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.
Landscape, Studio & Commercial — Sony A7R V (2022): 61 megapixels and 8-stop IBIS in a weather-sealed body — the reference resolution camera for commercial and landscape professionals.
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.
Who should buy what
Hasselblad X1D II 50C (2019)
Sony A7R V (2022)
A7S III (2020)
Quick take: The sony a7r v has the highest resolution at 61mp; the a7s iii is the most affordable; only the sony a7r v, a7s iii are weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Hasselblad X1D II 50C (2019) | Sony A7R V (2022) | A7S III (2020) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £3,999 | £3,899 | £2,999 |
| Sensor | 50MP medium-format CMOS (43.8 × 32.9mm) | 61MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS (12-bit, back-illuminated) |
| Resolution | 50.0MP | 61.0MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | None | 8K/25p, 4K/60p | 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/60p 10-bit S-Cinetone/S-Log3, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF | AI subject recognition AF, 693-point phase-detect | Phase-detect, 759 points, real-time Eye AF (human & animal), subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | None | 8-stop IBIS | 5.5-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 2.7fps | 10fps mechanical / 7fps electronic | 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | 370 shots (CIPA) | 530 shots (CIPA) | ~600 shots (CIPA) / ~70min continuous 4K recording |
| Weight | 766g body only | 723g body only | 699g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 148.0 × 97.0 × 73.8mm | 131.3 × 96.4 × 82.4mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.87" OLED EVF, 3.69M dots | 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots | OLED EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification — best EVF Sony has made |
| Screen | 3.6" touchscreen | 3.2" multi-angle touchscreen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.44M dots |
| Mount | Hasselblad XCD | Sony FE (E-mount) | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II (both slots) |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), full-size HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth |
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