Suggestion For Buying Phase One P25+ Or P30+

[rollsman44]

  Just speculating to see which one I should purchase. I am using the Phase One DF Body and Schneider LS 80mm 2.8 lens.  I shoot mainly Portraits and Family shots and some Landscapes.  I use OCF .  Thank You

[danlandoni]

I own both and shoot portraits...They are very different backs. Kind of hard to really compare them.

One has a small(er) sensor and the other has a bigger one. Colors are completely different. It definitely shows in the photos.

The real question you should ask yourself is if you need to shoot over ISO100 and need speed. If yes, then the P30+ is the back for you. I use the P25+ when I know i can work at ISO50 and take my time doing things. I really love the files out of it. I still think its one of the best looking files out of the majority of the Phase backs. It has a special look for sure.

95% of my work is out of the P30+. Its a work horse and the files are also beautiful up to ISO800.

[rollsman44]

I appreciate your response and it surely helps in my decision.  I would like to muse ISO 400 that would be the max ISO I would use.  Can you explain when you say the P25+ is slower to use.  Thank you very much

[rollsman44]

Also, would you have any Idea the price range for the P30+ in very good condition.  Thanks again

[yashima]

I own both and shoot portraits...They are very different backs. Kind of hard to really compare them.

One has a small(er) sensor and the other has a bigger one. Colors are completely different. It definitely shows in the photos.

The real question you should ask yourself is if you need to shoot over ISO100 and need speed. If yes, then the P30+ is the back for you. I use the P25+ when I know i can work at ISO50 and take my time doing things. I really love the files out of it. I still think its one of the best looking files out of the majority of the Phase backs. It has a special look for sure.

95% of my work is out of the P30+. Its a work horse and the files are also beautiful up to ISO800.

Very interesting observation!

Could you please share some examples of the difference in color of P25+ vs P30+? 

P30+ is certainly a faster back. However if you want the best of both world, maybe a P21+? The same colour as P25+ (am I correct assuming the color of P25+ is the same as P21+ and P45+ the same as P30+), and even faster than P30+.

[danlandoni]

Sure! The capture rate of the P25+ is slower than the P30+

P30+ 40 captures per minute (i've found that its higher.)
P25+ 35 captures per minute


The P25+ at 400iso looks pretty rough. I normally never go above 100iso on it.

[danlandoni]

I'll see if i can dig up some color differences. The fat MP "look" is definitely real.  To me, the P25+ files are also sharper out of camera.

[yashima]

I appreciate your response and it surely helps in my decision.  I would like to muse ISO 400 that would be the max ISO I would use.  Can you explain when you say the P25+ is slower to use.  Thank you very much

Frame rate of P25+ is about 1 frame every 1.5 seconds, P30+ is 1 frame every 1.2 seconds, P21+ is 1 frame every 0.8 seconds. If you take photos of people, you might want slightly higher frame rate.

[danlandoni]

Not great examples but you can definitely see it in the skin tones. I'll have to find the RAW images.

p25+


P30+

[danlandoni]

If you check my flickr you'll see more examples of the two backs. I reaaaaly love the way the P25+ looks in black and white. Lots of landscape stuff thrown in there as well. Mostly P30+
https://www.flickr.com/photos/killthelights145

[yashima]

Love your work. However it would be great if I could please peek in the RAW files, its difficult to tell at the moment, as the lighting was also different, P25+ was backlighting when P30+ was side lighting.

[Ken Doo]

Dennis,

If you don't plan on using a camera with movements (technical camera), I would opt for the P30+.  Contrary to belief, the microlenses on the P30+ do not preclude all movement (e.g., Hartblei 45mm t/s superrotator), but would definitely not be a good choice for movements using a technical camera.  Regardless, I think the P30+ is a better choice for portrait work and occasional landscape work.  I used the P30 for quite some time, and it simply is an easy to use back, colors good out of the box. The microlenses allow it to perform at higher ISO when needed.  Crop is 1.3 compared to 1.1 of the P45+ (which you might also want to consider).  Regardless, you'll want to make sure that firmware is up to date on the P series MFDBs to take advantage of the flash sync capabilities with leaf shutter lenses.  I believe on the lower P series backs it is up to 1/800th as opposed to 1/1600 on the P65+.  Still nothing to sneeze at.

 :)ken

[rollsman44]

  Thank you all. Trying to justify the additional cost of the P30+ vs buying the P25+ I do need to be able to use ISO 200 at times Will the P25+ be very good at that ISO?   I don't really need speed.   Thank you for being so helpful.  

[danlandoni]

Let's see if I can dig up some RAW files tonight.

Again, I recommend the P30+ unless your on a tripod at ISO50-100.

[rollsman44]

Thank you very much.  I don't want to be Tied to a tripod.  Really appreciate it

[Chris Livsey]

Just to tip in a comment. I shot a P20 on a V Hasselblad (still own actually) and was looking for a H body back for a while. Same debate and I settled on looking for a P25+ because of the crop. Yes, as others who use the P30+ will point out in real shooting the crop is less intrusive/limiting than you think, but after the P20 I had enough of crop. In the end though a P45+ came up at an attractive price and I went for that.
On fat pixels, I was always content with the P20, still am so still have it, but I find the P45+ has more subtlety particularly in gradations of tone and is more wow out of the box. No idea why, same C1 program, their profiles, my processing routine is the same but skin particularly seems "nicer". If possible I would shoot some frames with your contenders, remember C1 is free for the backs before deciding.

[rollsman44]

Hi Chris, thank you for the info.  I dont think I have the Budget for the 45+ I am semi retired ansd just shoot very liitle now. Its more for Pleasure. Its my gift to ME after shooting MF since 1972.  Anything else you can offer me before I buy the back. I will be getting it from Capture Integration. They are great people there and Very supportive. 

[Chris Livsey]

Anything else you can offer me before I buy the back. I will be getting it from Capture Integration.

Just don't be afraid of a back with a high shot count if it otherwise fits the requirement.

[rollsman44]

   Yes, I know.  Thank you again.