After an uncharacteristically prolific 2024,Hasselblad slowed down in 2025 in terms of quantity but reached new heights when it comes to quality.
The Hasselblad X2D II 100C Finally fulfills Hasselblad’s Medium Format Promise
Hasselblad’s only new camera of the year, the X2D II 100C, arrived in August boasting important improvements, groundbreaking new features, and, somehow, a lower price tag than its predecessor, the X2D 100C, had at its launch in 2022.
While $7,399 is nothing to sneeze at, photographers get a lot for the money with the X2D II 100C. The camera has a 102-megapixel sensor,like its predecessor,but it now features the industry’s first medium-format end-to-end HDR workflow,an improved 10-stop in-body image stabilization system,LiDAR-powered autofocus,the first continuous autofocus of any Hasselblad camera ever,and,among the very best user experiences of any camera on the market. The Hasselblad X2D II 100C is a beautiful camera that is very enjoyable to use. Best of all, it captures images with unparalleled image quality, at least this side of a $50,000 digital back.
The HDR feature, which adds exposure latitude in the brightest regions of a photo, may not be fully embraced across the industry yet – not everyone has HDR displays, for starters – but the X2D II 100C demonstrates just how incredible HDR photography can be. Hasselblad has shared a wide array of videos on its YouTube channel showing the effect, which PetaPixel readers with HDR-compatible browsers and devices can check out.
While the new HDR feature is perhaps the most groundbreaking one in the X2D II 100C, nearly every aspect of the camera has been improved. The camera is lighter, has a b## Hasselblad’s 2025 Was Defined by the X2D II 100C and one New Lens
The Hasselblad X2D II 100C is not just a great camera for photographers who prioritize image quality and care little for versatility, but it is indeed my favorite camera of 2025. It is indeed not the best – for what it’s worth, I voted for the eventual winner, the Canon R6 III – but I loved using the X2D II 100C.It reflects what I value most in a camera: exceptional image quality, a consistently pleasant user experience, and cutting-edge technology. I’m certainly not alone in being excited by the X2D II 100C’s advancements, either, as the camera is having unprecedented commercial success so far.
Just One New Hasselblad Lens in 2025
As for lenses,Hasselblad released just one in 2025,a notable downturn after launching three in 2024: the XCD 25mm f/2.5 V, XCD 20-35mm f/3.2-4.5 E, and XCD 75mm f/3.4 P. The new 2025 lens, the XCD 35-100mm f/2.8-4 E, is the direct complement to that second lens. This new standard zoom offers Hasselblad medium-format photographers a 28-76mm equivalent focal length and a fast, variable aperture.
Hasselblad Receives an “A” Grade for 2025 Releases: X2D II 100C and XCD 35-100mm Lens
Hasselblad has been awarded an “A” grade for its 2025 product releases, specifically the X2D II 100C camera and the XCD 35-100mm f/2.8-4 E lens. Despite a traditionally quiet year for the company, these two products represent some of the best Hasselblad has offered in recent years.
The new XCD 35-100mm lens, while carrying a hefty $4,599 price tag and requiring a large 86mm filter thread, is lauded as an excellent addition to the Hasselblad XCD system and a strong companion to the X2D II 100C.
[Image of a grassy park with people and children playing, taken with Hasselblad equipment. photo by Chris Niccolls.]
Beyond new gear,Hasselblad has also been active in supporting the photography community. In march 2025, the company awarded photographer Sophie ristelhueber the prestigious hasselblad Award, accompanied by a $200,000 prize. Currently, entries are open for the Hasselblad Masters 2026 competition, offering substantial cash prizes and camera kits to winners.(Hasselblad Masters 2026: https://www.hasselblad.com/masters)
While a new camera and lens might be considered a minimal release for some manufacturers, it represents a significant output for hasselblad, which has had years with even fewer announcements – like 2021, and a single lens release in 2023. The quality of both the X2D II 100C and the XCD 35-100mm lens has solidified Hasselblad’s position in the high-end photography market.
Source: https://petapixel.com/2025/12/21/grading-hasselblad-in-2025/
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