My favorite camera for 2025 was the finest stills camera I’ve ever held — the stunning Hasselblad X2D II

If you ask me which of the many cameras I tested and reviewed in 2025 was the hardest to return at the end of my loan period, there’s one model that stands out: the gorgeous Hasselblad X2D 100C II.

And that’s saying something considering that I also reviewed several other stunners this year, including the Fujifilm X-E5, Sony A1 II, OM System OM-3, Sigma BF, Panasonic Lumix S1 II, Leica M-EV1 and Nikon ZR.

Not only is the X2D II the finest camera for photography ever made – that is if outright image quality is your top priority – but it also saw a huge price drop from its predecessor, which bucked an unwelcome industry-wide rise in prices. Yes, $7,399 / £6,400 / AU$12,650 is still mega pricey, but Hasselblad is moving in the right direction, and competing with Fujifilm's GFX line.