New Phase One mirrorless body (ies)

[Stefan.Steib]

http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/news/2165227/phase-introduces-specialist-camera-systems

With interest I see that Phase One has now understood that for many applications a mirrorless Body is the only way to go. it shows that Hartblei was -again- dead right with our HCam-B1. And again we are copied as with the lenses. But there is a big difference - we use the Canon Bajonett mount and can go much shorter with wideangles whereas the Phase Solution is limited for 28mm and the Flange focal range of the Phase lenses.
I think it also may be discussed as how good the life view may work without an alternative finder. But definitely if there is a CMOS coming this is the right move .

greetings from Lindenberg
Stefan

[Brian Hirschfeld]

I kind of like that one they have on the repro stand, if it had camera controls on the side, I'd buy it as a travel camera, and just throw a leica or alpa variable viewfinder on the top. Hartblei's still got a bit of an edge because of the number of lenses you can put on it.

Anyone interested, can read my review of the Harbtlei here, http://brianhirschfeldphotography.com/2012/02/24/in-depth-review-of-the-hartblei-hcam-b1/

[Doug Peterson]

These two new bodies from Phase One are intended for very specialized markets: Art Repro and Aerial Photography.

Both require:
- very good lens quality, but no need for wide angles
- very infrequent focusing (focus once, shoot many frames)
- very physically stable cameras (lots of vibration in a plane shaking the camera, desire for extremely little shutter vibration in art repro when using continuous lights)
- focus that is fully lockable and won't drift, even a little, even over the course of many hours/days
- the ability to change settings remotely (camera is under plane or mounted on repro stand)
- extreme durability, both markets may take 10,000 photos a day, every day, for years.

Even if this isn't a camera body that is intended for landscape, architecture, fashion, portrait, or any other "standard" photography. That doesn't mean this announcement shouldn't interest anyone here. This announcement has several implications:
- Team Phase One is financially sound enough to take on MAJOR specialty projects at the same time they are working on more mainstream products
- Phase One has done the R+D and IP for mirror less bodies, high-durability bodies, remote controllability, and focus which doesn't drift when the camera is oriented vertically.

I'm not saying all these features would make it to a future body. But research for specialty products often influence features/design of mainstream products. 

[Brian Hirschfeld]

Even if this isn't a camera body that is intended for landscape, architecture, fashion, portrait, or any other "standard" photography. That doesn't mean this announcement shouldn't interest anyone here. This announcement has several implications:
- Team Phase One is financially sound enough to take on MAJOR specialty projects at the same time they are working on more mainstream products
- Phase One has done the R+D and IP for mirror less bodies, high-durability bodies, remote controllability, and focus which doesn't drift when the camera is oriented vertically.

I'm not saying all these features would make it to a future body. But research for specialty products often influence features/design of mainstream products. 

I think that its great that is shows they are doing R&D and hope they also make some more marketable solutions, like the iXr with on camera controls as a compact body? Thats one thing I liked that hasselblad did, developing the aerial version of their camera, as a specialty product, Phase as usual took it up a notch!

[Doug Peterson]

As a point of interest regarding speciality cameras Digital Transitions Department of Cultural Heritage developed it's own camera body for similar reasons, the RCAM. The RCAM is installed at many of the countries most revered institutions. I just got back from Princeton which just added two more RCAMs last week (beautiful campus by the way!).

Both the RCAM and the Phase One iXR allow Art Reproduction clients a body with no viewfinder, leaf shutter lenses (nearly zero net motion when the shutter fires), remote control of aperture/shutter/shutter-release. The difference? Lens choices. The iXR uses the same lenses as the Phase One DF, while the RCAM uses Schneider and Rodenstock digital lenses.

[EricWHiss]

It's good news I guess, but I was surprised to see the same Mamiya DF mount as a lens choice. Does Phase have some new lenses in development for this? 

[drevil]

1st of april was yesterday 

[Doug Peterson]

If you're interested in some more of the technicals here is a quick blog entry on the Phase One iXA and iXR Cameras that includes features and a PDF of the brochure.

[Rudy Torres]

Hmmmm...,
But it still has a Hot Shoe?
LOl

Sorry, Sorry, Sorry
Couldn't resist...
Dam, now I'm in trouble, huh?

- Rudy

[Steve Hendrix]

Hmmmm...,
But it still has a Hot Shoe?
LOl

Sorry, Sorry, Sorry
Couldn't resist...
Dam, now I'm in trouble, huh?

- Rudy

Only the iXR repro camera, not the iXA for aerial.



Steve Hendrix

[BJL]

@Steve: Are the digital backs also special designs (ruggedized for aerial photography perhaps, or modified for ease of use in fee down orientation) and/or or can one standard IQ series backs?

@EricWHiss: As far as new lenses and mounts that take advantage of the lack of a mirror: since that is only relevant to short focal lengths where having rear elements closer to the sensor can allow better optical designs, maybe the easiest approach is to just have a few such lenses with rear elements that protrude into the now empty "mirror-less chamber". That is what Pentax has done with the pancake lens for its K-01 mirror-less body (the notorious "lego-cam"). It is also what Canon did with its EF-S lenses, to exploit the smaller mirror of that smaller format while staying compatible with EF mount. However, a new shallower mount with adaptors for various lens mounts could be nice ... even some 35mm format lenses with large enough image circles could be used then.

[Brian Hirschfeld]

@Steve: Are the digital backs also special designs (ruggedized for aerial photography perhaps, or modified for ease of use in fee down orientation) and/or or can one standard IQ series backs?

It looks like the same backs from the release photos, they seem to still have the release buttons, CF card slots etc..

[Steve Hendrix]

@Steve: Are the digital backs also special designs (ruggedized for aerial photography perhaps, or modified for ease of use in fee down orientation) and/or or can one standard IQ series backs?

@EricWHiss: As far as new lenses and mounts that take advantage of the lack of a mirror: since that is only relevant to short focal lengths where having rear elements closer to the sensor can allow better optical designs, maybe the easiest approach is to just have a few such lenses with rear elements that protrude into the now empty "mirror-less chamber". That is what Pentax has done with the pancake lens for its K-01 mirror-less body (the notorious "lego-cam"). It is also what Canon did with its EF-S lenses, to exploit the smaller mirror of that smaller format while staying compatible with EF mount. However, a new shallower mount with adaptors for various lens mounts could be nice ... even some 35mm format lenses with large enough image circles could be used then.

I'm not sure if there is any difference in terms of the ruggedness of the digital backs that has been advanced - with respect to the iXA, but possibly, don't know yet. I believe there may at least be some internal comm differences for the iXA due to the nature of some of the capabilities (bi-directional communication, simultaneous multiple camera capture).


Steve Hendrix