My favorite camera for 2025 was the finest stills camera I’ve ever held — the stunning Hasselblad X2D II

My favorite camera for 2025 was the finest stills camera I’ve ever held - the stunning Hasselblad X2D II Features (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Tim Coleman) Timothy Coleman published A mighty medium-format camera that improved on its predecessor in all the right ways If you ask me which of the many cameras I tested and reviewed in 2025 was the hardest to return at the end of my loan period, there’s one model that stands out: the gorgeous Hasselblad X2D 100C II . And that’s saying something considering that I also reviewed several other stunners this year, including the Fujifilm X-E5 , Sony A1 II , OM System OM-3 , Sigma BF , Panasonic Lumix S1 II , Leica M-EV1 and Nikon ZR . Not only is the X2D II the finest camera for photography ever made - that is if outright image quality is your top priority - but it also saw a huge price drop from its predecessor, which bucked an unwelcome industry-wide rise in prices. Yes, $7,399 / £6,400 / AU$12,650 is still mega pricey, but Hasselblad is moving in the right direction, and competing with Fujifilm 's GFX line. Hasselblad also unveiled a stunning zoom lens alongside the camera: the XCD 35-100mm F2.8-4 E, which was the lens I tested the camera with. They're a formidable pairing, especially for landscape and portrait photography. So what is it that makes the X2D II such a special professional camera - especially considering its limitations, which include no video recording and no color profile choice? Let me explain why it was such heartbreak so say goodbye to the X2D II, and why it now tops my wishlist. Unparalleled design I was already a fan of the original Hasselblad X2D, with its stunning minimalist design, pronounced grip, and large touchscreen. Put simply, no other brand makes premium cameras like Hasselblad. Having used the X2D, I was right at home with the X2D II, but it includes two highly useful design upgrades - there's now an AF joystick, while the large tilt touchscreen can be pulled away from the body, clear from the viewfinder hump for unimpeded viewing. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. The touchscreen performs flawlessly, with smartphone-like responsiveness, while the stripped-back menus are refreshingly uncluttered, even with subject-detection autofocus options entering the fray. Having the choice between storing images on an internal 1TB SSD or CFExpress Type B card is super-handy too. Considering the large 44 x 33mm sensor size (full-frame is 36 x 24mm), X2D cameras are impressively compact, lightweight and always premium-quality. Unmatched photo quality No other cameras...

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