Scanning ahead...

Jon Devo puts together his wish list for DJI's upcoming take on the XID

- Jon Devo

'Made in China' doesn't quite have the same ring as 'Made in Sweden'. But if the rumours of a DJI-branded Hasselblad X1D clone being on its way in late 2022/early 2023 are true, will DJI keep the laser-etched 'Made in...' markings that communicated the handcrafted, almost artisanal nature of the original X1D's production?

Justified or not, Chinese manufacturing doesn't have the best reputation for producing the highest quality products. Yet China-based DJI has dominated the consumer drone world by leading the way in terms of build quality and innovation. So why should I or anyone else be concerned if they rebadge the X1D?

For starters, I own one. I fell in love with its unique design and in 2015 it was the first digital medium-format camera that I had a realistic chance of owning. I was also drawn to its compact and simple handling. But it wasn't a perfect camera to use by any means. The software on the Hasselblad X1D was slow, and autofocusing was basic.