Weighing less than half that of a conventional digital medium format camera, the mirrorless 50MP camera is said to be a game changer in the world of photography…
Meet the world’s very first, medium format mirrorless camera – the Hasselblad X1D. The camera was announced yesterday afternoon from Gothenburg, Sweden and the announcement could be watched via LiveStream.
Compared to other mirrorless camera’s, the Hasselblad X1D isn’t exactly tiny, but given the magnitude of the sensor it holds, it’s certainly far smaller than any other medium format camera out there. Roughly twice the surface area as one found in a full-frame DSLR, the 50-megapixel medium-format CMOS sensor packs a punch. The X1D’s high-resolution rear LCD offers touch control for all aspects of the camera’s features. The elegant icon-based user interface speeds access to customisation options, along with intuitive playback functions such as swipe and pinch to zoom. The camera also boasts a 2.4 MP electronic viewfinder for bright, crisp viewing even under difficult lighting conditions.
“For the very first time, photographers have a camera that is no larger than a small format rangefinder, but offers the quality that only Hasselblad medium format can give. The X1D can capture up to 14 stops of dynamic range, allowing for unprecedented detail – from the deepest shadows to the brightest highlights.” – Hasselblad
In addition to the entirely new camera, Hasselblad has also specifically engineered a new range of autofocus lenses to match the high-res capability. The XCD lens range currently consists of a 45mm/f3.5 prime and a 90mm/f4.5 prime, both said to deliver edge-to-edge sharpness in true Hasselblad form. If you happen to own some of Hasselblad’s H-system lenses, the good news is that they will work on the X1D (with an adapter, naturally).
Key Features:
- 50MP 43.8 x 32.9mm CMOS Sensor
- 16-Bit Color, 14-Stop Dynamic Range
- Hasselblad Natural Color Solution
- Full HD 1080p H.264 Video at 25 fps
- ISO 100-25600, Shooting Up to 2.3 fps
- Central Shutter: 60 min to 1/2000 sec
- 2.36MP XGA Electronic Viewfinder
- 3.0″ 920k-Dot Touchscreen LCD Monitor
- Dual SD Card Slots; XPan & Square Modes
- Built-In Wi-Fi & GPS, USB 3.0 Type C
For those keen to watch the recording of the announcement, you can do that here (skip to minute 14:10). As the camera was only announced yesterday, we, unfortunately, don’t have any local pricing information as yet. Naturally, we will keep you updated on this.
