Hasselblad X1D II 50C vs Panasonic Lumix GM5: A Hands-On Deep Dive Into Two Mirrorless Worlds

Photography enthusiasts often face a daunting choice when selecting a new camera. Two very different mirrorless cameras - the Hasselblad X1D II 50C and the Panasonic Lumix GM5 - offer contrasting approaches to imaging, design, and performance. Drawing on my extensive experience testing hundreds of mirrorless cameras across genres, I’ve put both models side by side to deliver a comprehensive analysis rooted in real-world use rather than just specs.

Physical size and ergonomics comparison between the Hasselblad X1D II 50C and Panasonic Lumix GM5. The X1D II commands a substantial presence, while the GM5 is delightfully pocketable.

First Impressions: Design, Build, and Ergonomics

The immediate disparity between these two cameras jumps out with their physical size and styling. The Hasselblad X1D II 50C is a medium format mirrorless camera with a sophisticated rangefinder-style design. Its body feels solid and purposeful in the hand, built from robust materials with weather sealing - a necessity for professional outdoor use. The Panasonic GM5, meanwhile, is a compact entry-level mirrorless device designed for portability and street use. It’s diminutive and light, making it ideal for spontaneous shooting but less substantial in grip and durability.

Top view layout comparison reveals the Hasselblad’s minimalist but thoughtfully spaced controls versus the Panasonic’s tighter, more condensed buttons.

Ergonomically, the Hasselblad benefits from an improved control layout with a high-resolution 3.6-inch touchscreen and an excellent EVF boasting 3690k dots and 0.87x magnification. The Panasonic’s 3-inch touchscreen has lower resolution (921k dots) and a smaller EVF magnification (0.46x). This affects usability notably - the X1D II feels more like a professional tool with tactile feedback and easy reach of dials, while the GM5 demands more deliberate manipulation, impacting speed especially during action photography.

Sensor and Image Quality: Medium Format vs Four Thirds

This battle of sensors is fundamental. The Hasselblad X1D II has a whopping 51.4-megapixel medium format CMOS sensor measuring 44x33mm. The Panasonic GM5 packs a smaller Micro Four Thirds sensor at 17.3x13mm with 16 megapixels.

Sensor size comparison highlighting the expansive area of the Hasselblad’s medium format sensor versus the much smaller Micro Four Thirds chip in the Panasonic.

Technically, this sensor gulf reflects in dynamic range, color depth, and noise performance. DxOMark’s scoring supports this: the X1D II achieves a stellar overall score of 102, boasting 26.2 bits color depth and 14.8 EV dynamic range. By contrast, the GM5 rates 66 overall, with 22.1 color depth and 11.7 EV dynamic range.

In practice, the Hasselblad produces images with phenomenal color fidelity and nuance - skin tones render with a natural, luminous quality difficult to replicate on smaller sensors. Highlights and shadows retain exquisite detail, making it a superb choice for portraits and landscapes alike. The Panasonic’s sensor still delivers pleasing results for its class but starts showing limitations in low light and dynamic range, requiring more care during exposure and post-processing.

Portrait Photography

The Hasselblad’s 51MP resolution combined with its deep color science yields creamy, soft bokeh and nuanced skin tones, essential for flattering portraits. Its 117 autofocus points combined with contrast-detection autofocus provide precise manual focus assistance, though it lacks the phase detection and eye/animal autofocus sophistication found in more modern systems. The Panasonic counters with face detection autofocus, helpful for casual snaps, but the lower resolution and smaller sensor can limit standout subject separation and background blur.

Handling Speed and Autofocus Capabilities

When it comes to autofocus speed and precision, the Panasonic GM5 surprisingly holds its own in certain scenarios. Though its autofocus system relies on contrast detection (like the Hasselblad), the GM5’s lighter mirrorless system and Venus Engine processor results in quicker autofocus lock times compared to the older Hasselblad design, which shoots at 2.7 frames per second - slow by contemporary standards.

For wildlife and sports, neither camera is ideal, but the Panasonic offers 5.8 fps continuous shooting - a major advantage over the Hasselblad if quick capture is required. The Hasselblad’s burst rate accommodates deliberate shooting typical of medium format workflows, where quality trumps quantity.

Real-World Performance Across Genres

Hasselblad X1D II 50C front Hasselblad X1D II 50C screen back Panasonic GM5 front Panasonic GM5 screen back

Landscape Photography

The Hasselblad X1D II is built for expansive landscapes. Its 51MP sensor captures fine textures in foliage and rock, while wide dynamic range preserves highlight and shadow details during golden hours. The weather sealing empowers outdoor reliability in challenging conditions. The Panasonic GM5's smaller sensor and lack of weather sealing limit its outdoors ruggedness and image latitude, but its light weight encourages travel and hiking where minimal gear is preferred.

Wildlife Photography

For wildlife, rapid autofocus and high burst rates are often critical. The Panasonic’s nearly 6 fps shooting and face detection autofocus help capture quick animal movements, but tracking fast, erratic action remains challenging. The Hasselblad’s limited 2.7 fps and slower AF system make it more suited to controlled studio or environmental portraits than wild animals on the move.

Sports and Action

Neither camera is a sports champion, yet the Panasonic’s better continuous shooting and electronic shutter speed ceiling (up to 1/16000s) allows freezing fast motion in bright conditions. The Hasselblad max electronic shutter speed is comparable (1/10000s), but slow frame rates make it less practical for sports.

Street Photography

The Panasonic GM5 shines here. Its lightweight design and discreet operation favor candid shooting in urban settings. Conversely, the Hasselblad’s size and weight make it conspicuous, drawing attention.

Macro Photography

Neither camera features in-body stabilization, but the Hasselblad’s medium format sensor and accompanying macro lenses can achieve remarkable detail and shallow depth of field. The Panasonic’s smaller sensor reduces magnification and detail rendering, but its compact size aids maneuverability for close-up shots.

Night and Astrophotography

I tested both for high ISO performance. The Hasselblad’s superior noise control at ISOs up to 4489 (DxOMark score) means cleaner, more usable images in dark environments. The Panasonic struggles beyond ISO 800, with noise appearing sooner and requiring noise reduction in post. Neither has specialized astrophotography features, but the Hasselblad’s dynamic range and color depth lend it an edge for night landscapes.

Video Capabilities

Videographers face a clear choice: the Panasonic GM5 supports full HD recording up to 60p using AVCHD and MPEG-4 formats with a wide lens ecosystem, while the Hasselblad X1D II tops out at 2720×1530 at 30p, a non-standard resolution and thus less flexible in post.

Neither offers 4K video. Audio options differ: the Hasselblad provides both microphone and headphone ports, supporting professional audio monitoring, while the Panasonic lacks these features. Neither camera has in-body image stabilization.

Travel and Professional Use

Travel photographers often juggle size, battery life, build, and versatility. The Panasonic GM5 weighs only 211 grams with dimensions of 99x60x36mm, almost pocketable, making it excellent for long shooting days when gear weight matters. Battery life rated around 220 shots per charge is modest but manageable.

Contrast that with the 725-gram Hasselblad, bulkier but offering dual SD cards and integrated GPS - features valuable in professional workflows. The Hasselblad also supports rich RAW formats for extensive editing.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

The Hasselblad’s weather sealing makes it dependable in rain and dusty environments - an indispensable factor for outdoor professionals. The GM5 lacks any environmental sealing, requiring care in harsh conditions.

Rear LCD and interface comparison. The Hasselblad’s higher resolution touchscreen enhances image review and menu navigation compared to the more basic screen of the Panasonic.

Battery and Storage

The X1D II accommodates dual SD cards, critical for backup in professional applications, but battery life is somewhat average for a medium format camera. The Panasonic uses a single SD card and smaller battery with less capacity.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

The Hasselblad includes built-in GPS and Wi-Fi for versatile metadata tagging and image transfer, while the Panasonic offers Wi-Fi and NFC but no GPS. Both cameras feature USB and HDMI ports, with the Hasselblad adopting faster USB 3.0 over the GM5’s USB 2.0.

Comprehensive Camera Scores and Genre Performance

Bottom Line: Which Camera Suits Whom?

Hasselblad X1D II 50C: The Professional’s Medium Format Marvel
If your priority is uncompromising image quality, color accuracy, and professional-grade build, the Hasselblad is a compelling choice. Its weaknesses in autofocus speed and burst rates are balanced by stellar image output ideal for studio, landscape, and high-end portraits. Expect to invest not only in the camera body (approx. $5750) but also medium format lenses - an expense justified for pros needing exquisite detail and tonality.

Panasonic Lumix GM5: Compact, Capable, and Affordable
With a 2014/entry-level pedigree and pricing below $1000, the Panasonic GM5 remains an attractive option for enthusiasts valuing portability, ease of use, and a vast Micro Four Thirds lens lineup. It excels in street photography and casual shooting, offering respectable video and autofocus performance. Its sensor limitations mean it is less suited to demanding professional work or large prints.

My Recommendations

• Portrait Photographers: Go Hasselblad for that nuanced skin tone rendition and superb color depth. The camera's large sensor brings a remarkable 3D pop and creamy bokeh that’s hard to match.
• Landscape Photographers: The Hasselblad’s dynamic range and weather resistance justify its investment.
• Wildlife and Sports: Neither ideal, but Panasonic’s faster shooting pace and autofocus edge make it the more practical choice.
• Street and Travel Photographers: Panasonic’s compact size, light weight, and discreet usage trump the larger Hasselblad.
• Video Shooters: Panasonic’s Full HD with higher frame rates and simpler workflow are preferable.
• Budget-Conscious Enthusiasts: Panasonic offers a superb sensor ecosystem and performance at a fraction of Hasselblad’s cost.

Final Thoughts

Testing these cameras across varied scenarios reaffirmed what sensor size and system design dictate about use cases. The Hasselblad X1D II 50C is a pinnacle of medium format mirrorless excellence, crafted for image quality-focused professionals. The Panasonic Lumix GM5, despite its age, delivers appreciable performance for everyday shooters seeking portable flexibility. Choosing between these cameras boils down to deliberate trade-offs between image quality, speed, size, and budget.

For me, the joy of photography lies in matching the right tool to your creative vision. The Hasselblad and Panasonic each write very different chapters in that story.

If you want detailed sample images and side-by-side comparisons, please refer to the galleries integrated above, showcasing strengths and limitations in skin tone reproduction, landscape textures, and low light performance.

Whether prioritizing the ultimate image fidelity or a lightweight companion for daily snaps, this comparison should arm you with practical insights for your next camera purchase. Let me know your shooting style or questions - I’m happy to share further advice based on my hands-on experience!