p.16 #1 · Official: Hasselblad X2D II 100C Medium Format Camera announced!
stgrove wrote:
Personally. I have owned Hasselblad since the 1970's. I own 4 film cameras and many CF and Superachromatic lenses. Just as with Leica it gives me satisfaction in using older lenses on modern cameras which perhaps yield a more classic file.
Leica pi**ed me off with their greedy price hike on the M11 battery. Of course then they realized they over did it (with greed) and then reduced the price a bit, but still why charge over double the price of the same battery in Europe? Tariffs aside it did not justify such price actions when they have been bragging for many years now about how they are realizing enormous and record breaking profits year after year. What they couldn't eat just a little bit just until things settled down? Guess not.
Then while I am contemplating all the above and with Leica to announce a new EVF M (I currently own 4 M11), Hasselblad announces a reduced price on a European Handcrafted 44x33 mirrorless camera. That did it. If Hasselblad amid all the tariff issues can reduce their US prices then I am ALL IN with Hasselblad. I say good for them and Leica can pound sand since this new Hasselblad camera costs less than a new SL3. I can afford the new M11-V, but now have decided Leica lost my long standing sympathetic trust and devotion to their brand even though I own the SL3 and SL3S, the Q28 and Q43 plus 2xM6, M3, a 1931 1C and the Series O camera with over 50 M lenses and 15 L mount lenses plus many Leica R lenses.
After receiving the new X2DII I realized with battery (X2DII @3200 mAh versus SL32200 mAh) and all memory cards in place (the X2DII has a 1TB internal memory and also takes a CFe card, the X2DII is slightly lighter than the SL3.
I own 5 APO SL lenses and yes they are super at over $5k each and they should be. That said the $3600 to $4k Hasselblad 25V, 38V, 55V and 90V lenses are every bit as good IMHO. In fact what matters most to me is what you do with your final images. On line who cares since all images are shown at 72dpi, but I print my favorite captures and differences become more evident during that process. I mostly print either 13x19 or 17x22, but occasionally will print huge like 44x60 even with stitched M240 files. So of course the Hasselblad tweaked 44x33 files using HNCS are superb for printing.
In Manual Mode the focus AF-D button focuses just as fast as the joystick does on the SL3 for manual focus endeavors. To me right now the only limiting factor is the number of lenses available for the AF side of the Hasselblad lineup. I also own the super 135/2.8 which comes with 1.7x, but still I often urn for longer glass. To satisfy that need, I use my older long glass with the X-V adapter, such as the CF150, CF180, CF250, CF350, CF500 (or 140-280 Schneider lens) and SA250 and SA350+APO 1.4x. No shortage of choices. I also have been experimenting with a few superb Leica R lenses via adapter on the X2DII and they are exquisite. Some are small (APO Elmarit 180/2.8) and others are big like the R105-280, but they perform.
Sorry this got so very long, but wanted you to know without a doubt my reasoning for the choices I just made....Show more →
I really envy your financial freedom. If Hasselblad ever releases the 907X/100C with IBIS, I think I’d love it even more. Since you already own the full lens lineup, which one would you recommend the most? In particular, which lens do you think comes closest to a Leica APO?
p.16 #2 · Official: Hasselblad X2D II 100C Medium Format Camera announced!
sean dennis wrote:
I really envy your financial freedom. If Hasselblad ever releases the 907X/100C with IBIS, I think I’d love it even more. Since you already own the full lens lineup, which one would you recommend the most? In particular, which lens do you think comes closest to a Leica APO?
p.16 #3 · Official: Hasselblad X2D II 100C Medium Format Camera announced!
Hi all a quick question is there any reason to pick the new x2d2 over the x2d if all u use it for is landscapes in manual mode. I am thinking of buying a x2d or x2d2 and wonder if the upgrade is worth the price difference or is the money beter spen on lens
Thanks
Mitch
p.16 #4 · Official: Hasselblad X2D II 100C Medium Format Camera announced!
wager wrote:
Hi all a quick question is there any reason to pick the new x2d2 over the x2d if all u use it for is landscapes in manual mode. I am thinking of buying a x2d or x2d2 and wonder if the upgrade is worth the price difference or is the money beter spen on lens
Thanks
Mitch
It depends on the price of X2D. If you buy it new, it will cost more than X2D2, so it is worth getting X2D2.
p.16 #5 · Official: Hasselblad X2D II 100C Medium Format Camera announced!
wager wrote:
Hi all a quick question is there any reason to pick the new x2d2 over the x2d if all u use it for is landscapes in manual mode. I am thinking of buying a x2d or x2d2 and wonder if the upgrade is worth the price difference or is the money beter spen on lens
Thanks
Mitch
No.
IQ is basically identical. Most of the new functionality is either based around faster/more convenient AF or the jpeg/HEIF HDR functionality. Raw is still raw.
The only advantage for landscapes is that the new rear screen completely clears the EVF hump for viewing. Also you have a cable release. If you have an iPhone just use Phocus mobile for that.
This of course implies you can get a clean X2D for a good price on the used market. And that you don’t intend to push into shooting more generally with the Hasselblad. As it becomes more capable it’ll find its way into a more diverse shooting envelope. For me, it’s the best travel and fine art camera ever made.
p.16 #7 · Official: Hasselblad X2D II 100C Medium Format Camera announced!
sean dennis wrote:
I really envy your financial freedom. If Hasselblad ever releases the 907X/100C with IBIS, I think I’d love it even more. Since you already own the full lens lineup, which one would you recommend the most? In particular, which lens do you think comes closest to a Leica APO?
The SL APO’s are the best *set* of matched still photography lenses ever made. they’re all superb or more superb, depending on you choices. XCD lenses don’t really compete at a lens level, mostly. But since you can’t use the lenses without a camera, generally as a system the X2D outperforms the SL. Mind you, even printing at A0 I often don’t see why we’d need more than a good small format lens and 45MP. You’re talking extreme fringe case advantages to the ‘blad and it still won’t make crappy images less crappy.
The sharpest (and slowest focusing) XCD lens is the 120 macro. It’s simply outrageous. It matches the SL 90 APO easily. In the older lenses you also have the 21, 30, 65 and 135. The 80mm might be the best all round portrait lenses ever made ever made, optically. In the new glass the picks are the 25, 75 and 90. The zooms are all very good. Personally my favourite is the 55V. Not the best optically in the corners wide open but it makes nice files and I like the focal length. It’s been a good lens for me sales wise as well.
p.16 #13 · Official: Hasselblad X2D II 100C Medium Format Camera announced!
stgrove wrote:
Which Leica APO lens did you have in mind?
If I decide to add the Hasselblad system, I’d prioritize the 90V first, and for wide angle I’d consider either the 20–35E or the 25V. But if I don’t end up adding Hasselblad, then I’d probably continue expanding my Leica SL system with the 21 APO or the 90 APO.
p.16 #14 · Official: Hasselblad X2D II 100C Medium Format Camera announced!
The SL APO’s are the best *set* of matched still photography lenses ever made. they’re all superb or more superb, depending on you choices. XCD lenses don’t really compete at a lens level, mostly. But since you can’t use the lenses without a camera, generally as a system the X2D outperforms the SL. Mind you, even printing at A0 I often don’t see why we’d need more than a good small format lens and 45MP. You’re talking extreme fringe case advantages to the ‘blad and it still won’t make crappy images less crappy.
The sharpest (and slowest focusing) XCD lens is the 120 macro. It’s simply outrageous. It matches the SL 90 APO easily. In the older lenses you also have the 21, 30, 65 and 135. The 80mm might be the best all round portrait lenses ever made ever made, optically. In the new glass the picks are the 25, 75 and 90. The zooms are all very good. Personally my favourite is the 55V. Not the best optically in the corners wide open but it makes nice files and I like the focal length. It’s been a good lens for me sales wise as well.
Gordon, you’re absolutely right, but both the XCD 120 and XCD 80 are over 1kg, and their autofocus is a bit slow. Even though they’re excellent, the weight makes me hesitate — just like with the SL 50 f/1.4, which I also hesitate to use because of its heaviness.
p.16 #15 · Official: Hasselblad X2D II 100C Medium Format Camera announced!
sean dennis wrote:
If I decide to add the Hasselblad system, I’d prioritize the 90V first, and for wide angle I’d consider either the 20–35E or the 25V. But if I don’t end up adding Hasselblad, then I’d probably continue expanding my Leica SL system with the 21 APO or the 90 APO.
To me the SL APO primes you mention are my favorites. That said once I started using the 24-90 I now only need the 21APO. When I want wide I want wide in a prime so I would favor the 25V and also 90V. In between it's anybody's choice as we are all different.
p.16 #16 · Official: Hasselblad X2D II 100C Medium Format Camera announced!
Gordon, you’re absolutely right, but both the XCD 120 and XCD 80 are over 1kg, and their autofocus is a bit slow. Even though they’re excellent, the weight makes me hesitate — just like with the SL 50 f/1.4, which I also hesitate to use because of its heaviness.
I do exactly the same. Hence my preference for the 55V over the 65. And even the HB lenses over the SL APO’s which are near enough 700g each. Weight does matter. More to some than others. I think Hasselblad get that. Hence the push to shave grams. Both the new HB zooms weigh less than the Leica ones (16-35 and 24-90).
The question was, though, what’s the closest match to an APO SL. As with most brands, that’s not the lightest ones. I spent a day with 4 SL APO’s recently and that was a big day with 2.5kg in glass over the shoulder plus bodies. I carry way less than that with 4 XCD lenses. But I know they don’t compete that way.
As I get used to the new 35-100, I already know it’s going to be my main travel lens going forward. AF is great (except pets). Optics are excellent. Not quite as good as the 90V in the extreme corners but still more detail than any small format system can produce. The corners sharpen up well stopped down. I really like the blur and CA is extremely well controlled.
p.16 #17 · Official: Hasselblad X2D II 100C Medium Format Camera announced!
Gordon
I have read most of your posts about Hasselblad versus say Leica SL APO lenses. One take away from all this is that when printing large it is very hard to discern sensor and lens differences. So it seems to be splitting hairs when discussing if Hasselblad V lenses are better our worse than SL APO primes since you make a very good point that it is the entire system that we should compare, even APS-C or smaller.
With all this I just sold my 35,50 and 90 APO primes (keeping my APO 21 for the time being) since I much prefer the X2DII system over the SL system. As I know I have way too much gear in my dry cabinets, so one day I hope I will get it down to Hasselblad X2DII and 907x/100C, Leica M and Leica Q43 and Q3. Then when I hit 90 years old I will pare it down even further.
p.16 #18 · Official: Hasselblad X2D II 100C Medium Format Camera announced!
stgrove wrote:
Gordon
I have read most of your posts about Hasselblad versus say Leica SL APO lenses. One take away from all this is that when printing large it is very hard to discern sensor and lens differences. So it seems to be splitting hairs when discussing if Hasselblad V lenses are better our worse than SL APO primes since you make a very good point that it is the entire system that we should compare, even APS-C or smaller.
With all this I just sold my 35,50 and 90 APO primes (keeping my APO 21 for the time being) since I much prefer the X2DII system over the SL system. As I know I have way too much gear in my dry cabinets, so one day I hope I will get it down to Hasselblad X2DII and 907x/100C, Leica M and Leica Q43 and Q3. Then when I hit 90 years old I will pare it down even further....Show more →
Likely I will be doing something similar. More and more I have to like a system to use it and I like carrying V lenses more than SL APO’s. I really do like the SL3 as a camera but every time I choose the X2D. And for longer than 200mm I’ll likely choose the S1Rii or a Sony A1ii. This kind of leaves the SL in no mans land, as much as I enjoy it. The new zoom hasn’t helped me want to use a SL more either…
My 907x is the 50C and I’m not likely to upgrade without IBIS. I’m not really adapting the back as I sold my 500 gear a couple of decades ago. And same again re the Q3, Q3-43 and M’s.
It’s a great time to be a photographer. Well a non-working one anyway.
