Hasselblad Announces Groundbreaking X1D Medium Format Mirrorless Camera

[Canon Rumors]

<em>The world’s first compact mirrorless digital medium format camera</em></p>
<p>Hasselblad is proud to introduce the groundbreaking X1D – weighing less than half that of a conventional digital medium format camera, the mirrorless 50MP camera is a game changer in the world of photography.</p>
<p>Inspired by the brand’s iconic design heritage, the camera is ergonomic and compact, offering a handling experience unlike any other. Handmade in Sweden, the X1D combines Scandinavian sensibility with beautiful performance.</p>
<p>Like the iconic V System, the X1D seamlessly combines portability with excellent optical quality for which the brand is renowned. Hasselblad has ingeniously introduced mirrorless technology to digital medium format for the first time ever, creating a precision performance camera that can sit in the palm of your hand. The 50MP CMOS sensor captures the finest details with true natural colours.</p>
<p><strong>Commenting on the announcement Perry Oosting, Hasselblad CEO noted:</strong><em> “The X1D marks a pivotal point in Hasselblad’s rich 75-year history. This camera makes medium format photography available to a new generation of Hasselblad users, while pushing the existing limits of photography to new heights.”</em></p>
<p>A completely new family of dedicated autofocus lenses has been developed to support optical quality and portability, offering a wide range of shutter speeds and full flash synchronisation up to 1/2000th second.</p>
<p>Weighing just 725g and including HD video, Wi-Fi and built-in GPS, the X1D is a trusted partner and ideal travel companion. The robust exterior is dust and weather proof, providing durability to take with you wherever you go.</p>
<p>The X1D has been created with passionate photographers in mind, opening up Hasselblad to a new generation of creatives. Ideal for those who want to create the highest quality medium format images with a straightforward and easy to use camera that can fit in the palm of your hand.</p>
<p>The X1D is priced at 7,900 EUR / 8,995 USD / 5,990 GBP. All prices stated are exclusive of VAT.</p>
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[Dylan777]

I didn't see any info on AF modes, AF points, etc...?

Slow native lenses are quite disappointed.

 

[3kramd5]

I didn't see any info on AF modes, AF points, etc...?

Slow native lenses are quite disappointed.

The only info I saw on AF is that it's contrast, not phase.

 

[StudentOfLight]

I didn't see any info on AF modes, AF points, etc...?

Slow native lenses are quite disappointed.

I'll consider ground to be broken when I see f/1.4 lenses.

 

[Dylan777]

I didn't see any info on AF modes, AF points, etc...?

Slow native lenses are quite disappointed.

The only info I saw on AF is that it's contrast, not phase.

Same here.

I guess we won't see advance AF modes/features until mrk II. It reminds me the a7 series from starting point. I'll look forward to own MF system in near future.

 

[mb66energy]

That's I would like to see as FF with EF mount. If just Hasselblad produces a mirrorless system for MF Canon cannot wait too long with a serious FF mirrorless - open to the goodies of the EF world (including 40mm pancake, 100mm Macro I own and 16-35 4.0 or 24mm TS I do not own) + hopefully the goodies of the FD world (and others) like FD 2.5 + 3.5 135 S.C. or 4.0 17 New FD still waiting in a drawer to be reanimated ...

I really like my EOS M but am really missing an EVF and the IQ delivered by FF sensors ( I only know that from the 5D classic which is way ahead of all I have seen from APS-C up to EOS 60D).

 

[3kramd5]

Has anyone been able to find confirmation of the raw files being 16bit per color?

http://www.hasselblad.com/x-system/x1d-50c/#specifications

 

[Perio]

I didn't see any info on AF modes, AF points, etc...?

Slow native lenses are quite disappointed.

I'll consider ground to be broken when I see f/1.4 lenses.

If I'm not mistaken, there is no single medium format lens with f1.4. Have you shot with medium format lenses? Even f2.0 is very hard to focus and DOF is extremely narrow.

Overall, the camera is interesting but I don't see anything groundbreaking.

 

[Don Haines]

Another rumors website mentions that the X1D offers 16bit (per color) raw files that deliver 14 stops of DR.

Has anyone been able to find confirmation of the raw files being 16bit per color?
Is this the first 16bit raw file consumer digital camera?

Definitely 16 bit.... Unlike with Sony, this time I believe that we have hit 14 stops of DR.

 

[3kramd5]

Ken Rockwell has the following to say:

"Holy cow: Hasselblad just announced the system I designed back in 2009 for Nikon."

So he's adding systems engineer, electrical engineer, electronics engineer, software engineer, mechanical engineer, manufacturing engineer, material and process engineer, manufacturing engineer, and optical engineer to his resume. Cool beans.

 

[Dylan777]

I didn't see any info on AF modes, AF points, etc...?

Slow native lenses are quite disappointed.

I'll consider ground to be broken when I see f/1.4 lenses.

If I'm not mistaken, there is no single medium format lens with f1.4. Have you shot with medium format lenses? Even f2.0 is very hard to focus and DOF is extremely narrow.

Overall, the camera is interesting but I don't see anything groundbreaking.

No, never touched MF before.

It's difficult as 50mmf1.2 on ff?

 

[Halfrack]

This camera is all that and a bag of chips. It supports TTL (Nikon) on the hotshoe, so the folks looking for speedlights or even the Profoto B1/B2 get their full support.

It's a great camera on it's own, add in the leaf lenses and it's a winner. It's similar in size to the A7R stuff, and priced as a 1Dx - with 50mp of the absolute best sensor on the market. It's small, it's light, and with some creativity it can support EF lenses.

Same chip, Hasselblad CFV-50c (for the V / 500 series cameras) with the EF 11-24mm
http://forum.luminous-landscape.com/index.php?topic=110474.0

 

[StudentOfLight]

I didn't see any info on AF modes, AF points, etc...?

Slow native lenses are quite disappointed.

I'll consider ground to be broken when I see f/1.4 lenses.

If I'm not mistaken, there is no single medium format lens with f1.4. Have you shot with medium format lenses? Even f2.0 is very hard to focus and DOF is extremely narrow.

Overall, the camera is interesting but I don't see anything groundbreaking.

The crop factor on this new system is about 0.8x, so the Canon equivalents of these announced lenses are 70mm f/2.5 (the 90mm f/3.2) or 35mm f/2.8 (the 45mm f/3.5)

DOF is not extremely narrow with f/2. DOF is extremely narrow when focusing at minimum focus distance. If you focus on a distant object like the moon then you can get millions of kilometers of DOF even with f/1.4. So if you don't have enough DOF at f/2 then you are too close to your subject to use f/2, so either close down or take a step back.

The difficulty of working with fast lenses applies to OVF shooting. This camera has a nice 2.xMP EVF, and being mirrorless, focuses with the sensor. So why would it be difficult to focus at wide apertures? With mirrorless, WYSIWYG

 

[Jopa]

Wondering why did they go with the old 50Mpx sensor, but not the new one 100Mpx. The 50Mpx is smaller (44 x 33) than the 100Mpx (53.7 x 40.4), but the lens throat seems like handle only the smaller sensor.

 

[Busted Knuckles]

Wondering why did they go with the old 50Mpx sensor, but not the new one 100Mpx. The 50Mpx is smaller (44 x 33) than the 100Mpx (53.7 x 40.4), but the lens throat seems like handle only the smaller sensor.

You've answered your own question. The goal was to produce a smaller MF camera and a smaller camera requires a smaller sensor to support smaller lenses.

So this is a MMF - Micro Medium Format

 

[LDS]

If I'm not mistaken, there is no single medium format lens with f1.4. Have you shot with medium format lenses? Even f2.0 is very hard to focus and DOF is extremely narrow.

Sometimes with MF it was the other way round, Luigi Ghirri sometimes complained his MF Pentax lenses couldn't stop down enough to reach the DOF he wished (IIRC some couldn't stop down beyond f/22).

 

[JClark]

Indeed, not actually "MF", but, at 1452 sq mm vs 864 sq mm of a FF, it's still significantly larger. So it has the advantage of being a smaller frame, and smaller lenses, but, significantly larger than the competition it intents to take on, IE FF.

If the Sony sensor used is worth it's weight in gold (probably is), it could be significant anyways.
By chance does anyone know if it's a BSI/stacked CMOS? Not that at that big of a sensor it matters much, just curious.

FWIW, the major manufacturer (Phase One) and dealers DO generally consider this format to be MF, even if it's a cropped MF. Semantics, I know, and I'm not sure the terminology really matters unless one is stuck on the strict pairing of traditional 645 dimensions with the words "medium format." As you said, most of the advantages (and disadvantages) of true MF will still be present, so for practical purposes it's all the same (at least to me).

Personally, I love the camera, but I'm torn over the value with respect to this setup vs. a A7RII (or even a 5dsr) with top Canon glass. For a Studio camera (or outdoor portraiture), the Nikon TTL and super high-speed sync via the leaf shutter lenses sounds cool, but for landscapers/fine arts types (i.e. me), the form factor, assumed quality, and, honestly, the "name association" of being shot with Hasselblad (it matters to some buyers) is attractive, but I'd sure like to see a wider angle lens. Hopefully HB has something coming up soon after release.

 

[3kramd5]

By chance does anyone know if it's a BSI/stacked CMOS? Not that at that big of a sensor it matters much, just curious.

I believe it is IMX161, which Sony lists as using Exmor tech, whereas BSI is generally referred to as as Exmor R, and stacked as Exmor RS.

http://www.sony.net/Products/SC-HP/IS/sensor2/products/

 

[Halfrack]

Indeed, not actually "MF", but, at 1452 sq mm vs 864 sq mm of a FF, it's still significantly larger. So it has the advantage of being a smaller frame, and smaller lenses, but, significantly larger than the competition it intents to take on, IE FF.

If the Sony sensor used is worth it's weight in gold (probably is), it could be significant anyways.
By chance does anyone know if it's a BSI/stacked CMOS? Not that at that big of a sensor it matters much, just curious.

It's bigger than 24x36mm, so it's Medium Format as stated by those who make it. The actual film back opening on a 645 camera is smaller than 60x45mm, and it varies between brands.

One thing to note is that the ISO range is larger than the existing Hasselblad implementation of the chip - 1000-25,600 (the existing ones stop at 6400).

 

[Refurb7]

Indeed, not actually "MF", but, at 1452 sq mm vs 864 sq mm of a FF, it's still significantly larger. So it has the advantage of being a smaller frame, and smaller lenses, but, significantly larger than the competition it intents to take on, IE FF.

If the Sony sensor used is worth it's weight in gold (probably is), it could be significant anyways.
By chance does anyone know if it's a BSI/stacked CMOS? Not that at that big of a sensor it matters much, just curious.

It's bigger than 24x36mm, so it's Medium Format as stated by those who make it. The actual film back opening on a 645 camera is smaller than 60x45mm, and it varies between brands.

One thing to note is that the ISO range is larger than the existing Hasselblad implementation of the chip - 1000-25,600 (the existing ones stop at 6400).

645 film negative = 56mm x 41.5mm for Contax. Not sure about Mamiya or Fuji 645.