Hasselbald X2D vs Leica M11

[jakontil]

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I used to have both, until i sold the M11 and sticking with my M10r

x2D is the way to go if u r concern more about image quality, the difference from M11 to X2D quite noticeable than M10R to M11 

my X2D, finger crossed, never freezes, a joy to use, i love the experience in RF, been shooting RF my whole life, but i prefer the image coming from X2D 

[Smogg]

24 minutes ago, jakontil said:

I used to have both, until i sold the M11 and sticking with my M10r

x2D is the way to go if u r concern more about image quality, the difference from M11 to X2D quite noticeable than M10R to M11 

my X2D, finger crossed, never freezes, a joy to use, i love the experience in RF, been shooting RF my whole life, but i prefer the image coming from X2D 

Your opinion completely coincides with mine. However, if I had to keep just one camera, it would be the M11

[Viv]

I have both cameras. I have not seen any comparison reviews.

The two cameras are quite different.

I like the M11 for its portability and "the rangefinder experience".

I like the X2D for its colour rendition and better exposure meter.

 

[jakontil]

13 minutes ago, Smogg said:

Your opinion completely coincides with mine. However, if I had to keep just one camera, it would be the M11

If i were to keep one, i still havent thought bout it… 

wait.. no icant, dont make me choose 😂

i still shoot with my M films too… but im used to carry 2 bodies… one analog and digital, be it leica or hasselblad system

[dennersten]

I went from Leica to X1DII and was very happy with that. But the lenses were huge and ugly, but they had perfect image quality. One day i got tired of the size. Swapped everything for Leica M11 system. 

Eighteen months later, the M11 got stolen, and after a long, hard thinking, I am back with X2D. The new V lenses are another world. They are small and fast. But the biggest reason to swap back is the colors. I had to postprocess 100% of the output during a grey day with M11, not so much on a sunny day, though. But I hated the amount of postprocessing I had with the M11. X2D is so much better. 

I have kept the M9 and three lenses. Love that. 

I am having an exhibition in London in August. I have two 3x3 meter pictures which i needed to retake with X2D 

 

 

[EdwardWestin]

Having owned both - I can say the IQ comparison is really the null point. You're gonna get exceptional images out of both using proper technique (making sure your exposure is where you need it to capture the proper information of the scene into your raw file, etc). 

Yes the Sl3 has the same sensor as the M11 so IQ wise you can take that part of the X2D vs SL3 review you found to apply to the M11 too. HOWEVER - the workflow - user experience between these two cameras and camera systems (M11 and X2d) are very different from each other.  As you see here on the forum from other users - and good number of users own both the M11 and X2D.

Why? cause there are things the M11 can't do/be that X2D can and vice versa. For example, the X2D can't be small and light like the M11. Is it a smaller / lighter medium format? yes, but NOT as small and light as the M11. Can the M11 resolve the micro-detail that the 100mp larger format sensors does? No, it cannot. Can you opt for many lens options on the X2d? No, for the most part you can't (due to slower sensor readout, leaf shutter lenses etc). 

I'm not sure what you are shooting. Landscape? People? Documentary? Architecture? Still Life? but your subject matter and you're style of shooting / workflow should heavily play into your decision. You see a ton of people say "this isn't a sports camera, etc" well, how are YOU shooting sports? If it's more about capturing a single moment and hitting when you want, you might only need a single frame and not 30fps. etc. 

I might suggest looking more into a M11 vs SL2/3 comparison video to give you a better understanding of the difference between the M11 and X2D as diff "systems" since the SL series is a closer workflow/system to the X2D than the M11. Although it doesn't compare the M11 to X2D directly, you can apply the workflow/handling differences btw the M11 / SL2/3 videos to the M11 vs X2D, and btw this and the SL3 vs X2D video you already have seen you now have a more rounded comparison btw the different camera systems plus IQ. 

[adrianh]

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Aside of what everyone said (and as you see, all agree that the X2D has a small edge on IQ, but the M11 is way smaller), I can tell you that flash use with the X2D is way better than with the M11. You can find TTL flashes for the X2D for great prices as they have licensed Nikon's TTL protocol. On top of that, you get high speed flash sync with full power for free. The M11 is at the other side of the spectrum. 

I think you can get here a ton of useful additional information from  users of both, as long as you can clearly articulate  what exactly you are planning to use the camera for. We have no idea if you can live at all with RF focusing, what lenses do you need, and so on. 

Edited July 4, 2024 by adrianh

[dennersten]

What I miss most about the M11 is the plethora of lenses. Sometimes, I get bored with the perfectness of the Hasselblad lenses and want more character. I miss my 50/1.2 Noctilux reissue very much.  

[jakontil]

12 hours ago, dennersten said:

What I miss most about the M11 is the plethora of lenses. Sometimes, I get bored with the perfectness of the Hasselblad lenses and want more character. I miss my 50/1.2 Noctilux reissue very much.  

Exactly, i once sold my noct 1.2 and after some months it was still in the store because off the shelf, good friend of the dealer, he let me have back 😂

[BWColor]

I recently purchased the M11 Monochrom and X2D/38mmXCD V combination and left for a three week vacation in South Korea.  I have many ‘M’ film cameras, so the Leica was much more familiar.  Resolution wise, the Monochrom and X2D seem much the same.  I must say that I purchased the Monochrom on a whim, but it, with my Zeiss 21mm Biogon c with a red filter have be quite amazing.  My 35mm sits in the bag.  The Hasselblad vs M11 (color) purchase was made after viewing many images from both cameras.  Realize that Hasselblad is a very small company and not only is the range of lenses limited, but availability of system lenses in almost non existent.  That said, the large sensor and unbelievable IBIS make this camera a wonderful camera to use.

We are ten days into our vacation and rain has been forecast for our remaining days.  The Hasselblad is better sealed against the elements.  

Edited July 6, 2024 by BWColor
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[Jon Warwick]

18 hours ago, dennersten said:

What I miss most about the M11 is the plethora of lenses. Sometimes, I get bored with the perfectness of the Hasselblad lenses and want more character. I miss my 50/1.2 Noctilux reissue very much.  

I think the plethora of lenses is what I also like a lot about my M11, which I happen to pair with a GFX100. The GFX is something of a one trick pony for me, with all native GF lenses having a rendering that’s modern / perfect.  I can get a modern / perfect look on the M11 too, but equally like its adaptability of generating a more classic look with (say) a 50 v5 or 90 Elmarit, let alone the 1.2 reissue.

In terms of image quality, I’ve studied the outputs closely between the M11 and GFX100 of identical scenes. On balance, I think the GFX is superior, more so as print size gets larger than 40”, but frequently find I need to work quite hard to get its output towards the gentler (and perhaps more realistic?) rendering that I prefer with many lenses on the M11.

My favorite image quality of all still remains the M11 Monochrom - very similar resolution to 100mp color medium format, but with more natural textures and less digital rendering due to the lack of color filter array. If I could pick only 2 cameras, it would probably be M11 Monochrom + 100mp color medium format.
 

[setuporg]

After having the X1D and X2D since 2018 I'm getting out of the Hasselblad XCD system, except for the 907x back for the 503 for now.  I've realized that no IQ differences will overcome the grainy EVF.  For the same reason am getting out of the SL line.  I end up picking up various Ms, and the endless choices of the lenses are all compact.  Travel and moving around the world is so much easier with the M.

[jakontil]

M stays, everything else comes and go..

except may be medium format film which, once u settled in well, you won’t ever let go

[budjames]

I own both the Hasselblad X2D and Leica M11. The quality, resolution and dynamic range of the X2D files is very appealing even when making prints. The Leica M11 is awesome too. 

I'm using my X2D for architecture and pictures of "things" where the detail matters. My Leica M11 is still the only camera that I travel with. Great image quality with Leica APO Summcron 35mm and 50mm lenses in a small and discreet package.

It's great to have (and be able to afford) choices. The X2D and M11 are very different cameras. One is not a substitute for the other, IMHO.

Regards,
Bud James

Please check out my fine art and travel photography at www.budjames.photography.

[Smogg]

I think the arrival of the X2D is a very big headache for Leica, as there is a risk of customers shifting to Hasselblad. A lot of Leica owners have also purchased the X2D. Excellent ergonomics, acceleration of all operations, new compact lenses with convenient switching to manual focus have greatly expanded the scope of its application and the X2D has gone beyond studios and landscape lovers. On most forums, X2D colors are now considered reference colors. Leica will have to work hard to keep up, and competition among manufacturers is very good for the consumer.

[JTLeica]

On 7/3/2024 at 12:15 PM, wolan said:

Hi,

do you know of any direct comparison between the X2D and the Leica M11? I could not find anything on the internet.

I managed to find an X2D vs Leica SL3, but I am not sure whether the SL3 and the M11 have the same sensor 

 

Thank you

Cheers.

An extremely strange comparison. A manual rangefinder vs a baby medium format af camera. 
 

Best work out what you want first. SL3, Fuji GFX are a better comparison to the Hass.

[hdmesa]

6 hours ago, JTLeica said:

An extremely strange comparison. A manual rangefinder vs a baby medium format af camera. 
 

Best work out what you want first. SL3, Fuji GFX are a better comparison to the Hass.

GFX and SL3 (at least in my mind) are in a different size class. The X2D’s thinness lets it seem like a large format M, especially with the new lenses that have physical DOF scales. They all share the same base silicon and pixel pitch, so there will be comparisons made that at first glance might not seem logical.

Essentially, the X2D had become the fill-in for the missing Leica mirrorless medium format option.

Edited July 9, 2024 by hdmesa

[setuporg]

Anyone substituting a mirrorless for M proves that the OVF is not key to them.  This is the decision you have to make first.  Those who need the OVF no matter what go to S for the medium format.  The S forum here is the calmest, resigned to the cessation of GAS, and focused on image and lens quality yielding superlative images.

[colonel]

not directly related, but I had an X1D-50 i, X1D-50 ii, M10-R and M10.

IMHO the X1D resolution and clarity was something I had not experienced before on any camera., it was breath-taking.

However I went back to M for 1 main and 1 subsidiary reason.

Main: I walk about with the camera held in my wrist, and the weight of the X1D 50 and X2D is simply not sustainable for me for a long period of time.

Subsidiary: M manual focus is more accurate and easier for street type photography IMHO. Although I managed to use the Hasselblad perfectly well

If the weight is not an issue for you then, bottom line, the X2D produces noticeably higher quality photos - photographer technique dependent!

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[Viv]

The two cameras are not competitors, just as a banana does not compete with an orange.

Both cameras are excellent tools. Prefer the M11 for its portability and the X2D for its ergonomics and image quality.