Hasselblad X1D II

What can one say?  The name Hasselblad is legendary and in a class of two, with Leica (though Phase One is doing its best to make it a class of 3).  So robust, it’s been to the moon.  So what does Hasselblad do when it decides it wants to dive into the world of mirrorless cameras?  It designs a camera of sheer beauty!

It’s the camera I’m sure my first year design studio professors at the College of Architecture would be talking about.  Elegant in its form, simple in its operation (design reflected in both hardware and software menus), and perfect in the hand.  Form, function and craftsmanship all rolled into one.

How can anyone not want this camera?  And that orange shutter release . . . !

Yes, I wish the lenses had an aperture ring, and the body had manual controls for shutter speed and ISO, . . . but that might not matter.  

I fear that if I ever pick up the X1D II and hold it, I’ll remember what it was like to hold the Contax 645 and decide not to make the same mistake in letting it go.  Except in this case it would mean buying it.

Lucky for me, the only photography store that carries them in stock is in Lisbon!