Hasselblad
A Century of Swedish Precision
Hasselblad was founded in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1841 as a trading company by Fritz Victor Hasselblad, and the photographic division emerged from that base in the 1940s when the company began producing cameras for the Swedish military during World War II. By 1948, Hasselblad released its first commercial medium-format camera, the 1600F, establishing a legacy that would define professional medium-format photography for the next eight decades. The company's Gothenburg roots and Scandinavian commitment to precision engineering have remained central to its identity across every subsequent product generation.
The Apollo Missions and Global Recognition
Hasselblad cameras were chosen by NASA and carried aboard every crewed Apollo mission, including the Moon landings, making them among the most historically significant cameras ever built. The imagery captured on those missions with modified Hasselblad 500EL bodies cemented the brand's reputation for reliability under extreme conditions. More detail on Hasselblad's role in the space program is documented on Hasselblad's own heritage page.
Medium-Format Sensors and the Case for More Data
Every camera in the current Hasselblad lineup uses a medium-format sensor, substantially larger than the full-frame 35mm sensors found in professional DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. The X2D 100C and 907X 100C both carry a 100-megapixel CMOS sensor measuring approximately 43.8 x 32.9 mm, while the X1D II 50C and 907X 50C use a 50-megapixel variant of the same platform. Larger sensor area captures more light per pixel, producing images with exceptional dynamic range and tonal gradation that reviewers consistently describe as the defining advantage of medium-format digital imaging.
Natural Colour Science and Hasselblad Natural Colour Solution
The company developed a proprietary colour calibration system known as Hasselblad Natural Colour Solution (HNCS), which coordinates sensor spectral response, in-camera processing, and software profiling to produce output aligned with how human vision perceives natural light rather than algorithmically saturated results. The system extends from the camera firmware through to Phocus, the company's raw processing software, creating a consistent colour baseline across the entire workflow. Consensus among professional photographers indicates that HNCS skin-tone rendering and neutral rendition of whites and near-whites is a primary reason photographers working in portrait and commercial contexts choose Hasselblad.
The X System: A Native Mirrorless Mount for Medium Format
Hasselblad introduced the X System in 2016 with the original X1D, which was among the first mirrorless medium-format cameras available commercially. The X mount is a proprietary bayonet designed exclusively for the medium-format sensor size, with a mount diameter sized to accommodate full medium-format coverage. Current X System bodies include the X2D 100C and the X1D II 50C, supported by a growing line of XCD lenses designed natively for this mount.
XCD Lenses and Built-In Leaf Shutters
XCD (X Camera Definition) lenses are designed with leaf shutters built into each lens, enabling flash synchronisation at every shutter speed up to 1/2000s, a key advantage for studio and location photographers working with strobes. The XCD range spans wide-angle to telephoto, with focal lengths from 21mm to 135mm, equivalent to approximately 16mm to 105mm in the 35mm format. Hasselblad also offers adapters that allow HC/HCD lenses from the older H System and legacy V System lenses to mount on X System bodies.
The 907X System: Modular and Compatible with Legacy Glass
The 907X represents a different philosophy within the Hasselblad range, prioritising modularity and backward compatibility over integrated ergonomics. It accepts the CFV II 50C and CFV 100C digital backs, and is also physically compatible with V System camera bodies from the 1950s onward. The 907X 100C combines the 907X body with the CFV 100C back and control unit, making it both a standalone mirrorless camera and a modular system component.
Reading the Hasselblad Naming System
Hasselblad model names encode the system family and sensor resolution directly. The prefix (X, 907X) identifies the camera family, the number that follows identifies approximate megapixel count, and the suffix C denotes a CMOS sensor. The Roman numeral II (as in X1D II 50C) indicates a second-generation body within the same sensor class, distinguishing updated designs from their predecessors.
In-Body Image Stabilisation on the X2D 100C
The X2D 100C introduced in-body image stabilisation (IBIS) to the Hasselblad lineup, rated at up to 7 stops of compensation. This was a significant engineering challenge given the larger and heavier medium-format sensor assembly. The X2D also features a built-in 1 TB SSD and battery life rated at approximately 420 shots per charge, refinements that made handheld medium-format shooting more practical.
Phocus Software and the End-to-End Workflow
Hasselblad distributes Phocus, a free raw processing application for Mac and Windows, alongside a companion mobile app called Phocus Mobile. These applications are the intended endpoint for 3FR and FFF raw files from Hasselblad cameras, preserving full HNCS colour rendering and supporting tethered shooting workflows. Third-party converters including Adobe Camera Raw and Capture One also support Hasselblad files, though Hasselblad recommends Phocus as the reference interpreter for precise colour fidelity.
DJI Ownership and the Current Era
Hasselblad was acquired by DJI, the drone manufacturer, in 2017, and the Gothenburg headquarters and brand identity have been maintained independently since. DJI has incorporated Hasselblad colour science into several of its higher-end drone platforms, while the X and 907X camera product lines have continued to expand. The George Eastman Museum, which documents the history of photographic technology, notes that legacy camera brands navigating the digital era have often found sustainability within larger technology groups.
Who Hasselblad Cameras Are Built For
Hasselblad cameras are aimed at commercial photographers, fine art practitioners, and serious enthusiast photographers who require the maximum available image quality and accept a premium price alongside a narrower lens selection compared to full-frame systems. The company is well known in commercial advertising, fashion, architecture, and landscape photography where tonal latitude and per-pixel resolution directly affect the commercial value of the final image. The X2D 100C and 907X 100C sit at the top of the mirrorless market by sensor size and raw resolution, while the X1D II 50C and 907X 50C offer a lower entry point into the same medium-format lens ecosystem and colour pipeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Hasselblad worth the price compared to Sony or Canon full-frame cameras?
Hasselblad cameras occupy a different category than full-frame systems. The medium-format sensors in the X2D 100C and 907X 100C capture more total light and resolve finer detail than any current full-frame body, producing images with notably greater dynamic range and tonal gradation. The trade-off is a smaller lens ecosystem, larger physical size, slower continuous shooting, and a significantly higher price point. For commercial work where image quality is the primary deliverable, many photographers judge the premium worthwhile, while for general photography or fast-action work full-frame systems remain more practical.
- What is the difference between the 907X 100C and the X2D 100C?
Both cameras use the same 100-megapixel medium-format CMOS sensor, but they differ in form factor and design philosophy. The X2D 100C is a conventional mirrorless body with integrated controls, in-body image stabilisation, a built-in 1 TB SSD, and a self-contained ergonomic grip suited to location shooting. The 907X 100C is a modular system body that accepts the CFV 100C digital back and is compatible with legacy V System lenses and accessories, prioritising studio workflows and backward compatibility over handheld convenience.
- Can I use old Hasselblad V System lenses on a new digital Hasselblad camera?
Yes, with the right adapter or digital back. The 907X body was designed with V System compatibility in mind, allowing photographers to mount V System lenses via a dedicated V adapter and shoot on a modern sensor while retaining decades-old optics. Alternatively, attaching a CFV II 50C or CFV 100C digital back to a vintage V System camera body allows shooting through the original lenses. X System bodies (X2D 100C, X1D II 50C) do not accept V lenses directly and require XCD or HC/HCD lenses via the XH adapter.
- What raw file format does Hasselblad use and how do I process it?
Hasselblad cameras capture raw files in the 3FR format, or FFF for tethered workflows using Phocus software. The recommended processing tool is Phocus, Hasselblad's free desktop software, which applies the full Hasselblad Natural Colour Solution rendering pipeline and is available for both Mac and Windows at no cost. Adobe Camera Raw, Lightroom, and Capture One all support Hasselblad 3FR files, though processing outside Phocus may produce slightly different colour rendition, particularly in skin tones and neutral whites.
- Does Hasselblad make video-capable cameras?
Current Hasselblad cameras, including the X2D 100C, X1D II 50C, 907X 100C, and 907X 50C, do not offer video recording capabilities. The company has explicitly concentrated its engineering on still image quality, raw file latitude, and colour science rather than hybrid photo-video features. Photographers who require both high-resolution stills and professional video in a single system will need to look at full-frame mirrorless cameras or dedicated cinema cameras rather than any current Hasselblad body.
- What is Hasselblad Natural Colour Solution and does it matter in practice?
Hasselblad Natural Colour Solution (HNCS) is a multi-stage colour management system that aligns sensor spectral response, in-camera tone mapping, and software rendering to produce output that closely mirrors how human vision perceives natural light. In practice, reviewers and professional photographers most often notice HNCS in skin tones, which tend toward neutral and accurate rendition rather than flattering saturation, and in the clean handling of whites without colour cast. HNCS is most valued in portrait, fashion, and product photography where accurate colour reproduction is commercially important and where post-processing workflows begin from a faithful colour baseline.
- What XCD lenses are available for the Hasselblad X System?
The XCD lens lineup spans from ultra-wide to short telephoto, covering focal lengths including 21mm, 28mm, 35mm, 45mm, 55mm, 65mm, 75mm, 90mm, and 135mm, plus zoom options within that range. All XCD lenses feature built-in leaf shutters enabling flash sync at up to 1/2000s, a significant advantage for photographers working with studio or location strobe lighting who need to balance ambient exposure with flash output. Hasselblad periodically expands the XCD lineup, so checking the official Hasselblad X System lens page provides the most current availability and specifications.