Enchanting Swedish design :X1D

A review and Photo example of the X1D 50C and X1D 50C 4116 edition.

Table of contents

Gallery

Review

1．Overview

The HASSELBLAD X1D-50C / 4116 edition is a mirrorless digital camera equipped with a medium-format digital sensor (44 x 33mm). The original model was released in October 2016, and the 4116 edition was released at the end of January 2017.

The X1D-50C is gray, while the X1D-50C 4116 edition is black, and the only difference between the two is the body color.

Detailed specifications are listed in the table, but the main specifications are as follows.

• Sensor pixel count: 50 megapixels
• Sensor size 44 x 33 mm
• LCD viewfinder / Approximately 2.36 million pixels
• 3.2-inch 920,000 pixel TFT display
• SDXC compatible, dual SD card slot
• Camera has no shutter mechanism
• Sensor shutter available from firmware 1.17.2
• Camera startup time: approx. 5 seconds

2．Usability

My impression of using the X1D-50C /4116 edition is that it is very slow to start up, and if you turn it off, it takes about 5 seconds from when you turn it on until you can start shooting, so it is difficult to capture the moment you want to shoot.
If you leave the power on and wake it up from sleep, the body gets hot, so you can’t leave it on all the time, which makes it quite a hassle to use this camera for everyday use. I also experienced the camera overheating in hot weather.

The X1D 4116 edition is the first Hasselblad body I purchased, and I chose it because the X1DII was released and the price of the used X1D dropped, and I found a set of the XCD 45mm lens and the X1D 4116 edition body for the same price as the X1D body alone.

The color of the 4116 edition I got is extremely cool.

I bought and used the XCD 21mm because it was lonely with just one body and lens, but sold it when I got the HCD 24mm. I sold the XCD45mm that came with the body when I bought the XCD45mmP, so the only XCD lenses I have left are the XCD28mmP and the XCD45mmP.

I realized that with digital products that are still evolving, it’s best to get the latest version, so I decided to buy the X2D as soon as it was released.
I feel that the X2D has been steadily evolving after three generations. Even so, the camera response is average with the X2D, so it’s a slow system in terms of functionality.

3．Add Info.

Since the XCD system does not have a telephoto lens, I attached an H x1.7 teleconverter to the Hasselblad H HC300mm F4.5, with a total focal length of 510mm, and tried to capture the hawk at Shirakaba Pass.

However, due to a faulty electrical contact between the camera and the lens, the lens would reset when I raised it up to photograph the hawk, making it impossible to use properly.

I asked Hasselblad to investigate the cause of the malfunction, and they said it was a problem with the lens and a faulty electrical contact in the mount of the X1D 4116 edition. I paid a fair amount to repair the camera, but I replaced it with an X1DII shortly after.

The X1D was a bit of a detour, but using it allowed me to get a better feel for the X1DII, so I don’t think it was a bad experience.

I usually use Hasselblad H series lenses. The Hasselblad X series has a larger sensor size of 44mm x 33mm than the 35mm full frame, so the focal length that can actually be photographed changes as follows:

When using a dedicated XCD lens and a Hasselblad H lens with an XH lens adapter, the focal length is 0.8 times the 35mm focal length.
When using a Hasselblad H lens, if you use an XH converter x0.8, the converter will multiply the 35mm focal length by 0.8, and then add 0.8 times the sensor size, resulting in a total focal length of 0.64 times, which is almost the same as the focal length of a medium-format film.
However, since the image circle of Hasselblad HCD lenses is small, vignetting occurs around the edges of the image.

The X1D is a mirrorless camera with a short flange back (the distance from the mount surface, where the lens and body are connected, to the image plane), so a mount adapter can be used to attach various lenses. However, as mentioned above, the camera does not have a mechanical shutter, and lenses that do not have a leaf shutter mechanism will be shot with the camera’s sensor shutter.

The sensor shutter of the X1D does not have measures to reduce rolling shutter distortion like recent mirrorless cameras, so it is necessary to reduce subject blur when shooting fast-moving subjects such as trains and animals.
Also, be aware that moving the camera while the camera is processing the image may cause the captured image to shake.
This phenomenon is independent of the shutter speed, and if you move the camera during image transfer processing, the captured image will be distorted, so be careful. Even if you shoot with a fast shutter speed, you should wait a moment before taking your next shot.

Specification

項目	X1D 50C/4116edition	X1DII 50C	X2D 100C
Camera Effective Pixels	50 megapixels 8272 × 6200 Pixels 5.3µm	50 megapixels 8272 × 6200 Pixels 5.3µm	100 megapixels 11656 × 8742 Pixels 3.76μm
Sensor size	43.8 × 32.9mm	43.8 × 32.9mm	43.8 × 32.9mm
Lens mount	Hasselblad X mount	Hasselblad X mount	Hasselblad X mount
Image sensor	CMOS	CMOS	BSI type (backside illuminated) CMOS
Focus type	CD (contrast) AF	CD (contrast) AF	PD (phase difference) AF & CD (contrast) AF
EVF	LCD viewfinder / approx. 2.36 million pixels	Organic EL viewfinder / approx. 3.96 million pixels	LCD viewfinder / approx. 5.76 million pixels
Back LCD	3.2 inch 920,000 pixel TFT display	3.6 inch 2.36 million pixel TFT display	3.6 inch 2.36 million pixel TFT display
LCD type	fixed	fixed	2-stage (40°/70°) tilt type
Recorded Media	SD card dual slot	SD card dual slot	Built-in 1TB-SSD CFexpress type-B
Battery	The included battery is 3200mAh	Rechargeable battery 3400mAh (for X system)	Rechargeable battery 3400mAh (for X system)
Size(mm) W x H x D	148 × 97 × 70	148 × 97 × 70	148.5 × 106 × 74.5
Weight(g) Only body	650	650	790

Options

• Hasselblad Rechargeable Battery 3400mAh (for X system)
• Hasselblad BATTERY CHARGING HUB
• XV Lens Adapter
• XH Lens Adapter
• XH Lens Converter 0.8
• Release Cord for X1D Release Cord X
• Tripod Mounting Ring (75mm)

Lens

Focal length	35mm equivalent focal length	Lens name	Max aperture	Note	–
20-35mm	16-28mm	XCD 3,2-4,5/20-35E	3.2-4.5	2024.9.10	now
21mm	17mm	XCD21	4	2018.5.31	end
25mm	20mm	XCD25V	2.5	2024.5.7	now
28mm	22.4mm	XCD28P	4	2023.9.4	now
30mm	24mm	XCD30	3.5	2017.1.30	end
35-70mm	28-56mm	XCD35-70	3.5-4.5	2020.2.28	end
38mm	31mm	XCD38V	2.5	2022.9.9	now
45mm	36mm	XCD45	3.5	2016.12.31	end
45mm	36mm	XCD45P	4	2020.1.31	now
55mm	44mm	XCD55V	2.5	2022.9.9	now
65mm	52mm	XCD65	2.8	2019.2.1	end
75mm	60mm	XCD75P	3.4	2024.11.7	now
80mm	64mm	XCD80	1.9	2019.1.11	end
90mm	72mm	XCD90	3.2	2016.12.31	end
90mm	72mm	XCD90V	2.5	2023.12.21	now
120mm	96mm	XCD120 macro	3.5	2017.12.10	end
135mm	108mm	XCD135	2.8	2019.3.24	end
230mm	184mm	XCD135 x1.7	4.5	2019.2.27	now

Reference link

• Hasselblad X1D-50C new product review by Digital Camera-Watch
• HASSELBLAD X2D Official Web-site
• HASSELBLAD X1DII Official Web-site

Update history

• 2025.3.16
• 2024.03.05
• 2024.02.13
• 2022.09.03

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