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Phase One P65+ is First Full-Frame Medium Format Photo Sensor, Packs a Gaudy 65 Megapixels
Posted by John Mahoney at 12:03 AM on July 15, 2008
Last week Hasselblad was holding down the largest-sensor-available title with its 50MP H3DII-50, but now Phase One's P65+ digital back matches the size of a standard piece of 645 film at 40.4 X 54.9mm--a first for digital sensors--for a final resolution of 65 megapixels. But if you're guessing it'll cost you, you guessed right.
One place where film photography still has an edge over digital is in medium- and large-format cameras--until today, the largest sensor available still didn't match the size of the smallest medium-format film available. Medium format is used by a lot of pros for its increased dynamic range, depth of field control, and of course, resolution, and as a result, the P65+ carries a pros-only price of US$39,990. And that doesn't even include the whole camera, just the back. Me? I'm still waiting for the full 6x6 cm sensor to match my rusty old Mamiya. [via Luminous Landscape]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
FrankenPC
Posted 1:08 AM 15/7/08
I can't wait to pull a Deckard on photos from image sensors like these:
Pan right
Enhance
Center
Pan left
Enhance
I want to be a Blade Runner...but without the broken fingers.
FrankenPC
theorieofself
Posted 1:01 AM 15/7/08
@OMG! Ponies!: that's why you see these coming out of rental places more often than in people's private equipment collection.
i've used phase backs numerous times, CaptureOne works very well. (i prefer it to Leaf)
theorieofself
CSX321
Posted 12:49 AM 15/7/08
@DisposableInterloper: Yeah, I'd kinda been holding off getting a new camera for several years now, thinking I'd be able to get something with one of those. The only place I've seen that kind of sensor, though, is in some--Panasonic?--video cameras.
CSX321
DisposableInterloper
Posted 12:44 AM 15/7/08
@Noobs-R-Us:
Speaking for the Sigma DP1, whatever happened to Foveon's thingamajig? Y'know, the one where each individual pixel senses red, green, and blue?
I'm rather amazed that chip didn't take over the digital photography world. If it did, I doubt we'd be seeing sensors this big, or if we would, the picture quality would certainly be truly epic.
DisposableInterloper
Joseph
Posted 12:41 AM 15/7/08
I find it funny that companies shove megapixel counts down consumers throats like thats the only thing that matters forgetting that sensor size is just as important. SIZE MATTERS!
Yes Xavoc, she said that too :).
Joseph
Xavoc
Posted 12:26 AM 15/7/08
@strider_mt2k: That's what she said...
Xavoc
OMG! Ponies!
Posted 12:26 AM 15/7/08
$40,000. That's a down payment on a house. Or starting capital for my business. Sorry, but some toys must remain a dream.
OMG! Ponies!
NateDiggy
Posted 12:24 AM 15/7/08
Lame
NateDiggy
Noobs-R-Us
Posted 12:21 AM 15/7/08
I'm using the Sigma DP1 and it's the only point and shoot sized camera with a large sensor. Great picture quality!
Noobs-R-Us
itchytooth
Posted 12:16 AM 15/7/08
@strider_mt2k: Actually, I guess it depends on the DPI.
itchytooth
strider_mt2k
Posted 12:14 AM 15/7/08
If I'm viewing this on a REALLY big or REALLY small monitor, that sensor size pic is gonna seem kinda off.
strider_mt2k
opus13
Posted 1:41 AM 15/7/08
@OMG! Ponies!
It's not a toy. It's what puts the bread on the table if you are a high end photographer. When you charge 9k-15k per day, items like this are standard operating equipment.
opus13
altus
Posted 1:40 AM 15/7/08
@FrankenPC: Coll, we're with you Blade Runner!
altus
OMG! Ponies!
Posted 1:24 AM 15/7/08
@FrankenPC: Congratulations. You are the recipient of today's Frink, the coveted(?) award for the geekiest comment of the day.
Display your Frink with pride (or stash it in your crawlspace and try to scrub away the shame).
OMG! Ponies!
DisposableInterloper
Posted 1:44 AM 15/7/08
@CSX321:
It's mostly Sigma cameras. Polaroid has one model out with it, Toshiba has an industrial camera with it, and the rest are just a handful of Sigma cameras.
DisposableInterloper
comp_wiz101
Posted 2:47 AM 15/7/08
@lpranal: In the words of Kryten: "Ahh, smug mode." ;)
comp_wiz101
lpranal
Posted 2:42 AM 15/7/08
@comp_wiz101: While getting better color + higher resolution, to boot.
lpranal
comp_wiz101
Posted 2:36 AM 15/7/08
Meanwhile I'll keep using my 4x5 inch sheet film. Sure, it's slower to use, but I can still afford not to sell my kidneys on ebay this way
comp_wiz101
lpranal
Posted 2:35 AM 15/7/08
Doing photos for POP store displays, wal murals, etc. this would be nice to have. you almost can't throw too many pixels at that stuff.
lpranal
ColonelBlaha
Posted 3:54 AM 15/7/08
I replaced my slr with a dslr cuz the amount of pictures one could take is much better than spending so much money on film in my opinion. unfortunately for this back i dont think thats the case. I think i'll stick with my Hasselblad 500CM (too bad 220 film is just hard to find nowadays)
ColonelBlaha
Tysto
Posted 5:22 AM 15/7/08
I've blown up 8 MP photos to 48 inches square, and the print quality was still quite good (better than some big translights I've seen in airports), but this would be phenomenal. I can't imagine trying to work on a digital image of this size in Photoshop, tho. You'd need very serious horsepower. I've come close to recording macros on smaller versions and then letting them run on the full-size image overnight.
Tysto
Dook_In_The_Urinal
Posted 5:00 AM 15/7/08
@Noobs-R-Us: Why do people feel the need to brag about things they own? Especially when it has nothing to do with the original post. This is a post about a $40,000 medium format camera back. Not a point and shoot with an APS sensor.
Dook_In_The_Urinal
james-42
Posted 11:04 AM 15/7/08
@Dook_In_The_Urinal: Especially one that's not very good, but very expensive.
james-42