Hasselblad X2D 100c, Mushrooms and Macros

by Francesco Carucci February 03, 2023

Last week I ventured to one of my favorite photography spots in the Bay Area, Uvas Canyon, around Santa Cruz, with the goal of practicing with my new camera, the Hasselblad X2D 100c and the XCD 38mm lens, and shoot some material to use to work on my post processing skills.

For a practice shoot with a new camera I had no expectation to come out with any usable image.

Uvas Canyon is a hidden gem that is perfect for photography. With its breathtaking landscapes, diverse flora and fauna, and beautiful waterfalls, it's a photographer's paradise. From the rolling hills to the crystal-clear streams, every inch of this park is picture-perfect. The light filtering through the trees creates magical moments, making it ideal for capturing interesting images. With its serene atmosphere and abundance of natural wonders, Uvas Canyon is a must-visit for any photographer looking for their next image or to just practice without having to chase a sunset.

Uvas Canyon waterfall

For good measure, I also threw in the camera bag my trusted Sony a7R IV, a macro lens and a flash just in case, after the abundant rainfalls of the last few weeks, I would find mushrooms eager to pose for me for macro photography.

This would be my first time shooting macro in the field, that's not my genre: a good chance to get out my comfort zone and look for more inspiration.

The Hasselblad X2D 100c worked wonderfully: it's a joy to use, the workflow is very streamlined, taking advantage of the minimalistic interface. Every option was where I was expecting it to be and even if I wasn't relying on muscle memory, working with it in the field felt natural and straight forward, letting me focus on composition more than using the camera.

The result is this shot of a waterfall that I later post processed in Lightroom and Photoshop.

The image quality out of this camera is marvelous, the colors are rendered accurately and beautifully, requiring very little tweaking afterwards. The details out of the 100MP sensor are just mind blowing.

So far I'm delighted and I'm looking forward to using the X2D 100c in the next trips: the highlight will be returning in spring to White Sands desert in New Mexico.

I also found a couple of relatively photogenic mushrooms. I’m not an expert in this field so, please, don’t judge this first couple of images too harshly.

Mushroom macro photography has been a little fun adventure. It's exciting to capture the beauty and intricate details of these fascinating organisms. Experimenting with a new camera has been a learning experience and has helped me appreciate the capabilities of this wonderful piece of equipment built by hand in Sweden.