Phase One Industrial announces the world’s smallest 80MP medium format camera

Phase One Industrial has announced the iXU 180, the world’s smallest 80-megapixel medium format camera.

Boasting a 4:3 ratio 80-megapixel CCD sensor, the iXU 180 is designed from the ground up to be a modular, customizable medium format camera, especially for drone operators who would like to add a few more pixels to their projects.

The body of the Phase One Industrial iXU 180 comes in at 97.4 x 93 x 110mm and weighs 2.0lbs (925 grams) without a lens and 3.14lbs (1.425kg) with an 80mm lens attached — more than small enough to be mounted via gimbal to a larger drone.

For optics, you’ll be working with the Schneider-Kreuznach 28mm, 55mm, 80mm, 110mm, 150mm and 240mm lenses, all of which are capable of 1/1600 second shutter speed, with the exception of the 240mm lens, which tops out at 1/1000th.

Images captured with the iXU 180 can be saved in Phase One RAW, TIF and JPEG formats onto CF cards. Additional connections include a USB 3.0 port for connecting to a computer and the ability to attach GPS devices for geotagging your endeavors.

Of course, this camera can be used outside of drone/aerial photography, but Phase One feels strongly about marketing this towards this specific market with Dov Kalinski, General Manager of Phase One Industrial saying in the press release, 'The Phase One iXU 180 demonstrates our commitment to offering flexibility in the aerial photography market.'

Phase One Industrial says the iXU 180 will drop ‘mid-April,’ but they’re yet to announce a price.

Update: In the original version of this article, I stated it was Phase One who announced this new camera. I have since corrected it, as I was informed it was Phase One Industrial who is bringing this camera to life, a division of Phase One A/S that focuses on research, development and manufacturing of specialized industrial camera systems and equipment.