The wait is over, after the zero of the countdown on the Hasselblad website, we can see how the Swedish manufacturer sees themselves in the medium format market.

So, rumors are wrong this time, no 100 mega-pixels camera yet. But this is not disappointing at all, many users of the original X1D enjoyed its size and portability.

With the just-announced X1D II 50c Hasselblad has decided to build on the camera’s strengths—portability, ease of use and image quality—as well as addressing the speed issues along with some technical updates. It appears that instead of checking as many feature boxes as possible, Hasselblad has put emphasis on the shooting experience.

Indeed, the improved X1D II 50c retained its beautiful design, portable size and general ease of operation. It is a camera that can easily be taken out of the studio and handheld all day without any fatigue.

Lightweight and portable, the X1D II 50C lets you take the power of medium format in a footprint smaller than most full frame 35mm cameras. Individually calibrated for optimal performance, its large 50-megapixel medium format CMOS sensor (43.8 x 32.9mm) features outstanding color depth and a huge dynamic range of 14 stops.

Hasselblad Natural Colour Solution technology is integrated into the camera’s system, delivering superb, true-to-life tones that match what the human eye sees. Blending form and function in its ergonomic design adopted from the award-winning first generation, the X1D II 50C continues to provide creatives with incredible Hasselblad image quality, with 16-bit RAW images and now full-resolution JPEGs, in a compact, lightweight design.

The X1D II 50C’s brilliant 3.6-inch 2.36-million-dot touch rear display and enhanced 3.69-million-dot OLED EVF are updated with higher resolution, enabling a more accurate post-capture evaluation of images. With an improved magnification of 0.87x, the X1D II 50C’s EVF is now larger, letting you see the bigger picture. In addition, the menu system is now accessible when looking in the EVF, providing greater usability in the sunniest conditions. Building upon the previous generation’s intuitive user interface with pinch-to-zoom and swipe image browsing, the X1D II 50C is refined with a quicker overall response when navigating through its menu system.

Further additions to the rear display include autofocus point drag and drop placement and autofocus point size changes with pinch/spread finger movement. With a quicker startup time, a live view with a faster refresh rate of 60 fps, and the shutter lag and blackout time between frames reduced, the X1D II 50C creates an even smoother user experience.

The X1D II 50C’s updated electronic platform allows for a more responsive camera experience, including faster image previewing, enabling quicker post-capture evaluation. In addition, a higher frame rate of 60fps makes live view smoother in both the EVF and the rear display. The much higher resolution of the rear display screen (1024×768) gives a more vivid, true to life image viewing experience. In addition, the X1D II 50C now enables full resolution high-quality in-camera JPEG images with Hasselblad’s signature colors. Dual SD card slots, now supporting the faster UHS-II standard, ensure optimal storage space or the option to back up images to a second card when shooting.

So why we see that as a real commitment to this system?

Aside from the new camera, Hasselblad just announced the ninth lens on their line: XCD 3,5-4,5/35-75 Zoom Lens.
This, with a noticeable low price of the camera, make sure their intentions to gain more users and reassure the oldest ones.

Just for now Hasselblad doesn’t jump on the one hundred mega-pixels wagon, but it continues to improve their product.

The X1D II 50C Mirrorless Medium Format Digital Camera will be available from July at $6000.

More info on Hasselblad’ website.