How the Hasselblad X2D II 100C Streamlines Medium Format

If photography is the art of paying attention, Hasselblad’s X2D II 100C feels like a study in focus—from the way it sees, to how it renders, to how it moves with you. This is a camera built for those who chase fleeting light and demanding subjects, yet refuse to compromise the poetry in the final image.

Focus that Keeps Up
For the first time in Hasselblad’s medium-format lineage, continuous autofocus (AF-C) arrives—and it’s not a token feature. Powered by deep learning, the X2D II 100C reliably detects and tracks people, vehicles, cats, and dogs across a range of poses, giving creators the confidence to work with movement, not avoid it. In AF-S, 425 phase-detection points blanket the 100MP sensor, helped by LiDAR assistance for fast, precise locks. A new AF illuminator boosts low-light performance and doubles as a self-timer indicator—small detail, big usability.

HDR, End-to-End
Medium format has always been about nuance, and here Hasselblad takes nuance further. The X2D II 100C introduces true end-to-end HDR capture and processing: images are created in-camera as HDR HEIF or Ultra HDR JPEG, viewable instantly on the 3.6-inch OLED touchscreen with a peak brightness of 1400 nits. That means you don’t just capture more highlight latitude—you actually see it as you work. Prefer SDR for certain projects? Switch in-camera and keep moving.

Colour That Feels Honest
HNCS HDR builds on Hasselblad’s famed Natural Colour Solution, now tuned to harness high dynamic range. The result is colour that resists the harshness of midday sun while holding onto fine detail in highlights and shadows. It’s the kind of palette that feels less like a “look” and more like the world, as you remember it—just rendered with integrity.

A Sensor That Sees More
The enhanced 100-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor delivers 16-bit colour depth—around 281 trillion colours—and 15.3 stops of dynamic range, now with a native ISO 50 option. In practice, that translates to smoother tonal gradations, tighter control over highlights, and a cleaner foundation for both print and post. It’s a sensor that rewards patience and skill, but won’t punish you for working fast.

Stability, Reimagined
Handheld medium format has often been a compromise. Not here. The X2D II 100C’s 5-axis, 10-stop in-body image stabilization lets you shoot for multiple seconds handheld and still come away with crisp frames. Long exposures without a tripod—flowing traffic, running water, ambient city light—shift from “maybe” to “why not,” and stabilization performance for distant subjects is now up to eight times that of the X2D 100C. The claim of industry-high stabilization levels isn’t just marketing; it’s a creative unlock.

A Screen That Reflects Reality
The two-way tilt OLED touchscreen is practical and bright—up to 1400 nits—and pulls out to clear the viewfinder, making low and high angles more intuitive. It’s a small, elegant piece of industrial design that supports how photographers actually work: fluidly, with intent.

Workflow Without Friction
Phocus Mobile 2 extends Hasselblad’s ethos of simplicity. Edit RAW HDR on iPhone or iPad, adjust exposure, and clean up files with Hasselblad Natural Noise Reduction—all without touching the camera. You can even wake the X2D II 100C from the app and wirelessly transfer images when inspiration (or a deadline) demands speed.

The Bigger Picture
The X2D II 100C isn’t chasing specs for the sake of winning charts. It’s chasing a feeling: that your camera is quietly at your side, ready to track, stabilize, and render—so you can stay immersed in the moment that matters. If your work asks for dynamic range, honest colour, and medium-format presence without medium-format hassle, this body feels like a thoughtful progression.

In other words: brilliance, at every moment—and every step of your process.