X2D II 100C is in

[SrMphoto]

Picked up my X2D II 100C today.


First order of business is to update the firmware of the camera and lenses. Be patient when updating the camera's firmware. The screen may briefly go blank, but the update is still in progress. Wait for a message indicating that the update has been completed.

First observations:

- AF-C works very well and is fast
- No lens rotational play
- Easier to open the card door
- LCD screen tilts more out, so that the EVF does not block the view when tilted.
- Great joystick, and generally the usual excellent haptics.
- Adobe already supports the camera.
- Phocus 4.0 supports the camera and the new zoom (available mid-September?)
- Phocus Mobile not yet updated?

Seems like a good update.

 

[diggles]

Hasselblad does it right, both the X2D II and CFV 100C were available for purchase the same day they were announced. Congrats!!

 

[SrMphoto]

First observations on HDR:
- Shooting with HDR generates files with BaselineExposure +1. At the same time, raw images without HDR include BaselineExposure -0.25. This results in the HDR raw images being too bright after import into Adobe, until I manually enable HDR mode. Once Adobe officially supports X2D II 100C, I expect the HDR mode to be enabled automatically, and the raw shot in HDR mode will then appear perfect. Phocus 4.0 has no issues. I am unsure what happens if your post-processing display does not support HDR.
- Shooting in HDR mode (which requires JPEG or HEIC format) reveals more detail in both shadows and highlights on the rear LCD and EVF.

 

[SrMphoto]

OK, now I am definitely confused. The BaselineExposure tag varies in HDR mode depending on the scene. Sometimes it is zero, sometimes +1. Additionally, setting the same exposure may not yield the same raw histograms when shooting in HDR mode compared to SDR mode. HDR mode does not work in manual (no metering) mode. HDR mode uses a special metering mode available only for HDR mode.

And a big shout-out to Hasselblad for having added Auto-ISO to M mode, though there is still no LV highlight clipping.

 

[f8orbust]

Updates to the tilting screen look handy, but other than that it feels a bit like a 'dot' release to me.

 

[SrMphoto]

After conducting some controlled testing (shooting on a tripod with the same exposure settings), I found that the raw data, as expected, remains the same regardless of whether HDR mode is enabled or disabled.
However, HDR mode employs a unique metering mode (Smart Metering). That can lead to the BaselineExposure tag sometimes being set to +1 instead of the standard -0.25. This has the effect of making the raw file appear brighter in the post-processor when editing in SDR mode. However, turning HDR mode on in LrC makes such a raw file shine. If you want to edit in SDR mode, back off the exposure slider by about one stop without any loss of IQ.

 

[algrove]

Any experience using Phocus yet?

 

[SrMphoto]

Any experience using Phocus yet?

Not yet. I do not use Phocus that much, so I cannot compare it to the old version.

 

[ymc226]

First observations on HDR:
- Shooting with HDR generates files with BaselineExposure +1. At the same time, raw images without HDR include BaselineExposure -0.25. This results in the HDR raw images being too bright after import into Adobe, until I manually enable HDR mode. Once Adobe officially supports X2D II 100C, I expect the HDR mode to be enabled automatically, and the raw shot in HDR mode will then appear perfect. Phocus 4.0 has no issues. I am unsure what happens if your post-processing display does not support HDR.
- Shooting in HDR mode (which requires JPEG or HEIC format) reveals more detail in both shadows and highlights on the rear LCD and EVF.

Hello, I am unsure how HDR Raw format works with the new XD2 II and have a few questions. I ordered from the official Hasselblad USA site and have yet to receive a shipping notification.

I usually shoot in RAW, import to Adobe LR Classic and make my adjustments there. If I don't choose Ultra JPG HDR or HEIC HDR as the capture format can I still choose to shoot HDR RAW? If so, with the new camera in HDR RAW mode, does it capture 2 RAW files of the one shot and blend it? Is this blended file still a RAW file in the Adobe system?

 

[SrMphoto]

Hello, I am unsure how HDR Raw format works with the new XD2 II and have a few questions. I ordered from the official Hasselblad USA site and have yet to receive a shipping notification.

I usually shoot in RAW, import to Adobe LR Classic and make my adjustments there. If I don't choose Ultra JPG HDR or HEIC HDR as the capture format can I still choose to shoot HDR RAW? If so, with the new camera in HDR RAW mode, does it capture 2 RAW files of the one shot and blend it? Is this blended file still a RAW file in the Adobe system?

Hasselblad's HDR mode is about displaying images on HDR displays. It is not about merging several shots to increase DR.
This is a good article about it:
https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2023/10/10/hdr-explained

The raw data remains unchanged, but the raw file may appear brighter in the post-processor, expecting to be edited in HDR mode.

 

[Thyl]

From what I could gather, "HDR" in Hasselblad's sense is only on the output side, by having implemented JPEG HDR and HEIF HDR in the camera as well as in Phocus. The raw data remain the same. It is a rather special improvement that is of no benefit for prints and normal monitors, and can only be seen on monitors/beamers with the P3 colour space.

Apparently, it is a software only thing, so I wonder if it could be implemented in older models as well, vie a Firmware update. Maybe, the processing power of the CPUs in those is not sufficient?

 

[Paul2660]

Thanks all the info on HDR with the X2DII. I am curious how do you tell Lr that you want to edit the raw in HDR mode? How does Phocus desktop you enable this mode? Normally HDR editing in Lr means Lr will combine multiple files etc. I also assume that Phocus 4 has a setting for HDR processing if the raw file was taken in that mode?

 

[Thyl]

Thanks all the info on HDR with the X2DII. I am curious how do you tell Lr that you want to edit the raw in HDR mode? How does Phocus desktop you enable this mode? Normally HDR editing in Lr means Lr will combine multiple files etc. I also assume that Phocus 4 has a setting for HDR processing if the raw file was taken in that mode?

just downloaded it. In the export menu, there are now "UltraHDR JPEG" options. maybe other new ones as well.

edit: More Info in the Readme:

All Hasselblad RAW images can now take advantage of HNCS HDR processing in Phocus 4.0. To use HDR:

1. Verify that your monitor supports displaying HDR content.

2. Open the Exposure Tool V4.

3. Enable HDR by selecting the HDR checkbox.

In HDR mode, the Recovery slider has a separate setting to harmonize the appearance between SDR and HDR. A ghost marker shows the recovery level when viewing HDR in SDR mode, or SDR in HDR mode.

Optimizing Highlight Display

• Lower the monitor brightness to ensure highlights are displayed correctly.

• The Histogram will mark the monitor’s highlight capability, helping you judge highlight rendering.

Highlight Limiting

The Limit dropdown in the Exposure tool controls the maximum highlight output.

• Use this to match your monitor’s highlight range.

• Or reduce overly bright highlights that may be distracting.

 

[Paul2660]

Thanks.
PFC

 

[Paul2660]

Seems that Phocus 4 has all the necessary changes.

I am still curious how Lr can edit these files in HDR mode? Not having the camera I am curious what changes were made in Lr as normal HDR processing in Lr requires multiple images and is not focused on a single image for display only on a HDR monitor.

Paul