is really usable. However, for fast and small subjects — flying birds — the camera shows its limits. You have to either give up this type of photography or accept a high failure rate.

5-Axis IBIS at 10 Stops: A Real Comfort

Another major evolution is the stabilization. The 5-axis IBIS module is touted as having a 10-stop advantage — much more than the 7 stops of the X2D and even the 8 stops of the Fujifilm GFX 100 II.

In practice, with the 35-100 mm, you can easily achieve:

• sharp images at 1 s at 35 mm;
• usable 2 to 3 s exposures by paying very close attention to your posture;
• almost complete freedom to work in low light without a tripod for landscapes.

Sensor, Dynamic Range, ISO: Top of the Line

The heart of the Hasselblad X2D II 100C is its 102 MP back-illuminated medium format sensor. The advertised dynamic range exceeds 15 stops, with the ability to work in 14 or 16-bit RAW.

In practice, you can underexpose generously to preserve the highlights, then lift the shadows by 3 to 4 stops without breaking the image. The ISO performance is remarkable: files remain very clean up to ISO 6,400, with a fine and uniform grain — one of the strengths of medium format. Beyond that, chromatic noise appears, but the structure remains pleasant.

The rendering of micro-contrasts, textures, and tonal transitions is exceptional. This is where the medium format’s benefit

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Maya Singh

Maya Singh is a senior editor covering tablets and hybrid devices. Her work explores how these tools reshape digital productivity and learning. She also contributes to feature editorials on emerging tech.