Summary
- A developer demonstrated experimental video recording on the Hasselblad X2D II 100C.
- Another demonstration showed Linux running the XFCE desktop on the camera.
- Radium Wang has also explored ChatGPT and Apple CarPlay.
- These modifications are not official or production-proven camera features.
A Hasselblad X2D II 100C that officially cannot shoot video has been made to record moving images through experimental firmware, while other developers have managed to run Linux on the medium-format camera.
The most compelling demonstration comes from creator 奶酪 (Cheese), whose unofficial video-recording experiment was shared on October 24, 2026. The footage shows recording controls on the X2D II 100C touchscreen, a short clip being captured, and playback directly on the camera.
Video recording on the Hasselblad X2D II — a demo by 奶酪 on Xiaohongshu
byu/rrRadium inhasselblad
From a 100MP stills camera to an experimental video camera
The Hasselblad X2D II 100C was designed as a stills camera, combining a 100-megapixel medium-format sensor with in-body stabilization and AF-C, but no video-recording option in its official software. The experiment demonstrates that moving-image capture is possible with modifications, not that owners can enable video through a supported firmware update.
Cheese has mentioned internal RAW and Open Gate video as future goals. These are development plans rather than capabilities established by the published demonstration. The short clip also provides no solid basis for claims about final image quality, recording limits, operating temperatures or reliability on a professional shoot.
For the official model specifications: More information here.
Linux, ChatGPT and CarPlay: more experiments
The experimentation goes beyond video. On October 22, Reddit user u/Unable_Ad_1804 showed the XFCE desktop running on the X2D II. According to the author, the camera can execute ARM64 applications from an external SSD on a Linux kernel without emulation, while continuing to capture still photos. The author said a repository and dual-boot implementation would follow.
Got XFCE running on my Hasselblad X2D II!
byu/Unable_Ad_1804 inhasselblad
Radium Wang has also demonstrated experiments involving ChatGPT and Apple CarPlay on the camera. Of more practical interest to photographers is Wang’s public GitHub research repository, examining firmware, autofocus behavior, camera menus and object recognition. This is independent research, not official Hasselblad software.
Why it brings Magic Lantern to mind
This is not the first time developers have pushed a camera beyond its factory feature set. Magic Lantern demonstrated how far an enthusiast community could extend photographic equipment, while the recent DOOM port for the Canon EOS 550D is a different example of camera-hardware experimentation. Video on the Hasselblad, however, addresses a recognizable creative use case rather than simply demonstrating a clever port.
There is also a serious boundary: unofficial modifications can cause malfunctions, data loss or a camera that will no longer boot, potentially creating warranty problems. None of these features should currently be treated as stable, manufacturer-approved firmware for paid production work.
What we think
Of all the experiments, video capture is the one worth paying attention to. This is a camera with a large sensor and a very deliberate still-photography identity, so seeing a developer get it to record even a short clip is genuinely impressive. It does not suddenly turn the X2D II into a cinema camera.
For filmmakers, getting a red REC indicator on the screen is only the beginning. We need sustained recording, manageable heat, reliable autofocus, audio, predictable files and a usable workflow. Until those things are demonstrated, this is an exciting project for developers, not something to substitute for a production camera on an assignment.
There is a bigger lesson in the firmware research too: what camera hardware is capable of and what a manufacturer chooses to enable are not necessarily the same thing. If independent developers can eventually deliver genuinely useful tools without compromising equipment safety, photographers have good reason to follow their work.
Frequently asked questions
Can the Hasselblad X2D II 100C record video without modification?
No. The X2D II 100C does not offer video recording in its factory firmware. The demonstration uses an unofficial experimental modification.
Does the hack already support RAW or Open Gate video?
Not in anything established by the published Cheese demonstration. The creator has described those capabilities as future goals.
