XF Feature Update 2 (including focus stacking), C1 9.1, New Blue Ring Lenses

[Doug Peterson]

Three big announcements today in Team Phase One land...

Phase One XF Feature Update 2
- Improved AF especially in low contrast and low light scenes
- Focus Stacking tool
- HDR Sequence tool
- Timelapse tool
- Good old fashion self-timer option
- Redesign of hyper-focal distance tool
- Redesign of IQ interface to look/feel more in line with XF interface

Capture One 9.1
- handling for the Focus Stack, HDR, and time lapse features added to XF
- Rotatable Live View
- Metadata for tethered workflow
- Export/Output Keyword restrictions
- New Color Editor Tools, especially for skin tone
- Improved Shortcuts

Blue Ring Lens Line Expanded
- Blue Ring versions of the Schneider 110LS and 240LS lenses

See the links above for more details. Feel free to ask any questions you have.

We (Digital Transitions) will be releasing a set of Capture One styles on Monday that leverage some of the new skin tone tools. Stay tuned

[dergiman]

Did the lenses get any internal upgrades? Like better coatings, better AF mechanism or is the upgrade only cosmetic?

[Doug Peterson]

Did the lenses get any internal upgrades? Like better coatings, better AF mechanism or is the upgrade only cosmetic?

Same great optical performance. No change there.

Changes are:
- Tighter tolerances on manufacturing.
- Serialized registration with body (only important if you own more than one copy of each lens, as with a rental house or production company).
- Improved physical design (e.g. focus barrel grip is laser etched rather than rubber)

[AreBee]

Doug,

...Team Phase One...

What is the difference between "Team Phase One" and "Phase One"?

[Doug Peterson]

Doug,

What is the difference between "Team Phase One" and "Phase One"?

Team Phase One = Phase One (Denmark) + Mamiya* (Japan) + Leaf (Isreal) + Schneider** (German)

*Now technically called "Phase One Japan"
**Referring to the multi year contract they have for lens development

[Christoph B.]

That new Skin Tone feature set is really great!

I always missed the ability to adjust hue and saturation separately - lightness isn't that important for skin tone stuff but still a welcomed option!

[AreBee]

Doug,

Thanks

[BernardLanguillier]

Love the focus stacking app, great stuff!

Cheers,
Bernard

[Doug Peterson]

Love the focus stacking app, great stuff!

I'm especially enjoying that it can use so many workflows. Tethered or untethered, using AF or manual, focus mask, 100% review, live view or not.

[BernardLanguillier]

I'm especially enjoying that it can use so many workflows. Tethered or untethered, using AF or manual, focus mask, 100% review, live view or not.

How does that work in manual focus if I may ask?

Cheers,
Bernard

[Doug Peterson]

How does that work in manual focus if I may ask?

Basically you can achieve focus on the front point (and/or back point) of the range any way you'd like, and then save those distances into the Focus Stacking tool. This includes via manual focus.

During the actual stack the lens must of course be set to autofocus; otherwise the camera can't advance the focus for each shot.

[BernardLanguillier]

Basically you can achieve focus on the front point (and/or back point) of the range any way you'd like, and then save those distances into the Focus Stacking tool. This includes via manual focus.

During the actual stack the lens must of course be set to autofocus; otherwise the camera can't advance the focus for each shot.

Ok, got it. Thanks.

Cheers,
Bernard

[Christoph B.]

Would that focus stacking thingy work with all phaseone backs and cameras or is that for the IQ/XF only?

[gdh]

Once the several focus stacked images are produced, can Capture One 9.1 merge to the final image or is additional software required?  If so what?

[Doug Peterson]

Once the several focus stacked images are produced, can Capture One 9.1 merge to the final image or is additional software required?  If so what?

Shoot
The XF features help you set front/back points and number of frames, and the automatically executes the capture of the images.

Organize/Adjust
Capture One 9.1 added organizational tools to view/sort/filter by stacks (focus stacks, HDR stacks, or time lapse stacks). This helps you with pre-stack adjustments, naming, etc.

Stack
You use Focus Stacking software to then combine the images together, which is an art/topic unto itself. Phase One has provided all XF owners with a free one year subscription to Helicon Focus which is one such program.

[Doug Peterson]

Would that focus stacking thingy work with all phaseone backs and cameras or is that for the IQ/XF only?

Focus Stack is (now) a feature of the XF body and so works with any back compatible with the XF. This includes:
- Credo 40
- Credo 50
- Credo 60
- Credo 80
- IQ140
- IQ150
- IQ160
- IQ180
- IQ250
- IQ260
- IQ280
- IQ3 50mp
- IQ3 60mp
- IQ3 80mp
- IQ3 100mp

[Christoph B.]

Thanks for clarifying that!

[imagetone]

Doug
Sounds good, what's the limit on how many frames in a stack?
Tony

[Wayne Fox]

I'm especially enjoying that it can use so many workflows. Tethered or untethered, using AF or manual, focus mask, 100% review, live view or not.

For some reason no one can answer yet, using auto focus to set near and far points is not working for everyone. At least two of us are not seeing what others are describing when trying to use AF.  Additionally using AF as described is clunky and slow, may require changing the camera setup before using. 

Also one user says the  near and far points are not accurately repositioned during the sequence.  Other issues, the stack must be started by pushing the rear button, (cannot be triggered with a delay), the mirror slaps up and down between every shot.  Several other issues.

Nice idea but needs some refinement.  Probably great for studio shooters that are using Live View on things like product or macros, but as implemented not so useful for in the field work for landscapes.

[imagetone]

I thought being able to keep the mirror locked up for a sequence of shots was going to be an advantage of the XF over the DF+.