I received my X2D and 55/2.5 and 38/2.5 lenses (release versions, not early evaluation copies). Here are some quick takes:
- The X2D is a beautiful and very ergonomic design. Highly functional minimalism. No wasted buttons or dials, though I wish the strap lugs were less protruding since I don't use a strap in most cases.
- I like the new top display, which I also found very functional on the Phase One XF.
- The camera is much, much faster to start up—almost to current 35 mm pro digital standards![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
- The in-body image stabilization works very well. In my opinion, at least as well as Sony's IS on their flagship cameras (a1, a7r4, etc).
- The new (old) 102-MP sensor is terrific, as expected.
- Frame rate in 16-bit drops noticeably, but not in a way that makes me avoid it. Maybe 2.X fps instead of 3.3 fps.
- The new lenses are very sharp, even in the corners, have minimal chromatic aberration, and nice bokeh.
- The AF on the new lenses is indeed much, much faster than previous X lenses. Again, almost (but not quite) as fast as current 35-mm pro digital standards.
- In light of the above major achievements, and the fact that the new lenses are so small in both diameter and lens, and with such a large (for medium format) aperture, they are in my opinion a real triumph of modern lens design. Magic.
- The new manual focus assist designator is terrific. It's a white circle with a pointer that tells you which way to focus the lens to get the target in focus. When it's in focus, it turns green. You can move this manual focus point with the touchscreen just as you can move the AF point, though you have to change settings from default to enable the AF/MF target point to move.
- You can turn the focusing mode to MF and then use the AF-D button on the back to trigger autofocus, while preserving your ability to manually focus by rotating. That's a nice way of deactivating AF-on-half-shutter-press, which is essential for many photographers.
- The X2D is currently limited by underdeveloped firmware in some major ways:
1) No compatibility with Phocus 2 Mobile
2) No AutoISO option in M mode (yes, I realize this is common to other Hasselblad X bodies but come on, let your customers have the CHOICE of how to use our $8,000 professional cameras!)
3) No AF-C (continuous autofocus) mode, so that much faster AF still isn't suitable to capture even slowly moving subjects
4) No eye-detect or face-detect focus yet
Some of the above limitations Hasselblad has stated are being addressed in future firmware updates. Let's hope they go 4/4![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
Overall, it's clearly a better camera than the X1D, a more pleasurable to use especially with the new lenses. Until the firmware limitations are fixed, I'm not sure the X2D plus new lenses enables you to use the camera in any conditions under which the X1Dm2 or CFV-ii-50c wouldn't be suitable, but if Hasselblad addresses some or all of these limitations, I think the X2D + new lenses could be suitable for some mild action or moving street scenes for which the X1D or CFV would struggle. Still, if you are shooting sports, stage with action, wild animals, etc. it would be a stretch to say this is the camera you should use.
But it's very pretty, and probably very good at studio, portraiture, landscape, and static street/stage shooting.
- The X2D is a beautiful and very ergonomic design. Highly functional minimalism. No wasted buttons or dials, though I wish the strap lugs were less protruding since I don't use a strap in most cases.
- I like the new top display, which I also found very functional on the Phase One XF.
- The camera is much, much faster to start up—almost to current 35 mm pro digital standards
- The in-body image stabilization works very well. In my opinion, at least as well as Sony's IS on their flagship cameras (a1, a7r4, etc).
- The new (old) 102-MP sensor is terrific, as expected.
- Frame rate in 16-bit drops noticeably, but not in a way that makes me avoid it. Maybe 2.X fps instead of 3.3 fps.
- The new lenses are very sharp, even in the corners, have minimal chromatic aberration, and nice bokeh.
- The AF on the new lenses is indeed much, much faster than previous X lenses. Again, almost (but not quite) as fast as current 35-mm pro digital standards.
- In light of the above major achievements, and the fact that the new lenses are so small in both diameter and lens, and with such a large (for medium format) aperture, they are in my opinion a real triumph of modern lens design. Magic.
- The new manual focus assist designator is terrific. It's a white circle with a pointer that tells you which way to focus the lens to get the target in focus. When it's in focus, it turns green. You can move this manual focus point with the touchscreen just as you can move the AF point, though you have to change settings from default to enable the AF/MF target point to move.
- You can turn the focusing mode to MF and then use the AF-D button on the back to trigger autofocus, while preserving your ability to manually focus by rotating. That's a nice way of deactivating AF-on-half-shutter-press, which is essential for many photographers.
- The X2D is currently limited by underdeveloped firmware in some major ways:
1) No compatibility with Phocus 2 Mobile
2) No AutoISO option in M mode (yes, I realize this is common to other Hasselblad X bodies but come on, let your customers have the CHOICE of how to use our $8,000 professional cameras!)
3) No AF-C (continuous autofocus) mode, so that much faster AF still isn't suitable to capture even slowly moving subjects
4) No eye-detect or face-detect focus yet
Some of the above limitations Hasselblad has stated are being addressed in future firmware updates. Let's hope they go 4/4
Overall, it's clearly a better camera than the X1D, a more pleasurable to use especially with the new lenses. Until the firmware limitations are fixed, I'm not sure the X2D plus new lenses enables you to use the camera in any conditions under which the X1Dm2 or CFV-ii-50c wouldn't be suitable, but if Hasselblad addresses some or all of these limitations, I think the X2D + new lenses could be suitable for some mild action or moving street scenes for which the X1D or CFV would struggle. Still, if you are shooting sports, stage with action, wild animals, etc. it would be a stretch to say this is the camera you should use.
But it's very pretty, and probably very good at studio, portraiture, landscape, and static street/stage shooting.