The Hasselblad 907X 100c Review. My Dream Camera of 2024.

Hasselblad 907X 100C. My Dream Camera of 2024. 

By Steve Huff

Note: Since I bought, owned and reviewed the 907x CFV 50c a while back, Hasselblad sent me the 907x CFV 100c for review in December 2023 and I have used it for the last few weeks before doing my video and written review. 

My Video review is below! 

Here we are again! 

Seems like yesterday when I was walking through the woods snapping photographs with the then new Hasselblad 907X 50C. While it has been about three years since then, the 907x 50c became one of my all time favorite cameras, if not my all out #1 favorite digital camera ever. I loved it for the vintage look and feel, the overall quality of the camera itself and of course the 50 MP sensor that delivered true to life color and depth.

The 907x 50c and 100c are cameras that I put in the “very special” category.

The reason I say this is because there is nothing like shooting with one of these beautiful cameras. The experience is quite unique and the best part is that the file quality is astonishing. I loved the sensor in the 50c but the one here in the 100c is extraordinary and even better. Take a look at this beautiful camera which is indeed the smallest large sensor camera available as of Jan 2024.

NEW & IMPROVED?

So yes indeed the new 907x 100c is the the update to the 907X 50c and now comes with the all new back that provides 100 megapixels of resolution along with some other useful improvements ; )

In addition to the doubled resolution the auto focus has been improved with phase detect (vs contrast detect) and face detection has also been added. There is now a 1TB SSD drive inside of the 100c camera back and the card slot is now of the CFexpress variety. All very good upgrades. Hasselblad has also (thank you) removed the video features of the 907x just as they did with the X2D 100c. It doesn’t need video as this is truly a pure photographers camera. For those who love to seek out the shot, find it, and snap one or two frames and move along. I consider this an artists camera as well, for those who love quality in build, feel and output. It’s a superb option for portraits as well as environmental portraits.

The new 907X 100C is quicker, snappier and just overall better in use than the 50c was. With that said some may feel that this body is still somewhat limited compared to the Hasselblad X2D 100C as there is no IBIS or viewfinder with the 907X series. Just the rear pull up LCD screen which works quite well unless you are in very bright sunlight.

Even with these omissions vs the X2D there will be those who prefer the 907X 100C to the X2D 100C simply because of the shooting experience. The design of the camera and the way it rests in the hands so naturally is also a huge plus for the way I like to shoot. I am one who likes different and unique. I have the heart of an artist vs a technical one. This is why the 907X series speaks to me the most. It truly does speak to my heart and that is what this camera does so well. It makes you want to use it.

“Union Light and Power” – An old building opened in the late 1800’s and today it still operates as a steam plant in St.Louis, MO, The Hasselblad 907 X 100C brought out all of the details and dynamic range here. It was a cloudy, gloomy and cold winter day and I can remember the chill when I look back at this photo. 907X 100C at f/8 with the 38 f/2.5 V lens (which is a beauty). See the 20X30 print I had made in the video above. 

This is a camera for those who could care less about all of the current crop of cameras that feature video, blazing FPS, high res EVF, etc. The 907x is a medium format (645 sensor size) 16 bit color powerhouse that will allow you to see life in a very beautiful and soulful way. 

The 907X 50c and 100c are truly made for photographers. Where many see limits, I see something much greater than any traditional mirrorless 35mm camera available today simply because of the following reasons…

1. There is nothing else like this experience and it’s as close to “old school” in shooting style that one can get in a modern day digital camera. It can be used on its own with the 907X body or you can use the 100c digital back with an old school Hasselblad 200 or 500 series analog camera, turning that old film beauty into a modern day digital camera. You can also use it on a technical camera if that is your thing.
2. The menus are as simple as they come and there is nothing in these menus to junk it all up as again, this camera is a photographers camera. It takes photos and has the capability to deliver unreal results in the right hands (those better than mine). I always have believed that LESS can be MORE and this is a camera that proves this to me. No junk, no gimmiks. Menu and setup are as easy as it gets.
3. The image quality is stunning. The dynamic range, the colors, the detail and the rendering is pure large sensor goodness. This is a camera that I just adore using.

907x 100c on a cold dreary nasty day. I came across this lovely shop on my drive and loved the display. All images on this page were taken with the Hasselblad 38 2.5 V lens. Of all of the lenses I have tried with the Hasselblad X bodies, so far, this is my favorite. 

Below: Debby while we were in abandoned Rootwad Park in St, Louis, MO. It is said to NEVER explore here at night!

Below: My reflection, converted to B&W . Time for a trim.

Unique. 

I will say this now. The 907x 100C is the most unique camera one can acquire in 2024, at least that is my opinion. I do not feel anything from Leica, Sony, Nikon or whoever makes a camera body that looks like this, gives the experience this one gives and has the natural color that the Hasselblad offers. To me, there is no contest between this and say a similarly priced Leica M. The 907x wins with me every time. I know many will ask “what about the Leica M” and while I have a long history of using Leica cameras, this 907x 100c is unlike anything Leica offers.

There is nothing like it, nothing.

It’s simple to use and the form factor is so natural. As far as I am concerned it is the most beautiful digital camera ever made and the experience when using it is simply wonderful.

Waist level shooting is something I have always enjoyed and it is so cool to use the 907X in this way. It’s the only way to use it as there is no EVF here, so holding it down at your waist while looking down at the pull up LCD screen is nice and reminds me of a modern day 500 series, because it really is just that. A modern day version of Hasselblads of the past. I will argue that the 907X 100c (and X2D 100x) is better than anything they have made in the past. Maybe not for all out longevity as we are talking about electronics here, but rather the all out quality of the entire package.

I can not say if any digital camera will last as long as their film counterparts as electronics are involved. Even so, a camera such as this should bring many many years of enjoyment. It’s a camera that can make you money as well and many will use it for just that. At the same time, I feel this will be acquired by many enthusiastic hobbyists as well, those who just have a passion for the art and craft of photography. This is missing in so many cameras today because mostly all cameras today try to be everything to all people.

The 907x 100C does not try to give you everything in one box. Instead it strictly a powerhouse tool for one thing, taking photos.

I love the dynamic range of the sensor in the 100c digital back. It provides a richness and depth to the photos that is not always seen in 35 mm format digital. The Hasselblad cameras always deliver in this regard. 

Is this camera Limited?

Let’s see what the 907x 100c can NOT do:

The 907X 100c is not a video camera. It does not do video at all, and this is good. 

The 907x 100c is limited to 1 frame at a time. It is not made for action and this is good for the cameras intended audience. I have always shot this way, even when using “fast” bodies so I feel right at home here.

The 907x 100c doesn’t have an exposure lock button on the body (unless you add the grip) and this is a con. 

The 907x 100c doesn’t have the tricks and gimmiks of most modern mirrorless bodies and this is good.

Does this make it limited? Well, it depends on what you want to do with it. If you shoot sports, no, this is not your camera. If you shoot action of any kind, forget it.

But…

If you shoot life, people, pets, portraits, or the beauty around you, still subjects….well, I have not found any camera finer when it comes to all out quality of files, dynamic range or pride of ownership. This camera is just gorgeous to hold and look at as well. It feels amazing in the hand and the shutter button is placed exactly where it should be.

No detail will be left unearthed when you are dealing with 100MP.  Below: An old house, An old motel sign from a motel that appeared to be no longer in operation. Last image of the three is from an industrial area in St.Louis that is mostly abandoned. 

Yes, it’s Faster. 

The new 907x 100c kit is indeed faster and more responsive than the 907x 50c is and I am happy to report that the new face detect works and is nice to have included. Shooting a portrait with face detect on actually works like most modern day cameras, locking onto the face so you can be sure to nail the eye focus. I show you an example of this in my video review at the top of this page if you want to see it in action.

The Auto Focus, which was a little slow in the 50c has indeed been improved. Even with a 100MP sensor this camera can focus pretty quickly in good or adequate light. When the light goes dark manual focus will be best as this is when AF can hunt and miss. Using the new 38mm f/2.5 V lens I have started to  fall hard for the way this lens renders. It’s like a mix of beauty, finesse and all out detail. It has that medium format look as well and with an f/2.5 aperture you are sure to have some beautiful bokeh in the backgrounds. This is a fine lens and I would love to one day try out the others in the new V line up.

The feel of this lens is fantastic and there is also a manual focus clutch that allows you to switch to MF instantly.

Take a look at the sensor inside of the 100c. Also you will see the shutter button which also has a dial around it to adjust aperture. The other button here is the lens release.

About low light…this camera does pretty well in lower light just like the 50c did but it will truly excel and show you what it is made of when you take the shot when the light is good or great. This is a trademark of medium format. If you feed this camera good light, you will be rewarded. Not that the 907x is sub par when the light is not perfect as it is not, it does fantastic, even in low light scenarios. I used to shoot the original X1D at 25,600 ISO in dark clubs (musicians) and have prints that look remarkable. I could do the same with this one if I wanted to but this camera excels at still life, portraits, environmental portraits and landscape.

Overall the camera just feels quicker and more responsive in all ways and it is more fun to shoot due to this. I have been very pleased with the improvements here.

Out of camera color is always great with Hasselblad. 

1 TB of Built in SSD Memory. 

The new 907x 100c has 1 TB of memory via an SSD drive built in. I did not think I would like having a built in drive (I’m an old school memory card hoarder) but now that I have been using the camera I LOVE this feature. The camera can also accept CFexpress cards rather than the old SD variety, which is fantastic as SD cards are kind of flimsy, especially for a camera such as this with a 100MP sensor. I wouldn’t want to lose any shots.

I love having the built in memory as this makes it super easy to review images when I get home from a day out of shooting. The USB C port on the side has a nifty cover that auto closes when you remove the USB cable. While this is not a weather sealed camera I do like the fact that the USB port is covered. I believe this camera would be challenging to fully weather seal due to the modular nature of it all.

All it takes to retrieve your images is to plug in the included heavy duty USB-C cable from the camera to your computer and turn on the camera. A couple of seconds after you power it up you will see two choices to choose from on the LCD screen. You will want to choose “USB Mass Storage” and this will mount the drive to your desktop where you can easily browse the files.

When you are done downloading your files, just power down the camera and the USB cable will start to charge your camera. Having this built in memory means that if I forget to bring along a memory card I am still good to go. Yes, I have done that before and it wasn’t good!

Bright sunny days are no match for the dynamic range on tap…out of camera JPEG. These are right out of camera colors and they are SPOT ON. The last one of Debby is remarkable due to the Dynamic Range on tap. She was in the passenger seat and I aimed the camera at her, face detect found her in an instant and I framed and took one shot. 

The Experience. This is what the 907x is all about. 

Using this camera is an experience and it really did motivate me to do something I haven’t done in a long time. Get up early and head out for a road trip in search of something different to take photos of. I needed something that would show off the power of 100MP and instead of doing the same old same old landscape shots or test shots for resolution, my goal was to find one shot that I could print and hang on my wall. 

I woke up, took a shower and headed out with 907x 100c in hand. I jumped in my little 2 door Jeep Wrangler for a day of adventure and photo seeking with my wife Debby. I look for shots as I drive and when I find one I pull over, get out, frame the shot with the LCD as I feel the form of the body in my hand perfectly. I adjust exposure to my liking (using the optional grip) and press the shutter. I then move on.

I am not a guy who brings a tripod with him when out, as I shoot handheld but this camera would be right at home on a tripod taking a beautiful high res landscape. This will bring the max IQ for those kind of scenes.

What I love about shooting with this camera is the fact that it doesn’t have all of the crap stuffed into most cameras today. I mean, what is a camera for? TAKING PHOTOS! Todays mirrorless cameras almost do everything for you and make it impossible to capture a bad image. I remember a time when we had to work for the image using mechanical cameras. The 907x brings me back to that feeling and experience. I love it.

Sure, I can see portrait studios using this camera as it would be pretty awesome in that regard. I can see landscape shooters using this as the ultimate tool for capturing all of the detail in a scene. As I said, I see this as a life camera. One that can capture the scenes around you in life with beauty and realism. Making memories is what I use my cameras for mainly these days and this would be a Dream Camera for this purpose, for me. Overkill? Maybe but how important are YOUR memories from life?

For us, looking back at old times via photos is still a cherished experience. Making them as beautiful as I can is pretty cool but of course not necessary. It’s a dream ; )

Another shot of the old factory (out of camera color) and Debby walking through the woods where we live (adjusted for my tastes). The last image is an out of camera of Debby.  

Included. Not Included. 

The 907x 100c ships with the 907x body, the 100c back, the caps for all of that, one battery, one USB C cable and one plug in charger. There is also a mask to use with the older Hasselblad film cameras, for the viewfinder. Also a flash sync cable. Finally there is a camera strap included as well.

There is no physical battery charger that comes with the camera but there is one available to purchase. If I bought this beauty I would also pony up for the dual charger and an extra battery. You can get the dual charger HERE and an extra battery HERE.

Dynamic Range 

One thing that can really make an image just pop and look professional is when there is sufficient dynamic range. Meaning the highlights are not blown out or harsh and the shadows actually have information and details within them. The 907x 50c and X1DII had tremendous dynamic range. So much so that you could literally underexpose by several stops and save the image (if you shot RAW). Does the 100c offer the same kind of range?

OH YES, and it’s AWESOME.

Both are the same image. It was underexposed (the subject, my cat) on purpose to see if I could save it with minimal quality loss or noise. Take a look…

VS the X2D 100C?

So maybe you have decided to jump into medium format digital. Maybe you decided to go with Hasselblad for their simplicity, out of camera color and heritage/history. Which one do you go for? Both are, without question, stunning cameras that use the same sensor and bring the same quality of file.

I will say that I think most shooters who love a good DSLR feel will be happier with the X2D 100c as it has a traditional feel,  IBIS and an EVF which are all not part of the 907x. The X2D 100c is also a looker, and feels amazing in the hand.

It really comes down to the difference in experience and the design/looks.

When I am out with a 907x and there are people around me I always get asked what the heck I am shooting with. Most think it is an old film camera and others have no idea what it is. When I have been out with an X1d or X2D I have never been approached, even though that body is equally as beautiful, though bulkier

For me I would choose the 907x body as I simply love anything UNIQUE. The 907x 100c is unique in looks, feel, use and quality. With that said, I would not complain about the X2D 100c. Both are stunning cameras, just a bit different when using them.

Also, for things such as street shooting I would say the X2D would be a better choice. I can not see myself street shooting with a 907X but it can be done. The EVF would be very useful in street scenarios.

Both are superb image makers and can work well in a professional environment or for those of us who are passionate hobbyists. Those who love a quality camera that’s main focus in on taking a PHOTO.

Can’t go wrong with either. My advice is to go with your heart. 

Color and Detail are what this camera excels at

Crop Modes (are cool)

The 907x 100c also has a few crop modes that one can accomplish right in the camera. We can shoot at the native 645 size, 1:1, 16:9 and many more.

There is even an in camera setting for replicating the look of the old Hasselblad X-Pan camera.

This is pretty cool as it can be done in camera quickly and easily though I admit, I will probably never use this feature as I can crop the RAW file to my hearts content. This is one plus of having 100MP on tap, cropping power.

Even so, having these presets in the camera makes for an easy way of getting the crop you want without having to do anything.

Three quick snaps shot in Xpan mode. Out of camera JPG for all three. The 38 f/2.5 puts out a rather cinematic type of rendering. 

Ramblings

This review is not one that will showcase all that this camera is capable of.

I do not have an old 500 series film Hasselblad to try the 100c on so I will leave that to others to explore those options. I do not use flash (though the 907X ships with a flash sync cable) and I do not own a studio or do pro work anymore. I am just a guy who has loved making memories in all aspects of my life for as long as I can remember. I have been writing on these pages for 16 years now and while I have slowed down the content (by design) I still love and have never tired of taking photos. Especially when I get to take then with a camera like the 907X 100c.

All I want to do here is relay my experience with the camera and it is no secret that I love it to death just as I did the 50c (though I like this one even more).

As we drove through a town called St. Peters, IL we saw a fire while the temperature outside was -2 below zero. Hasselblad 907x 100c, with sone processing of the files. Both are crops, with the second image being a 100% crop, then resized down some. These were processed by me but look a bit HDR. I was seeing just how far the files could be manipulated. 

This is not a perfect camera, nor will it be the camera for everybody but it sure is one hell of a beautiful piece of gear. What the 907x does for me is make me want to take it out and shoot it, even when I have no goals in mind. I can not say the same for most cameras these days. I love my Nikon Z9 and use it 98% of the time for video as it is my main video maker these days. As a photo camera though it does not give me the same warm and fuzzies as the 907X 100c does nor can it compete in IQ or color. I love it for images as well but if I was choosing between the two to take with me for the day, I would almost always choose the 907x 100c.

A Very Quick and Dirty Comparison. Top with the Hasselblad 907x 100C and the bottom image with Nikon Zf and 20 f/1.8. Not the same focal length, no. With that said we can easily see the difference in the file quality, even when resized for web use. The Hasselblad shot is much richer, has more depth and dynamic range and also the color is spot on. The Nikon has a slight yellow cast, looks flatter and has less depth. This is the difference between a full frame 35mm sensor and a 645 sized sensor. Very easy to see which one has the superior quality. 

If I could dream for a bit I would say that this is my dream camera for 2024 and well, for life. If I could afford one with this 38 2.5 V lens it would be mine. I adore this combo. 

In my dream world I would own this and the X2D 100c. I would pick the camera for the mood or the shoot. I also am one who prefers the Hasselblad medium format options vs the Fuji options. I just never could gel with the feel of the Fuji bodies and yet I feel right at home with the Hasselblad. I am not knocking Fuji at all. It’s why we have so much choice, we all like different things. That’s OK.

1st, Traveling trough rural areas looking for the shot on a gloomy cold day, then one of our cats as I was testing indoor light focus and if you click on the 3rd image you can see a larger version

The Cons? 

There will always be cons with ANY camera. There is no camera made that will be perfect for everyone. The 907x 100c has one con that I can think of.  Out of the box there is no exposure lock function or button (that I can find) but we can unlock this feature by adding the 907x grip that has programmable buttons in addition to a shutter button.

Having to buy the grip for this feature seems weird but the grip does offer up four buttons, a joystick and that extra shutter button. I feel Hasselblad could have added an extra button or two somewhere for the body as myself and others I know prefer to shoot the 907x without the grip. With the grip it is a different feel but both are a joy to shoot. The grip did grow on me after a couple of weeks of use.

The grip is a $700 addition to the cost of the camera. I have had both here for weeks and I shot half the time with the grip and half without. I prefer without the grip for comfort and usability but the grip is also nice and allows me to carry the camera by the grip. The programmable buttons are also great to have as well.

Another con is that there is no real weather sealing here. I wouldn’t take this out in the pouring rain without a rain cover as these parts are all modular and have electrical connections. I did shoot in the rain but it was light rain, and of course I had no issues. I wouldn’t take it out in a downpour though ; )

The Old Homestead in the forest…

Conclusion

If you jumped here instead of reading all I wrote above then let me break it down quickly. 

The 907x 100c is indeed the most unique digital camera one can acquire today in 2024 in my opinion. It’s not an action camera or for sports. It’s one that will do well with static subjects such as landscapes, portraits, environmental portraits and well..LIFE. I do not see limits here as I see limitations as a way to strengthen your own skills. Rather than have the camera do it all for you, why not work at it a little? Slow down a little? This is what the 907x brings to the table. It motivates, it invigorates and its pride of ownership is off the charts.

This is a well made camera and the image quality is just as you would expect. Absolutely stunning and yes, you get that medium format feel from these and the 16 bit color and Dynamic Range is amazing. This sensor is remarkable. If I had the funds I would buy this camera along with the 38 f/2.5 V lens without hesitation. I will miss it when it goes back to Hasselblad but maybe one day, maybe.

WHERE TO BUY

You can buy the Hasselblad 907x 100c from B&H Photo HERE. This is the only shop I use (and have used for the last 30 years) for my Photo Gear. 

The lens I used is HERE.