I just wrote an article for "AIRSPEED" on shooting the Hasselblad X2DII air to air. I don't really think that a viewer can see the Hasselblad difference in an image posted on the web. Truthfully, when I look at a shot captured with the X2DII on my monitor I can see a substantial difference, but I don't know that I can put that difference into words. Sharper, for sure, more vivid, yes, but not necessarily, more depth, I think that describes it better. As discerning as all of you are I know that you could see it immediately, in my article I described it as "obvious, but indescribable". My film Hasselblads had a different look, sharper and more contrast, the Zeiss optics were the difference in those days. Combine the larger film area with the sharpness, color and contrast offered by the Zeiss lenses and you really had something, but this camera, this is all of that and more. Even Hasselblad has difficulty putting it into words, they call it "Hasselblad Color Science". Whatever it is, it's the magic sauce that makes investing in their equipment worth it. I sure wish they would get off the dime and produce a couple more "E" series lenses . Back in the day I had the Super-Wide which was a fixed focal length lens permanently mounted on the body and a detachable film back. The 500 C/M bodies had detachable lenses and I had a Zeiss 28mm, 80mm, 150 and 250mm. Hasselblad made a 500mm but the cost was beyond outrageous so I never considered getting one. Now that Hasselblad has figured out how to design and produce zooms without compromise, I'd like to see a 100-200 "E", and a 200-400 "E". I'm sure that last lens would nudge10K, but it would be worth every penny.
Mar 07, 2026 at 02:36 PM
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