Medium Format Camera News

Ricoh Imaging’s Pentax 645Z is a “medium format” digital camera with a 43.8x32.8mm CMOS sensor, 1.66 times the size of a standard full-frame sensor. The sensor features a very high resolution of 51.4MP (8265x6192 pixels) and can record in JPEG and in Pentax’s own Raw (PEF) or Adobe DNG format.

It isn’t often that as a camera reviewer you get the chance to test a camera with the technical experts right at hand, but that’s how I got to know the Phase One 645DF and IQ160 back. Actually, I attended one of the company’s Phase One Digital Artists Series workshops in Chicago with other photographers (see PODAS workshops sidebar for further info on this and other workshops the company is offering). Beyond the guided portion of the workshop, we were given time to go off and work with the camera at our own pace. It didn’t take long to find my comfort zone with the new IQ system. By the end of day one, I had a working familiarity with the camera and back and hardly paid attention to the big bundle I was hefting. Although I often felt quite at ease shooting handheld, for night photography and some other occasions I did employ my trusty Benbo tripod, with the camera seated on a Foba Superball M-2 on one day, an Acratech GP-L ball head on another.

Phase One today announced the new Phase One XF IQ4 Camera Systems, which are built upon the new and expandable Infinity Platform. These three new full frame medium format camera systems from Phase One include the 150MP IQ4, the 100MP IQ4 100MP, and the 150MP IQ4 Achromatic.

Phase One just rolled out a major update to its XF Medium Format Camera System, which was only introduced last June. The Copenhagen, Demnark-based company also announced three new Schneider Kreuznach leaf shutter lenses to add to the arsenal.

Phase One announced it has joined forces with Sony to design a new 100MP CMOS sensor for the new Phase One XF 100MP Camera System. The Phase One XF 100MP Camera System is shipping now and is available through the company’s sales partners worldwide for a whopping $48,990 USD. (The system comes with a Schneider Kreuznach 80mm LS lens.)

Phase One has started selling its new A-Series medium format camera systems, the company announced this morning. The new Phase One A-series combines the Danish manufacturer’s current medium format digital camera backs with a Travel Compact body from Alpa and a Rodenstock lens for a rustically modern set-up.