While many recognize Hasselblad as the preferred camera of studio photographers — thanks to the impressive quality and detail that medium format provides — the iconic Swedish brand also has quite the history among adventure and landscape photographers. Nowhere better was this realized than during the Apollo 11 moon landing, when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin used a modified Hasselblad to photograph the momentous event. Hasselblad’s were used throughout the Apollo missions and today 11 cameras remain on the lunar surface, having been left behind to conserve weight for the return journey.
This new limited-edition release from Hasselblad doesn’t play directly into the lunar landing lineage, instead staying much closer to home, the new X2D 100C Earth Explorer was inspired by the Nordic landscapes of Hasselblad’s homeland.
Far more than just a camera, this release is an entire kit, comprised of the prized X2D 100C body – finished in a tundra brown hue – an XCD 55V lens, a limited edition strap, UV filter, X system battery charging hub and two X system batteries. This full kit ensures users are prepared to head off on their next adventure as soon as it arrives.
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Limited to only 1000 units worldwide, this special release celebrates those who travel to the earth’s extremities to capture the beauty of its natural landscapes. Something a Hasselblad camera particularly excels at, in part thanks to Hasselblad Natural Color Solution, a color management system that allows its cameras to render color in a particularly natural way.
While almost everything produced by Hasselblad takes on a refined and understated black and silver appearance, the usage of tundra brown on the Hasselblad X2D 100C Earth Explorer immediately denotes its purpose. The color itself, a blend of the grey-green of arctic vegetation combined with the deep-grown Scandinavian soil, reveals the camera is at home in the wilderness.
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This color continues to the limited-edition strap, which features eco-friendly recycled plastics that have been interlaced using traditional weaving techniques. Each individual Hasselblad X2D 100C Earth Explorer is laser engraved with “Earth Explorer” and a serial number ranging from 0001 to 1000. The special nature of this edition is also highlighted by the unique “Earth Explorer” startup screen, once the camera is turned on.
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Priced at $13,999 the X2D 100C Earth Explorer Limited Edition can be purchased either online or at selected retailers worldwide.
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