Hasselblad X1D II 50Cvs Z30vs Nikon Z8
Hasselblad
Hasselblad X1D II 50C (2019)
From £3999
Best for Fine art, portrait & entry-level medium format
View Hasselblad X1D II 50C
Which should you buy?
Fine Art, Portrait & Entry-Level Medium Format — Hasselblad X1D II 50C (2019): The most accessible Hasselblad XCD body — 50MP medium-format quality for those who cannot stretch to the X2D 100C.
Travel & Everyday Video — Z30 (2022): Nikon's lightest Z-mount body — no fuss, excellent subject tracking, and a flip screen for creators.
Sports, Wildlife & Hybrid Professionals — Nikon Z8 (2023): Z9 performance in a compact body — 45MP, 8K/60p RAW, and 20fps burst without the bulk or price of the flagship.
Who should buy what
Hasselblad X1D II 50C (2019)
- You want Hasselblad's legendary colour rendition in a modern mirrorless body
- You shoot portrait, landscape, or fine art photography at a professional level
- You value the camera as an object — aesthetics and build quality matter as much as specs
Z30 (2022)
- You create video content and want reliable Nikon colour science in a compact body
- You don't need a viewfinder and prioritise the vari-angle flip screen
- You're starting out with interchangeable lenses for content creation on a budget
Nikon Z8 (2023)
- You need Z9-level performance in a more travel-friendly and portable body
- You shoot wildlife, weddings, or sport and need exceptional resolution with speed
- You want the best Nikon mirrorless body available without carrying the full Z9
Quick take: The hasselblad x1d ii 50c has the highest resolution at 50mp; the z30 is the most affordable; only the nikon z8 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Hasselblad X1D II 50C (2019) | Z30 (2022) | Nikon Z8 (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £3,999 | £479 | £3,999 |
| Sensor | 50MP medium-format CMOS (43.8 × 32.9mm) | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS | 45.7MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS |
| Resolution | 50.0MP | 20.9MP | 45.7MP |
| Video | None | 4K/30p, 4K/60p (with crop), 1080p/120p | 8K/60p RAW, 4K/120p, ProRes RAW |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF | Phase-detect, 209 points, subject tracking (human/animal/vehicle) | Subject detection AF, 493-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | None | None (no IBIS) | 6-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 2.7fps | 11fps | 20fps RAW / 120fps JPEG |
| Battery Life | 370 shots (CIPA) | ~300 shots (CIPA) | 330 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 766g body only | 405g body only | 910g body only |
| Dimensions | 148.0 × 97.0 × 73.8mm | 127.5 × 73.5 × 59.5mm | 144.0 × 118.5 × 83.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.87" OLED EVF, 3.69M dots | None | 0.5" Quad-VGA OLED EVF, 3.69M dots, 120fps |
| Screen | 3.6" touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Hasselblad XCD | Nikon Z-mount | Nikon Z-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual CFexpress Type B / XQD |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic input, micro HDMI | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth |
Compare pairs from this group