Hasselblad 907X CFV 100C Review: Everyday Carry Camera Insights

By Keith Wee on September 24, 2024

Introduction

Today, we touch on Part 3 of my reviews of the Hasselblad 907X, CFV 100C, and XCD2,5/38V setup. This should be the final in the series.

Part 1, a full review that is more detailed and technical, is here, with all the hands-on sharing and samples from different genres, while Part 2, with a focus on Portraiture, is here.

Parts 2 and 3 are more personal and more of a photo essay with much less text.

Hasselblad 907X, CFV 100C and XCD2,5/38V

The Hasselblad as an everyday moments camera

While it is common knowledge that the Hasselblad 907X, CFV 100C, and accompanying lenses are hardly the healthiest for one's bank account, I do not doubt that the system delivers what one pays for it in terms of output. In fact, Hasselblad's output through its propriety Natural Color System is tough to beat.

I do often hear the claim that the Hasselblad 907X CFV 100C is a studio only camera and I beg to differ from my experience.

Hasselblad 907X, CFV 100C and XCD2,5/38V

What defines an everyday carry camera?

We always hear photographers say EDC (every day carry) camera, but how many actually consider what defines an EDC camera?

To me, a camera that qualifies as an EDC should meet the criteria below, ranked from top to bottom in importance.

Portability: Lightweight, compact, and easy to carry daily in my walk-around bags or just slung across.

Image Quality: While most will say our camera phones are great, which I agree to a certain degree, phone cameras still have a way to go before matching the output of a proper camera.

Good Handling and User-friendly Interface: Easy-to-use settings, enabling quick captures without having to fiddle through layers of menus or having to set up for every shot, is a plus.

Autofocus and Speed: Decently fast and reliable autofocus to capture candid moments.

Durability: An important point is some resistance to everyday wear and tear, such as water or dust resistance when I hit the occasional bad weather or even when I decide to join in the fun I am documenting. This is especially true in Singapore, where we have approximately 160 days of rain annually.

Hasselblad 907X, CFV 100C and XCD2,5/38V

From the criteria listed above (based on my 2 cents), the Hasselblad 907X and CFV 100C camera, while never as portable as a Ricoh GR III camera, has an output quality that negates the size difference.

Of course, one can argue that the GR's image output is sufficient for most uses. Still, it is good to note that the comparison here is between an APSC 24MP sensor versus a cropped medium-format 102MP sensor, giving the latter much more latitude.

Once set up right, there is generally very little need for one to enter the menus while photographing.

Hasselblad 907X, CFV 100C and XCD2,5/38V

Handling-wise, the Hasselblad 907X CFV 100C is quite simple to manage once one has set up the camera right. It is intuitive to use once the photographer has gotten used to holding it due to its more unique design versus the standard DSLR-type bodies.

Holding the Hasselblad 907X CFV100C is indeed different from most modern cameras.

Hasselblad 907X, CFV 100C and XCD2,5/38V

Autofocus-wise, the Hasselblad series will never be as fast as a Sony Alpha 9 III camera (a 120 FPS monster), so we must consider what one is photographing.

For someone like me who goes for everyday candid moments, street photography, and posed portraiture, the autofocus performance of the Hasselblad 907X CFV 100C easily suffices.

A thing to note is I do wish that the Hasselblad 907X CFV 100C was a weather-resistant camera, which would have added a lot to its versatility. A very pleasant surprise was that due to the boxy design of the Hasselblad 907X CFV 100C, slotting it into my daily bags were really easy.

Conclusions

While most of us will have heard that Hasselblad medium-format cameras are to be found more in studios due to either their more unique designs or lack of auto-focus speed and designed only for the full-fledged top-tier professional photographer, I beg to differ and find them instead competent everyday carry cameras too, perfect for capturing the candid moment. (As long as one will not balk at the price tag).

I use my Leica M more often, and I plan to have the Hasselblad 907X system when my eyesight starts to fail me rangefinder use-wise.

Thank you for reading.

Disclaimers:

All product photos and samples here were photographed by me unless otherwise stated. I believe any reviewer with pride should produce their own product photos.

2. All images were shot with the Hasselblad 907X, CFV 100C, and XCD 2.5 / 38V, and the raw files were edited in LR CC Classic to my preferences.

3. This review is not sponsored, and the setup was returned to CLES Singapore, the local authorized distributor of Hasselblad.

4. I do not purchase affiliate links to keep myself neutral. I write as a passion and a hobby, and I appreciate that photography brands are kind enough to respect and work with me.

5. The best way to support me is to share the review, or you can always help support me by contributing to my fees to WordPress for the domain using the Paypal button at the bottom of the page.