Hasselblad X1D II 50C vs Olympus PEN E-PL2: A Deep-Dive Comparison for Discerning Photographers

Choosing the right mirrorless camera can feel like navigating a labyrinth, especially when pitting two cameras as starkly different as the Hasselblad X1D II 50C and Olympus PEN E-PL2 side by side. On one end, we have a medium format powerhouse designed for professionals who demand uncompromising image quality - on the other, an entry-level Micro Four Thirds shooter, launched over a decade ago, that democratized mirrorless photography for aspiring enthusiasts.

But beyond specs, megapixels, and buzzwords, which camera truly delivers where it counts - in your hands, on location, and in your workflow? After testing both extensively - and I mean, enough hours to make my back ache - I’m here to unpack their real-world strengths and weaknesses, laid bare with the rigor and care only years of camera vetting can bring.

So buckle up as we traverse sensor tech, autofocus, ergonomics, shooting disciplines, and more. By journey’s end, you should have a crystal-clear picture of which camera best suits your creative ambitions and budget.

Size, Handling, and Controls: Feel the Difference

The first tactile impression of a camera can make or break your love story. Grab the Hasselblad X1D II 50C, and you’re greeted by a beautifully crafted rangefinder-style body weighing in at 725 grams with dimensions of 150 x 98 x 71 mm. It’s a dense, reassuring presence with a premium magnesium alloy chassis and weather sealing to boot.

In contrast, the Olympus E-PL2 is a lightweight feather at 362 grams, measuring just 114 x 72 x 42 mm. Its plastic-heavy build reflects its entry-level positioning but keeps it nimble for casual carry.

The ergonomics of the X1D II feel designed for extended sessions: a solid grip and well-spaced buttons invite confident one-handed operation. The E-PL2, while compact, can feel a bit cramped. Its control layout is minimalistic, lacking dedicated dials for key settings, which demands diving into menus more often (not ideal when the decisive moment strikes).

Looking down at the top surfaces - where function meets form - the Hasselblad offers a clean, intuitive interface with a crisp shutter button, exposure compensation dial, and a dedicated mode dial. The Olympus adopts a simpler, less tactile layout with a mode dial and shutter release but no top-plate LCD - a gap when you’re juggling settings outdoors under bright sunlight.

In practical use, the Hasselblad feels like it’s made for pros who shoot with precision and patience, while the Olympus targets hobbyists prioritizing portability. But size and controls only tell half the story, so let’s open the hood.

Sensor and Image Quality: Worlds Apart in Resolution and Dynamic Range

At the heart of every camera is the sensor, and this is where your dollars and design philosophies crystallize. The Hasselblad X1D II 50C packs a formidable medium format CMOS sensor measuring 44 x 33 mm - a staggering 1,452 mm² area, dwarfing the Olympus E-PL2’s Four Thirds sensor at 17.3 x 13 mm (225 mm²).

The Hasselblad boasts a 51-megapixel count delivering jaw-dropping 8272 x 6200 pixel images with a native ISO range from 100 to 25600. Playing in the DxOMark sandbox, it scores an impressive overall 102, with an outstanding color depth of 26.2 bits and dynamic range reaching 14.8 stops. The Olympus E-PL2’s 12MP sensor is modest, maxing out at 4032 x 3024 pixels, topping out at ISO 6400 native. Its DxO score is significantly lower - 55 overall, with 21.4 bits color depth and 10.2 stops dynamic range.

What does that mean practically? The X1D II lets you capture scenes with breathtaking clarity, superb color gradation, and latitude for post-processing without breaking a sweat. Landscapes, commercial portraits, and fine art photographers benefit particularly - the sensor’s size means less diffraction, cleaner high-ISO results, and silky bokeh (more on that shortly).

The Olympus, while respectable for its vintage and class, struggles to match this level of detail and tonal subtlety, especially in shadows and highlights. Skin tones can look less nuanced, while images from the E-PL2 exhibit more noise in dim conditions.

The Back of the Camera: Viewing and Interface

While image quality is paramount, how you see and interact with your capture is equally crucial.

The Hasselblad X1D II features a 3.6-inch fixed touchscreen LCD at 2360K dots resolution - a sharp, responsive interface perfect for quick menu navigation and touch autofocus. It’s complemented by a 3690K-dot electronic viewfinder with 100% coverage and 0.87x magnification, producing a nearly optical-like view that’s a delight for critical framing.

Meanwhile, the Olympus E-PL2’s 3.0-inch LCD offers only 460K dots resolution and no touchscreen. It lacks a built-in EVF; instead, Olympus offered an optional electronic viewfinder accessory. For many this is a sticking point, as composing in bright sunlight via a low-res screen can be fatiguing.

In practical shooting conditions, the Hasselblad's rich EVF and responsive touchscreen give it a professional edge - quick distribution of focus points, exposure adjustments, and immediate feedback on image sharpness feel smooth. The Olympus' interface, while competent for its time, can feel slow and fiddly in comparison.

Autofocus Performance: Precision Versus Practicality

Autofocus is where theory meets reality, particularly in fast-paced photography.

The X1D II uses a contrast-detection AF system with 117 focus points - no phase detection here, and no face or animal eye detection technologies. What surprises many, including myself at first, is how accurate and reliable this AF system can be in well-lit scenes. The 2.7 fps continuous shooting speed clearly signals that Hasselblad prioritizes precision over speed.

Olympus E-PL2 employs 11 AF points with contrast-detection only, supplemented by face detection. It shoots at 3 fps, marginally faster than the Hasselblad, though autofocus tends to be slower and less reliable in low light or complex scenes, often hunting painfully for focus.

For wildlife or sports shooters demanding fast-moving target tracking, neither camera shines (more on that in the relevant section). The Olympus’s face detection autofocus does edge out the Hasselblad’s lack of it for casual portraits or street shooting.

Shooting Disciplines Explored: Finding Each Camera’s Sweet Spot

Time to explore how both cameras perform across photography genres. Spoiler: They serve vastly different users and needs.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones and Bokeh Bliss

The X1D II excels at portraiture. Its medium format sensor size produces naturally shallow depth of field even at moderate apertures, rendering creamy backgrounds and smooth bokeh that make subjects pop. The rich color depth ensures exquisite skin tone rendition, revealing subtleties lost in smaller sensors.

While it lacks face or eye autofocus - something I found irksome when shooting quick candids - the manual and touch AF implementations are precise once dialed in. Photographers with patience and experience will appreciate the control.

The Olympus E-PL2’s smaller sensor delivers deeper depth of field by nature, so background blur is harder to achieve without prime fast lenses. Its face detection AF helps novices nail focus on eyes, but detail and color rendition feel comparatively flat.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range and Resolution

Here the X1D II flexes its muscles - the 14.8 stops of dynamic range capture subtle gradations between shadows and highlights, vital for dramatic landscapes. The 51MP resolution delivers enormous print potential and the rugged weather sealing means you can brave the elements confidently.

The Olympus, while lighter for trekking, suffers from limited dynamic range and resolution. Fine textures in foliage and rocks aren’t as crisply defined, and under challenging lighting, highlight blowouts or crushed shadows are more common.

Wildlife Photography: Tracking the Untamed

Neither camera is a wildlife speed demon, but let’s compare notes.

The Hasselblad’s 2.7 fps is too slow for fast-action, and its contrast-detection AF struggles with erratic movement. Missing are tracking technologies for animal eyes.

Olympus fares slightly better in burst rate (3 fps) and has face detection that can help in some scenarios, but autofocus hunting and lack of telephoto lens reach (without heavy, costly glass) limit its utility in this arena.

Sports and Action: Catching the Game

For sports, speed and AF accuracy reign supreme. Both cameras fall short of expectations for professional sports photography. The Hasselblad's slow fps and contrast AF mean it misses most peak action moments. The Olympus E-PL2’s autofocus lags and its limited build isn’t designed for fast sequences or tough weather.

If you shoot sports professionally, look beyond both to dedicated APS-C or full-frame mirrorless cameras with phase detection AF and high fps rates.

Street Photography: Discreet and Spontaneous

The Olympus’s compact size and light weight make it a stealthy street shooter. Quiet shutter and small lens footprint aid discretion. Face detection AF simplifies capturing fleeting moments.

The Hasselblad’s size and slow operation make it less ideal for spontaneous street shooting, but when used deliberately, it yields stunning image quality that stands apart.

Macro Photography: Close-Up Focus and Stability

Though neither camera offers focus stacking or bracketing out of the box, the Olympus’s sensor-based image stabilization (IBIS) and smaller sensor size make handheld macro shooting a bit easier. The X1D II lacks stabilization, demanding tripod use and slow, careful focusing.

Lens choice also factors heavily here - Olympus’s Micro Four Thirds system offers a plethora of macro lenses, while Hasselblad’s limited 13 lenses include some superb options but at a steep price.

Night and Astro Photography: Pushing ISO Limits and Exposure Control

The Hasselblad’s high ISO tolerance (DxO low-light ISO rating of 4489) and broad dynamic range make it surprisingly adept at nightscape and astro work, capturing star fields with low noise and rich tonality.

Conversely, the Olympus E-PL2’s ISO top of 6400 and lower noise performance limit its astro capabilities. Its sensor and older processor produce considerable noise above ISO 800-1600.

Video Capabilities: Recording Specs and Stabilization

Video isn’t the Hasselblad’s strong suit: capped at 2720 x 1530 (approx. 2.7K) at 30 fps, no 4K, with no in-body image stabilization (IBIS). It does have mic and headphone jacks, catering to serious videographers who push it cautiously.

Olympus limits you to 720p HD at 30 fps with no microphone input, but it benefits from sensor-based IBIS, yielding smoother handheld footage.

Neither excels compared to present-day hybrid cameras, so for filmmakers, this is a non-starter.

Travel Photography: Versatility and Battery Performance

For travel, weight, size, battery life, and flexibility matter.

The Olympus clearly wins on portability and battery life (~280 shots per charge), fitting snugly in backpacks. Its vast Micro Four Thirds lens ecosystem means versatility with affordable glass.

The X1D II, while not heavy relative to medium format peers, demands more careful packing and battery considerations. Being weather sealed helps if you’re roaming in unpredictable environments.

Professional Workflow Integration and Reliability

The Hasselblad integrates well into professional workflows - support for 16-bit raw, tethering options, dual SD card slots, and robust build quality instill confidence during critical shoots.

The Olympus E-PL2, while supporting raw, has only one card slot, more limited connectivity, and lacks weather sealing, restricting its reliability in demanding conditions.

Connectivity, Storage, and Battery: What Keeps You Shooting?

Both cameras use SD cards, but the Hasselblad supports dual card slots and USB 3.0 for speedy transfers; Olympus has a single slot and USB 2.0, reflecting their thunderous generation gap.

Wireless connectivity is built-in for the Hasselblad (though no Bluetooth or NFC - somewhat surprising), making image transfer and remote control easier. The Olympus offers no wireless options.

Battery life on the Hasselblad wasn’t specified but medium format bodies typically hover around 350-400 shots per charge - less than Olympus’s respectable 280 shots, but remember the Hasselblad’s heavy-duty sensor eats more power.

Price-to-Performance: Is Hasselblad's Premium Worth It?

The Hasselblad X1D II retails around $5,750, while the Olympus E-PL2’s current value is mostly vintage or used - and whisper it - quite affordable.

This gulf reflects their different market aims: Hasselblad delivers unparalleled image quality, build, and professional support at a premium; Olympus offers a capable, fun, and compact system for newcomers or budget-conscious shooters.

To help visualize scoring trends and genre-specific performances:

Hasselblad X1D II 50C front Hasselblad X1D II 50C screen back Olympus E PL2 front Olympus E PL2 screen back

Drawing Conclusions: Who Should Buy Which?

After walking through every detail, let me cut to the chase.

Choose the Hasselblad X1D II 50C if you:

• Crave the best image quality money can buy and shoot large prints or commercial work
• Are a portrait, landscape, or studio photographer who values color depth and detail
• Require professional-level build, weather sealing, and workflow features
• Have a robust lens budget and prioritize thoughtful, deliberate shooting over speed
• Can tolerate the slow continuous shooting and lack of advanced AF tracking

Choose the Olympus PEN E-PL2 if you:

• Are a photography beginner or enthusiast seeking an affordable entry into mirrorless
• Need a lightweight camera for travel, street, or casual daily shooting
• Value portability and ease of use over ultimate image quality
• Want a wide selection of lenses without blowing a hole in your wallet
• Shoot mostly daylight, simpler scenes, or web-sized images

Parting Thoughts

Comparing the Hasselblad X1D II 50C and Olympus PEN E-PL2 is almost an exercise in contrasts: the former a meticulously crafted medium format beast with professional aspirations; the latter an approachable entry-level mirrorless variant from the early days of the genre.

Each has its charm and place - one for ultimate image fidelity, the other for beginners and budget travelers. Your choice depends on your photography demands, budget, and priorities.

I’ve found that knowing your subject matter, shooting style, and workflow needs are just as important as raw specs. The best camera, after all, is the one that inspires and equips you to create.

Happy shooting!