Not many people know about the medium format camera. This
type of camera usually has a big body, slow performance and high price. It also
makes not all professional photographers feel the need to have it. Those who
choose medium format camera typically only focused on one aspect: the quality
of image.
The size of medium format camera's sensor is very massive,
even much larger than the full-frame sensor that we often find in upscale DSLR
cameras. Usually it's accompanied by a very high resolution; the sensor of medium
format camera is able to capture images with very sharp detail and wide dynamic
range.
In the medium format segment, Hasselblad is the most
recognizable name. This Swedish brand has been three-quarters of a century in
producing medium format cameras, and in mid-2016, the company decides to do a
massive innovation by introducing the world's first medium format mirrorless
camera.
Named Hasselblad X1D, this is the only one mirrorless camera
that brings medium format sensor so far. The extra-large sensor is wrapped in a
smaller package than a DSLR camera, with only half the weight of a medium
format camera in general (725 grams).
Elegant and premium are two words to describe the Hasselblad
X1D. Hasselblad even doesn't hesitate to affix the label of "Handmade in
Sweden" on the body of X1D which is resistant to extreme weather. The
controls are quite complete, with rotary knob above the hand grip and the other
on the rear panel.
The rear part of the camera is dominated by a 3-inch touch
screen resolution of 920 thousand dot, accompanied by an electronic viewfinder
(EVF) at resolution of 2.36 million dot. Right above the EVF, there is hotshoe
that's compatible with a variety of accessories of Nikon's camera. On the side,
the users will see double SD card slots, a mini HDMI port and a USB-C port.
But of course most important thing from X1D is its
performance in creating quality images. Its medium format sensor has a
resolution of 50 megapixels, with ISO range of 100-25600 and a dynamic range of
up to 14 stop. Simply put the image results of X1D can compete with Hasselblad
H6D which has bigger body with three times more expensive price.
In order to create optimal and sharp images from end to end,
Hasselblad has designed two brand-new lenses: 45mm f/3.5 and 90mm f/4.5. Both use different
mounting from the H System lenses line of Hasselblad, but users can still wear
these lenses with the help of an adapter.
With the presence of X1D, Hasselblad wants to bring the
advantages of the medium format camera to a wider consumer. Make a mirrorless
version is the right step, but Hasselblad still needs to press the price as
much as possible.
Hasselblad X1D will be marketed at a price of $ 8995 body
only, or $ 11 290 together with 45 mm f/3.5 lens, or $ 13,985 with two new
lenses at once.