TECH BY DAN HAVLIK
ProDuct reviews
Phase One IQ180
Phase One’s 80-megapixel back takes a giant leap forward
in medium-format technology.
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The part of my job I like best is to see how a product evolves
and, often, improves over time. It’s even more satisfying when
a complaint or criticism I lodged in a review of a product gets
rectified in its next. Occasionally, manufacturers will even tell
me a change in a new version of their device was in direct response to something I’d written. (Or maybe they’re just trying
to butter me up.)
Other times, I might catch flak for what a company thinks
is a “negative” review of mine only to find out they addressed
my critiques in an improved update to their product. And then,
of course, there are times where I might have been completely
off base in a review and my words are, appropriately, ignored.
(It happens.)
I’m not sure whether my
2009 review of Phase One’s
60.5-megapixel P65+ digital medium-format camera
back had any influence on
the Danish company’s new
IQ180 but I’d like to think it
may have played a role. This
80-megapixel digital back
takes the promise of the
P65+ and improves upon it,
making the IQ180 one of the
best imaging products I’ve
ever shot with, bar none.
While my review of the
P65+ was largely positive—
we ended up naming it
medium-format back of the
year in my annual PDN Gear
of the Year report—I had
some nits to pick, particular-
ly with the system’s clunky
operability and its less than
luxurious feature set includ-
ing a measly 2.2-inch low resolution LCD screen that would
have looked skimpy on a point-and-shoot camera. Considering
the P65+ back was selling for just a hair under $40,000—even
without a camera attached—this was disappointing
With the IQ180, Phase One has done an across the board up-
grade on the back (also available in 60.5-megapixel IQ160 and
40-megapixel IQ140 version), offering a sweet new 3.2-inch
touch screen; a revamped menu system with a more intuitive
interface; and a host of small but noticeable improvements. I
shot with the IQ180 attached to a Phase One 645DF camera
body and a trio of Schneider Kreuznach lenses with photogra-
pher Jason Groupp < www.jasongroupp.com> in his studio and
later in the field on my own.
Even more noteworthy than the luxe extras on the IQ180
system is its extraordinary image quality, which of course,
But of course, all these top-of-the-line qualities come with
a jaw-dropping price tag of. . .drum roll please. . .$43,990 for
the IQ180 back alone. The price for an IQ180 kit, which includes
the 645DF camera body, an 80mm f/2.8 LF lens and the back,
is $47,990.
That’s certainly a lot of clams to drop in a still questionable
economy. Whether you think it’s worth it depends on whether
you need the very best camera system, in terms of image quality, on the market right now. And for our money, the IQ180 system is just that.
SERIOUS CAMERA
Pick up the Phase One
645DF and IQ180 combination—or heck, just look at
a picture of it—and you’ll
know you’re dealing with a
serious camera system. This
is not always a good thing.
Sometimes a product’s
“presence” can only carry it
so far (think of the DeLorean
car) but in this case, Phase
One has designed a superior
back to house the IQ180’s
80-megapixel, 53.9mm x
43.4mm size, Dalsa-built
CCD sensor.
Phase One’s posted some
provocative videos on the
Though Phase One doesn’t offer any specs on the IQ180’s
water/weather resistance, the back seems better equipped to
withstand the elements than the P65+. And while the IQ180
may not be affected by a few sprinkles, it’s not fully rubberized or gasketed and sealed like some professional DSLRs. In
other words, the IQ180’s more than safe for shooting out in
the field but don’t go too crazy.
The new back offers a dynamite pair of ports: a USB 3.0 connection (a first for a medium format back), and Fire Wire 800.
Phase One’s 80MP IQ180 has several key new features worthy of a high-end
back, including a 3.2-inch touchscreen display with significantly higher
resolution than the previous model.
