Hasselblad
X1D II 50C
50MP medium format mirrorless with iconic Hasselblad design.
$5,750
Released Jun 2019
Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,899
Released Oct 2021
Z9 is 2.3 years newer.
Wins
X1D II 50C
Wins
Z9
4 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- AX1D II 50C has higher Burst (mechanical) (8 fps vs 0 fps)
- BZ9 has higher RAW buffer depth (1000 frames vs 120 frames)
- BZ9 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 20 fps)
- BZ9 has higher AF points / zones (493 vs 117)
- BZ9 has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 60 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
X1D II 50C
138 × 98 × 88 mm
720 g (1.59 lb / 25.40 oz)
Z9
149 × 150 × 91 mm
1340 g (2.95 lb / 47.27 oz)
X1D II 50C is 11mm narrower, 52mm shorter, and 3mm thinner than Z9.
X1D II 50C is 620 g lighter than Z9.
Depth (front-to-back): 88mm X1D II 50C · 91mm Z9
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
X1D II 50C
138 × 98 mm
Z9
149 × 150 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
X1D II 50C
138 × 88 mm
Z9
149 × 91 mm
Sensor size, to scale
X1D II 50C
43.8 × 32.9 mm · Medium Format
1441 mm² area
Z9
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
1.7× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
X1D II 50C: mount data unavailable
Z9
✓ more lensesNikon Z
90+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
X1D II 50C
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Burst (mechanical)
8 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds H.265, H.264
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 138, 98, 88
Card types
Adds SD UHS-II
AA filter
Only X1D II 50C supports it
Weight
720 g vs 1340 g — lower is better
IBIS effectiveness
7 stops vs 6 stops — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Z9
AF low-light limit
-8.5 EV vs -2 EV — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Dogs…
Codecs
Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 149, 149.5, 90.5
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B / XQD, CFexpress Type B / XQD
RAW buffer depth
1000 frames vs 120 frames — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 20 fps — higher is better
AF points / zones
493 vs 117 — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 64
- ✓ISO max (native) — Both 25,600
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓Pre-Capture / Pre-Release — Both support pre-capture / pre-release
- ✓In-body stabilization — Both support in-body stabilization
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
X1D II 50C
Pros
- ✓Medium format look
- ✓Beautiful design
- ✓50MP
Cons
- –Slow AF
- –No IBIS
- –Expensive
Z9
Pros
- ✓45MP stacked
- ✓8K 60p internal
- ✓120fps stills
- ✓Pro build
Cons
- –Heavy body
- –Expensive
- –Large files
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for video, X1D II 50C or Z9?
Z9 scores 9.5/10 versus 6.0/10 for X1D II 50C — 8K recording for future-proof footage.
What's the resolution difference between the X1D II 50C and Z9?
X1D II 50C is 50 MP and Z9 is 45.7 MP, so the X1D II 50C captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the X1D II 50C and Z9 have in-body image stabilization?
X1D II 50C has 7-stop in-body image stabilization, while z9 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the X1D II 50C or the Z9?
X1D II 50C reaches 20 fps electronic. Z9 reaches 120 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the X1D II 50C and Z9?
X1D II 50C weighs 720 g and Z9 weighs 1340 g, so the X1D II 50C is 620 g lighter.
Do the X1D II 50C and Z9 record 4K video?
X1D II 50C: 4K up to 60p. Z9: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the X1D II 50C and Z9 weather sealed?
X1D II 50C: Yes. Z9: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the X1D II 50C and 740 shots for the Z9, giving the Z9 the edge.
How much does each cost?
X1D II 50C launched at $5,750 and Z9 at $5,899. The X1D II 50C is $149 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Hasselblad and Nikon press materials.