HASSELBLAD’S HOME
Hasselblad’s Home is our invitation to you to join us behind-the-scenes at our headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden for a more intimate look into the core of Hasselblad. Hear from our designers and engineers about our thoughts and processes behind the development of our medium format cameras and the philosophies underpinning the foundation of how we bring Scandinavian design and craftsmanship to creators around the world.
EPISODE 2
THE X SYSTEM’S ERGONOMICS, MATERIALS AND HASSELBLAD USER INTERFACE
A core ingredient to the beauty of the X System’s design is the seamless blending of form and function. The goal was to achieve a camera that, even after a long day of shooting, would still feel good in the photographer's hand.
The grip was one of the things that went through the most changes for the X System. I think we went through at least 10 to 15 3D-printed versions. It was extremely important that it was comfortable and gave a firm and secure feeling. We also designed it with the thought that it should fit various hand sizes, which made the process more complex.
The pattern etched into the grip went through several iterations as well as the choice of material. We tested multiple materials for sweat control in regard to photographers who would shoot in warmer climates, taking into account how slippery the grip could get or if the material would rub off and make your hand dirty. We tried, for example, leather, which tended to get slippery over time, and silicone, which too easily attracted dust, before landing on a specific rubber that offered an ideal no-slip grip.
HASSELBLAD USER INTERFACE
Just as the X1D’s exterior is kept simple, the Hasselblad User Interface, or HUI, follows this same train of thought with inspiration taken from the simplicity and ease of use of smart phone and touch screen systems.
X SYSTEM MATERIALS
The sleekness of the X System was enhanced by the material choice of machined aluminium. As aluminium is a very robust yet lightweight material, it was a perfect choice for keeping the camera’s temperatures cool and to be able to travel with. Aluminium is much better than, titanium for example, when it comes to transferring heat from the camera’s electronics. As well, it allows for freedom of shape – you can make almost any shape in the machining process and it’s easier to manufacture compared to other metals with the bonus that you can make late modifications to the parts.