for locking the mode dial to prevent acci-
dental changes, but Hasselblad has done
something unique here, and it’s my favorite
solution that I’ve used. The entire mode
dial recedes into the camera body when
you don’t need it—just depress it, and it
locks flush with the top panel.
The only control that occasionally irri-
tated me was the power button. I prefer
switches to buttons for power control
because you’re instantly sure whether the
switch is on or off. With a button, you
don’t immediately know if your press
on the button registered. This is exac-
erbated in the X1D II by the camera’s
slow startup. There were several times I
mistakenly turned the power back off—
thinking my first press hadn’t worked—
which meant another reboot cycle.
Another nicety of design is found in
something as mundane as the battery.
Most cameras conceal the battery behind
a flap door. The X1D II omits this extra
part; the battery simply slides into the
grip and clicks securely in place. It’s the
little details like this that communicate an
uncommon thoughtfulness in the camera’s
physical presence.
BATTERY LIFE
Battery life, in contrast, could be
improved—though to be fair, the bat-
tery is powering a large sensor. My first
time using the camera, I burned through
a charge very quickly, in just a few hours
of intermittent photography. I got barely
over 100 frames on that charge, in part
because I wasn’t switching the camera
off when not actively shooting. Once
I realized how quickly I was draining
the battery, I was much more consci-
entious about powering down between
sessions. So, you’ll need to be mindful
about your battery use, and you’re defi-
nitely going to want at least one extra
battery or more if you’ll be away from
charging options for an extended period.
You can charge the battery in-camera via
USB-C, which is nice, and a charging
hub for two batteries is available as an
optional accessory.
How you use the camera will also
affect battery life. Features like AF will
drain your power more quickly. I found
myself preferring manual focus with the
X1D II anyway. The 117 selectable-point,
Details like the shape and depth
of the grip and a mode dial that
recedes into the top panel express
Hasselblad’s attention to providing
a luxurious experience when
handling the camera—rightfully so,
considering its market position and
the price of $5,750 for the body only.