Field Test: Hasselblad X2D + 75 P—53 Ballet Headshots, One Seamless Session

Last month I was commissioned to create professional headshots for 53 young ballet dancers preparing for their Spring Gala. Because the portraits would appear in the printed program, every dancer—and every parent—wanted nothing less than perfection.

Why Bring the Hasselblad?

For assignments like this I usually rely on my Sony A7 IV paired with a Tamron 35‑150 mm. It’s a fast, dependable workhorse.

This time, though, I packed my Hasselblad X2D 100C with the 75 P f/3.4. My thinking was simple: if the X2D performed the way I hoped, the dancers would get medium‑format magic; if it stumbled, I could fall back on the Sony without missing a beat.

Studio Setup

I arrived 30 minutes early to dial in the lighting: a straightforward two‑light configuration against a neutral gray backdrop. After metering and a quick test shot, I was ready.

Shutter: 1/320 s (no 1/125 s sync ceiling—hallelujah)

Aperture: f/4.5 for razor‑sharp eyes and gentle fall‑off

ISO: 64 for maximum dynamic range

Shooting Experience

The first dancer stepped in, I half‑pressed the shutter, and—pleasant surprise—the X2D snapped to her eye instantly. Face/eye AF held firm, and the enormous rear LCD made critical focus checks effortless.

Color straight out of camera was stunning, so I committed to the Hasselblad for the entire hour‑long session. By the time the last tutu twirled off set, all 53 dancers were photographed.

Post‑Processing: A Five‑Minute Job

Back home I loaded the files, and the preview alone made me grin:

Crystal‑clear detail with that trademark medium‑format “3‑D pop.”

Skin tones that needed almost no correction—Hasselblad’s color science is the real deal.

Zero blurred frames, thanks to the faster flash sync and improved AF (far snappier than the Fuji GFX bodies I used to own).

A few basic global tweaks, a quick batch process, slight crops, and the gallery was ready.

Hasselblad X2D 100c, X2D 75p, 1/320s, f/4.5, ISO 64

The Verdict

Parents loved the prints, the studio loved the program, and I loved how little time I spent in front of the computer. For controlled studio work, the Hasselblad X2D + 75 P proved to be a flawless combo—proof that medium format can keep pace with demanding, real‑world assignments.

If you’re on the fence about taking the X2D beyond passion projects, consider this your green light. It’s not just a beautiful camera; it’s a serious tool that delivers—job after job.