Hasselblad’s Press Release Got Leaked

credits: Hasselblad

A leaked press release has given us an early look at Hasselblad’s long rumoured X2D II 100C medium format camera and the XCD 35–100mm f/2.8–4 zoom lens. The new camera still carries a 100MP medium format sensor but adds some big upgrades, including true end-to-end HDR for better highlight retention and richer tones. Autofocus gets a major step up too, with continuous AF (a first for Hasselblad), 425 PDAF points, LiDAR assist, and an AF illuminator to help in dim light. The in-body stabilisation has also been reworked, now promising up to 10 stops of correction.

Design-wise, the X2D II 100C is a bit more refined than its predecessor. It’s slightly lighter, comes in a new graphite-grey finish, and features a redesigned grip. The rear screen is a brighter 3.6-inch OLED that tilts, and Hasselblad has added a 5D joystick and customizable controls to speed up handling. Storage shouldn’t be an issue either, with 1TB of built-in SSD space plus a CFexpress Type B slot for expansion. On the software side, Phocus Mobile 2 has been updated so you can edit, process HDR RAW files, and even remotely control the camera straight from an iPhone or iPad.

Alongside the camera, Hasselblad introduced the XCD 35–100mm f/2.8–4, a versatile standard zoom that covers a 28–76mm full-frame equivalent range. Inside are 16 elements in 13 groups, including three aspherical and five ED elements, to keep things sharp across the frame. Autofocus is driven by the fastest stepping motor in the XCD lineup, and as with other Hasselblad lenses, there’s a built-in leaf shutter that syncs with flash at up to 1/4000s. The X2D II 100C will launch at $7,399, with the zoom lens priced at $4,599.