Hasselblad X1D II 50Cvs Z5 IIvs A7S III

GearFrame · Updated March 2026

Hasselblad Hasselblad X1D II 50C Hasselblad Hasselblad X1D II 50C (2019) From £3999 Best for Fine art, portrait & entry-level medium format View Hasselblad X1D II 50C
VS
Nikon Z5 II Nikon Z5 II (2024) From £1299 Best for Full-frame value View Z5 II
VS
Sony A7S III Sony A7S III (2020) From £2999 Best for Professional video & low-light filmmaking View A7S III

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.

Full-Frame Value — Z5 II (2024): The most accessible full-frame mirrorless — dual card slots, weather sealing, and Nikon colour at a sensible price.

Professional Video & Low-Light Filmmaking — A7S III (2020): If video is your primary discipline, the A7S III is the camera. 4K/120p at 10-bit in a weather-sealed body with a 9.44M dot EVF is an extraordinary package. The 12MP sensor isn't limiting for video — and it's usable at ISO 409,600 in a pinch.

↓ Full specifications below

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

Z5 II (2024)

  • You want full-frame image quality at the lowest possible entry price
  • You shoot stills primarily — portrait, landscape, or travel
  • You're upgrading from a DSLR and want a familiar but thoroughly modern Nikon experience

A7S III (2020)

  • Filmmakers and videographers who need 4K/120p at 10-bit
  • Event videographers who shoot in dark venues regularly
  • Documentary filmmakers who need reliable AF and weather sealing
  • Hybrid shooters where video is primary and stills are secondary

Quick take: The hasselblad x1d ii 50c has the highest resolution at 50mp; the z5 ii is the most affordable; only the z5 ii, a7s iii are weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.

Full specifications

Specification Hasselblad X1D II 50C (2019)Z5 II (2024)A7S III (2020)
Price £3,999 £1,299 £2,999
Sensor 50MP medium-format CMOS (43.8 × 32.9mm) 24.5MP Full-frame BSI CMOS 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS (12-bit, back-illuminated)
Resolution 50.0MP 24.5MP 12.1MP
Video None 4K/30p oversampled, 1080p/120p, N-Log 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/60p 10-bit S-Cinetone/S-Log3, 1080p/240p
Autofocus Contrast-detect AF Phase-detect, 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle) Phase-detect, 759 points, real-time Eye AF (human & animal), subject recognition
Stabilisation None 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops 5.5-stop IBIS
Burst Rate 2.7fps 14fps mechanical, 30fps electronic 10fps mechanical
Battery Life 370 shots (CIPA) ~470 shots (CIPA) ~600 shots (CIPA) / ~70min continuous 4K recording
Weight 766g body only 700g body only 699g (body, battery, card)
Dimensions 148.0 × 97.0 × 73.8mm 134.0 × 100.5 × 69.9mm 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm
Weather Sealed No Yes Yes
Viewfinder 0.87" OLED EVF, 3.69M dots EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification OLED EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification — best EVF Sony has made
Screen 3.6" touchscreen 3.2" tilting touchscreen 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.44M dots
Mount Hasselblad XCD Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) Sony E-mount
Memory Cards Dual SD UHS-II Dual SD UHS-II slots Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II (both slots)
Connectivity USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth USB-C 3.2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), full-size HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth
⚡ Compare specs side by side Hasselblad X1D II 50C prices → Z5 II prices → A7S III prices →

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