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The Most Interesting Thing About the Nikon D1x vs Hasselblad X1D
“D” is digital. “X” is cool and mysterious. And “1” is, well, number one. Since the introduction of the Nikon D1x, camera manufacturers...
“D” is digital. “X” is cool and mysterious. And “1” is, well, number one. Since the introduction of the Nikon D1x, camera manufacturers have been riffing on these three letters. Canon has their 1D X, and most recently Hasselblad introduced the X1D. But how do all these cameras compare? Before you roll your eyes at what seems like a non-sensical comparison, read until the end!
Nikon D1x
Canon EOS-1D X
Hasselblad X1D
Year Introduced
2001
2012
2016
Sensor
5.3MP CCD
18.1MP CMOS
50MP CMOS
Sensor Size
23.7mm x 15.6mm (DX)
36mm x 24mm (Full-frame)
43.8mm x 32.9mm
Image Format
12-bit RAW
14-bit RAW
16-bit RAW
ISO Range
125-800
100-51200
100-25600
Shutter speed range
30s to 1/8000s
30s to 1/8000s
60 min to 1/2000s
Frame Rate
3 fps
14 fps
2.3 fps
Flash Sync
1/500s
1/250s
1/2000s
Video
none
Full HD (1920 x 1080)
Full HD (1920 x 1080)
Connectivity
IEEE1394 (Firewire), NTSC, PAL
USB 2.0, NTSC/PAL selectable, Mini HDMI
USB 3.0, Mini HDMI, WiFi 802.11ac
Weight
1100g
1530g
725g
MSRP
$6130
$5299
$8995
Even with this silly comparison, we can see some interesting trends. Sensor size, density and sensitivity have dramatically improved. Beyond that we see some real specialization start to emerge. The Canon 1D X is decidedly a sports/photojournalism camera which is now in its second incarnation (the 1D X Mark II), and features 4K video and better sensor sensitivity. The Hasselblad, by contrast, is breaking ground as a mirrorless medium format camera, predictably concerning itself with image fidelity.
But most surprising is the relatively narrow band of pricing for the cameras. You might be surprised to find that 2016’s $8995 Hasselblad is nearly identical in price to 2001’s Nikon adjusted for inflation ($8315). In other words, you’re getting a hell of a lot more camera for nearly the same price. This doesn’t make either camera “cheap” in absolute terms, but today’s sticker shock over a $9k camera might be a little misplaced.
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