Q2/Q3 or Hasselblad X2D? Which do you choose?

[SantaFeSam]

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28 minutes ago, bags27 said:

What lens were you using?

Tastes differ, and viva la difference! To my eye, that pop is what I'm trying to avoid, which is why I love many of the photos taken with this camera paired with old Hasselblad Zeiss glass, though there are limitations with that combo one must accept. For me, a lot of pop creates a distinction that is not how I view the world psychologically.

But I can well appreciate why others do very much love this type of rendering. In that way, this camera produces incredible images with beautiful background and perfectly natural colors.

And the kids couldn't be cuter!

The 45mm f4-- I agree, we all have our own taste that speaks to us.  For me, I love the way this renders colors and depth... it brings back the emotion of a time or a place for me.

I tried an A7R V and absolutely hated it (although I loved how the focus tracking worked!)

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[bags27]

1 hour ago, SantaFeSam said:

The 45mm f4-- I agree, we all have our own taste that speaks to us.  For me, I love the way this renders colors and depth... it brings back the emotion of a time or a place for me.

I tried an A7R V and absolutely hated it (although I loved how the focus tracking worked!)

 

Thanks so much for this. The 45mm is an amazing lens, especially for the price. I've been trying to convince a friend with an X2D to buy that lens as an alternative to the terrific but very heavy zoom he lugs around. If I got an X2D, that would be the first lens I'd buy as well.

[Olaf_ZG]

The 45p is like the gf50: a must have.

[bags27]

1 hour ago, Olaf_ZG said:

The 45p is like the gf50: a must have.

Apparently so. I have a friend who used to have a X1D, who was really annoyed when that lens came out. He thought it was just as good--and a lot cheaper and lighter--than what he had bought for the camera.

[IkarusJohn]

2 hours ago, Olaf_ZG said:

The 45p is like the gf50: a must have.

Mmmm … not so sure.  I had the 45P with my X1D II, and it was okay.  When I get my X2D, I’m starting with the XCD 38/2.5 V - a 30mm equivalent is so much more appealing than a 35mm equivalent, and the quality appears to be a step above.

Do you have the 38mm?  I’d be very interested in a comparison.

[Olaf_ZG]

5 hours ago, IkarusJohn said:

Mmmm … not so sure.  I had the 45P with my X1D II, and it was okay.  When I get my X2D, I’m starting with the XCD 38/2.5 V - a 30mm equivalent is so much more appealing than a 35mm equivalent, and the quality appears to be a step above.

Do you have the 38mm?  I’d be very interested in a comparison.

Sadly I don’t have neither. I am considering to change from SL to X2D and therefore rather interested in every topic regarding this camera. For the price (especially secondhand) and size I would buy the 45p. 
The 38mm might be a bit too tight for landscapes so I am considering the 30mm. On the longer side I think of the 135mm. 
A three lens kit, mainly for landscapes.

However, if I do this, the SL needs to go and I am not sure if that would be a wise decision.

Maybe I should buy the Q3 instead, but for every day, to me 28mm is way to wide and therefore I carry the M with me.

Edited June 17, 2023 by Olaf_ZG
Grammar

[robb]

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The new hassy v lenses are stellar.  I have the 38 and 55.  Very lightweight.  Very sharp.  Great color.  Nice backgrounds out of focus but not as soft as Leica.  I primarily use the camera with outdoor strobe portraits.  And I like it in xpan mode a lot for avail light.  Focus I’ll add is fairly quick and always perfect.  I surprised myself with how easy the 38 is for portraits outdoors.  Just a beautiful look.  Non distorted.  I didn’t expect I would like it that much.  But I love it.  I love the 55 even more I think.  Great lens features on the new models.  I tried the original 45mm lens and I liked it as well.  But the newer lenses are better in most ways.  If I was on more of a budget though I wouldn’t hesitate to use the original glass on the x2d.

I have a 90 v ordered and paid for.  Still waiting for it.  I wanted to emphasize a light weight set for this camera.  I’d add the 135mm as another great lens instead of the 90 but it is quite a bit heavier.  So not my preference.

the IbiS is absolutely amazing and I will not buy any other cameras missing ibis or OIS.  Game changers to me.  My RRS L-plate for the x2d finally showed shipping ups tracking so I should have it soon to complete the abilities of the camera.  Great times are these.

Robb

 

 

[IkarusJohn]

Hi @robb,

Thanks for the observations.  With my X1D II, I had the 21, 45P, 80 & 135, and sold the lot when I went out of the system, concentrating instead on my M gear.  I used the 135 & 1.7 extender for a wedding, and the Af drove me nuts.  It was just too hard; however the few shots I got were stellar.

My plan is to go with the new V lenses (starting with the 38, when I can get it).  I’m expecting a new 21, which I will put onto my list.  I’m planning on the 38, 55 & 90 V lenses, and the replacement 21 & 135 (with extender) if (when) they come.  I will then consider selling down my M gear - I will keep the best of my M lenses and my M-A (I’ll also keep my M digitals until they die, but I doubt I’ll replace them).

I sold the X1D II and lenses because I couldn’t work with the AF and I preferred the manual focus of the M lenses.  I will dip my toe in the water with the first V lens, and see what happens …

Cheers
John

[robb]

I think I could add more v lenses as long as they are lighter weight.  It doesn’t do me any good to carry a bag full of heavy stuff anymore just to have more stuff… lol

so I’ll stick with just the right gear for that job and leave the extra gear secured.

Robb

 

[SantaFeSam]

@robb this is super helpful, thank you!

I’m thinking of setting up my hassy kit as: 21, 38V, 55V & 135 (+1.7x TC).  I feel like this should have me pretty well covered for my outdoorsy work.  Headed down to Torres del Paine in Patagonia in a few months, and wanting to get my kit planned out!

[robb]

1 hour ago, SantaFeSam said:

@robb this is super helpful, thank you!

I’m thinking of setting up my hassy kit as: 21, 38V, 55V & 135 (+1.7x TC).  I feel like this should have me pretty well covered for my outdoorsy work.  Headed down to Torres del Paine in Patagonia in a few months, and wanting to get my kit planned out!

I visited Torres del Paine once about 20 years ago.  Magnificent area.  Crazy wind.  Very low population around the southern regions.  Getting gas sometimes at residences… I think I drove 10,000 km that trip.  A lot of it off-road.  I think your lens range for that (and other landscape work should be outstanding.  If you have time, I would highly recommend Argentina while there.  
Back then I took my gx617 with 90,180,and 300mm lenses and was not disappointed.  Very Heavy gitzo.  Probably 200 rolls of 120.

enjoy every day.

Robb

[SantaFeSam]

8 hours ago, robb said:

I visited Torres del Paine once about 20 years ago.  Magnificent area.  Crazy wind.  Very low population around the southern regions.  Getting gas sometimes at residences… I think I drove 10,000 km that trip.  A lot of it off-road.  I think your lens range for that (and other landscape work should be outstanding.  If you have time, I would highly recommend Argentina while there.  
Back then I took my gx617 with 90,180,and 300mm lenses and was not disappointed.  Very Heavy gitzo.  Probably 200 rolls of 120.

enjoy every day.

Robb

Incredible.  We only have a week since the kids are so young, but I did Bariloche to San Martin about 5 years ago.  Absolutely stunning.

I’m working on planning a giant adventure in a few years… homeschool the kids for a year and do the pan-american highway.

[ropo54]

Review of the X2D with 38mm for street photography.   (Brief comparisons to Q2 and Leica M and Sony RX1r)

 

 

 

Hasselblad X2D 100c + XCD 2.5-38V - HIGH ISO Street Photography - YouTube 2.webloc

Edited June 18, 2023 by ropo54

[Olaf_ZG]

Personally, to me, doing street with 100mp is a bit overdone. 
what I care about is viewing on waistlevel, as with the 500cm. Looks like the Q3 is better than the h2d for this. I should consider the 907…

[ropo54]

100mp for street is as overdone as 60 mp for street, no?  😁

[Olaf_ZG]

It is, and so is 47…

[ravinj]

On 6/7/2023 at 11:31 PM, ropo54 said:

So, which way would you go? Q2/Q3 or Hasselblad X2D?

The Q shoots faster, but the X2D is greatly improved;

The Q is a fixed lens, while the X2D affords may options?

X2D is 100mpx medium format image.  Better dynamic range brings larger files.  

Both have image stabilization.

The X2D is slightly more expensive, particularly when factoring in several lenses

Landscape shooting?  Street shooting?  Portrait shooting?  Moving objects vs states objects?

If you could have one or the other, which would you choose? Pick your winner.

 

X2D everyday. I have the Q2, but do not use it after getting the X2D. I sold my M11 and SL2 after getting the X2D. All of these are great, but somehow "everything clicks" for me with the X2D. The built in SSD has blazing speed and I use a OWC brand CF Express card for backup. Ergonomics are stellar. Rear LCD with huge fonts, makes it easy to use. No nonsense menus and thankfully no video. IBIS: I can go down to 1/2 second with the XCD 38 handheld with tripod equivalent sharpness. 

Recently came back from a 14-day trip to France and Greece. My kit was the X2D, XCD 38 and XCD 90 f3.2. 5 batteries, though 2 were adequate for a full day of shooting. Last year I took the X2D/38/90/135 on a 12 day trip to Colorado in the fall. At no point did I have to take out the battery to reset or suffer a freeze despite heavy usage - not something I can say when I used the M11. Q2 has been very reliable though. 

My Hasselblad journey started with a used X1DII and I was stunned by the colors and overall rendering. So much so, that I am willing to accept the compromises of weight and lack of teles. For tele, I bought Panasonic G9 with the Pana-Leica 50-200, a superb combo. 

Q2 is unique for its size and weight, but I have been spoilt by X2D/X1DII's colors and rendering. My daughter who is not a camera fanatic has remarked many times that the Hasselblad makes scenes look like those from a painting or a movie. 

I use Phocus for "processing" - quotes because there is little to be tweaked, so this is similar to Q2 which also gives nice output without a lot of fiddling. I will say that Phocus is one of the clunkiest software I have used, but I bear with it as sometimes I see Lightroom doing things with X2D's files (colors) that I don't like. Choice of processing software is an important point as Q2 can be used with both LR and C1 (I use the latter for Q2).

All of these are personal preferences - some will like A vs B. I don't use cameras professionally, hence my considerations are different and the X2D brings the most joy. 

I don't have the Q3, but with what I have seen with Q2's output and the ability to crop, the Q3 would have been my camera of choice if I didn't have the X2D. 

 

Edited June 18, 2023 by ravinj

[ropo54]

4 hours ago, ravinj said:

X2D everyday. I have the Q2, but do not use it after getting the X2D. I sold my M11 and SL2 after getting the X2D. All of these are great, but somehow "everything clicks" for me with the X2D. The built in SSD has blazing speed and I use a OWC brand CF Express card for backup. Ergonomics are stellar. Rear LCD with huge fonts, makes it easy to use. No nonsense menus and thankfully no video. IBIS: I can go down to 1/2 second with the XCD 38 handheld with tripod equivalent sharpness. 

Recently came back from a 14-day trip to France and Greece. My kit was the X2D, XCD 38 and XCD 90 f3.2. 5 batteries, though 2 were adequate for a full day of shooting. Last year I took the X2D/38/90/135 on a 12 day trip to Colorado in the fall. At no point did I have to take out the battery to reset or suffer a freeze despite heavy usage - not something I can say when I used the M11. Q2 has been very reliable though. 

My Hasselblad journey started with a used X1DII and I was stunned by the colors and overall rendering. So much so, that I am willing to accept the compromises of weight and lack of teles. For tele, I bought Panasonic G9 with the Pana-Leica 50-200, a superb combo. 

Q2 is unique for its size and weight, but I have been spoilt by X2D/X1DII's colors and rendering. My daughter who is not a camera fanatic has remarked many times that the Hasselblad makes scenes look like those from a painting or a movie. 

I use Phocus for "processing" - quotes because there is little to be tweaked, so this is similar to Q2 which also gives nice output without a lot of fiddling. I will say that Phocus is one of the clunkiest software I have used, but I bear with it as sometimes I see Lightroom doing things with X2D's files (colors) that I don't like. Choice of processing software is an important point as Q2 can be used with both LR and C1 (I use the latter for Q2).

All of these are personal preferences - some will like A vs B. I don't use cameras professionally, hence my considerations are different and the X2D brings the most joy. 

I don't have the Q3, but with what I have seen with Q2's output and the ability to crop, the Q3 would have been my camera of choice if I didn't have the X2D. 

 

Thank you for that comprehensive review!  Rob

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[KateStarr]

I saw a review on B&H that mentioned that the X2Ds LCD screen suffered in colder temps (under 40F, which isn't that cold at all actually...I live in Minnesota). For those of you that have an X2D have you experienced this?

If so, I would consider that a major point for the Q3. As I said, I live in Minnesota. A camera that cannot operate below 40F is one I can only use like 5-6mos of the year.

[ravinj]

2 hours ago, KateStarr said:

I saw a review on B&H that mentioned that the X2Ds LCD screen suffered in colder temps (under 40F, which isn't that cold at all actually...I live in Minnesota). For those of you that have an X2D have you experienced this?

If so, I would consider that a major point for the Q3. As I said, I live in Minnesota. A camera that cannot operate below 40F is one I can only use like 5-6mos of the year.

I did not have issues below freezing, using it for long hours. I am talking 28F absolute and with the windchill/icy-winds at over 12,000ft on Mount Evans Scenic Byway, the "real-feel" must be a lot lower.

 

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