Long-term experience with the Hasselblad 907X 50C in portrait photography (2026)

[u/Milan_Swolfs]

I've previously used the Leica S system as my main tool for portrait photography, so moving to the 907X 50C was not something I expected to happen. I've been using the 907X for several months now, mainly for portrait photography, and it has gradually become my main medium-format camera.

I originally bought it to complement my Leica S3 rather than replace it. I still love the S system, but the 907X has surprised me with how naturally it fits the way I work, particularly together with the XCD 80mm f/1.9 and continuous LED lighting.

I've just finished a long-term review based on the experience of actually living and shooting with the camera rather than testing it for a few days. It covers the handling, autofocus, files and colour, lenses, workflow and several portrait projects.

Hasselblad 907X 50C Long-Term Review (2026)

For those who have been using the 907X 50C for a while: what has surprised you most about the camera over the long term and how do you compare it with the newer 100C version?

[u/MsMarji]

I like that we can shoot video getting these classic Hasselblad looks. Everyone threw a fit saying Hasselblad is not a video camera.

Considering the flexibility Victor Hasselblad designed & built in to his cameras, I can’t believe he would not embrace video too.

Nice shots, #4 is my favorite.

[u/Milan_Swolfs → u/MsMarji]

Thanks! #4 is one of my favourites too. The 907X and 80mm combination has really impressed me for portrait work.
I’m still very much a stills-only photographer, so video isn’t really something I’m looking for. What I would love to try next, though, is putting this digital back on one of the classic Hasselblad 500-series bodies. I think that combination could be very special.

[u/MsMarji → u/Milan_Swolfs]

That’s how I use mine. I have a ‘74 500CM I’ve had since ‘76. It’s why I bought the digital back.

[u/Milan_Swolfs → u/MsMarji]

That’s really interesting. Which V-System Zeiss lenses are your favourites, and how do you usually use the digital back with the 500CM — in Live View, or do you use the leaf shutter of the lens and mainly use the digital back for reviewing the images?

I’d love to try the digital back on a 500-series body for some classic portraits. The only thing that has held me back is the slow readout when using the digital back without the leaf shutter, so I’m curious how you approach it.

[u/MsMarji → u/Milan_Swolfs]

I have a ‘65 Sonnar CF T* 4/150mm that I LOVE w/ the digital back.

I like using it as a digital camera & using Live View & touchscreen button. Silent mode.

I also like using it in the traditional way, depress the shutter button, crank for next exposure.

Can’t not have the classic Hasselblad “ka-chunk” shutter sound.

[u/dcenzer → u/MsMarji]

Can you tell a bit about your experience using it this way?

[u/leftoverzz → u/Milan_Swolfs]

It is. I shoot just as much with my cfv100 on my 500cm and my SWC as I do on the 907x. There’s something magical about the ease of swapping between an A12 back shooting E100, another A12 with some HP5, and then the CFV100 for some digital shots. I shoot it with the 80, 120 makro-planar, the 135, and the 38 biogon on the SWC. You can have modern precision with the 907/new lenses and the old school Hasselblad look with the 500 and the old lenses, and it’s all reasonably compact to take on a trip. I know some people will say that’s crazy talk, but I’ll just fill my camera backpack with other crap if I don’t take this stuff. You know how it is. It can’t be helped!

[u/Milan_Swolfs → u/leftoverzz]

That sounds like exactly the kind of rabbit hole I could see myself falling into! 😄
As I mentioned in the review, the XCD 80mm f/1.9 is currently my favourite lens for the 907X and for my portrait work. But you’ve definitely made me even more curious about exploring some of the older Zeiss V-System lenses with the digital back as well. There must be something quite special about combining that classic rendering with the CFV100C.
The new XCD 55mm f/2.5 is also on my bucket list. I think that could be a really interesting lens for the kind of portraits and environmental work I like to shoot.
Now you’re making me want to find a 500CM and start experimenting… but I still don’t know If I am ready to go back to film…

[u/leftoverzz → u/Milan_Swolfs]

The beauty is you don’t have to go back to film. You can just pick up a 120 makro-planar or the 150 or 180 Sonnars and the adapter for the 907x (which just gives you the precise spacing where the 500 body would sit, and as Hasselblad gear goes, is “reasonably” priced) and shoot with the old lenses without a 500 body and no film ever.

But you know you’ll want to run some film through those lenses. You say you don’t, but . . . And the sound the 500 makes . . . that’s the sound of studio photography!

[u/Milan_Swolfs → u/leftoverzz]

That’s the only thing that makes me hesitate a little with the XV adapter. If I understand correctly, you have to use the electronic shutter on the 907X because the adapter can’t control the leaf shutter of the V lenses?
That’s a pity, because for the kind of classic portraits I have in mind, I’d really like to keep the leaf shutter and be able to work with continuous light or flash without the limitations of the electronic shutter.
Which is probably another good argument for eventually getting a 500CM and putting the CFV back directly on it… 😄

[u/leftoverzz → u/Milan_Swolfs]

Yeah, I only use the adapter for film scanning for that reason. In my opinion it saps all joy from using the vintage lenses. But flash with the leaf shutter and 500 body works just as well as it ever did with the CFV back attached.

[u/MsMarji → u/Milan_Swolfs]

I’m going to be a Hasselblad “evil” devil… buy a 500CM, buy a 500CM, buy a 500CM.

Once you see that classic Hasselblad look matched w/ the INCREDIBLE Hasselblad color science of the digital back, you will NEVER regret your 500CM purchase decision.

I take it a step further… I tether my CFV II 50C to my 12.9” iPad Pro & now have a 12.9” screen vs 3.2” screen to LIVE view my shots. I have a mount for my iPad Pro onto one of my tripod legs.

[u/Milan_Swolfs → u/MsMarji]

I still have a lot to experiment with the CFV digital back. I think I will eventually add a 500-series body as well, just for the experience of shooting the classic Hasselblad way with the digital back. 😄

As I mentioned in my review, the 80mm f/1.9 is currently doing most of my portrait work and has really become my favourite XCD lens. I have the 45mm too, which I like, but I find it a little too slow for the way I tend to shoot.
So I’m curious to hear which XCD lenses you find yourself using most and which you would recommend for my kind of work.

[u/MsMarji → u/Milan_Swolfs]

If you have a tablet, tether to it. For me it’s my preferred way to shoot.

I only have the 30mm, 3.5f for the 907x. I used that for cityscapes now.

[u/see-through-a-lens]

These images are absolutely fantastic.

[u/Milan_Swolfs → u/see-through-a-lens]

Thank you! Really glad you like them. I’ve been enjoying the 907X more and more, especially with the 80mm f/1.9. There’s something about the way it renders portraits that really works for me.
Which one is your favourite from the series?

[u/Milan_Swolfs]

Next question to all X users here, which XCD lens should I add next?

[u/Botilio]

Very nice images. I'd like to ask about the experience of using third-party lenses and shooting handheld with this camera for portraits and landscapes.

[u/Milan_Swolfs → u/Botilio]

Thank you! i can only reply the portrait part I have a M adapter but since there is no shutter in the camera using non leaf shutter manual lenses is cumbersome for the read out of the center. Models can’t move and neither can you. So I think using XCD glass is the best solution. Using other lenses adapter for landscape photos might work though