Enthusiasts enable video and Linux on the Hasselblad X2D II

Modified firmware has added video recording to the X2D II 100C; enthusiasts have also run Doom, CarPlay, and Linux on it. Open-source projects could expand the camera’s capabilities, but they carry the risk of malfunctions and voiding the warranty.

Enthusiasts add video recording and Linux to the Hasselblad X2D II 100C

Open-source projects for the Hasselblad X2D II 100C, previously discussed by developer Radium Wang, have already led to several experiments with the camera. Users have run Doom on it, and now modified firmware has enabled video recording—a feature the X2D II 100C does not offer out of the box.

Video recording on a medium-format camera

Experimental firmware for the X2D II 100C was developed by a Chinese creator using the name 奶酪. A demonstration appeared on Xiaohongshu and was shared in the Hasselblad community on Reddit. The company has not announced plans to add a video mode to the camera through an official update.

As Mirrorless Rumors notes, Wang’s work on GitHub has become the basis for various experiments with Hasselblad’s latest medium-format mirrorless camera. These include more than just video recording. A few weeks earlier, Doom was shown running on the X2D II 100C; at the time, Wang said he was continuing to work on open-source projects for the camera.

From CarPlay to Linux

Other unusual modifications include running Apple CarPlay and installing ChatGPT. Reddit user u/Unable_Ad_1804 loaded the Linux kernel onto the X2D II 100C and launched the XFCE graphical environment.

However, open-source firmware also has more practical potential. Wang has published several repositories on GitHub covering specific capabilities and features of the Hasselblad X system, including LiDAR, autofocus, in-body image stabilization (IBIS), and continuous autofocus (AF-C). This work could make it possible to improve individual camera features or create software tools for specialized photographic tasks.

A camera designed for photography

The X2D II 100C was designed primarily for still photography. In an aggregated assessment based on 33 sources, the model scored 88 out of 100, with an overall verdict of Strong. The camera is characterized by high image quality and a minimalist user interface. Its medium-format sensor, effective stabilization, and improved autofocus make it well suited to deliberate photography, but the lack of a video mode and relatively modest speed limit its use in fast-moving situations.

The X2D II 100C’s strengths include phase-detection autofocus with subject tracking, build quality, ergonomics, and intuitive controls. Other highlights include effective in-body stabilization, an integrated 1 TB SSD, high image detail, wide dynamic range, and color depth.

Drawbacks include the camera’s high price and expensive lens system, mediocre battery life, slow burst shooting, and lengthy startup time. Other limitations include the lack of video recording, large file sizes, and high storage demands.

Lessons from Magic Lantern and the risks of modifications

One of the best-known examples of third-party firmware for cameras is Magic Lantern, developed for Canon models. With open-source updates, enthusiasts added video capabilities, improved camera performance, and expanded tools for time-lapse photography. In particular, Magic Lantern enabled HDR video recording on some Canon cameras long before the company itself introduced the feature in its models.

Firmware modifications can entail technical and legal risks. Changing a camera’s source code can cause malfunctions, breach service terms, and complicate warranty repairs. If a device stops working after third-party software is installed, the manufacturer may refuse warranty service.

The illustration accompanying this article was created using an image licensed through Depositphotos.com.