What is it like to use the 100-megapixel monochrome Phase One IQ3 100MP Achromatic digital back?

 

 

Earlier this year, Phase One announced the IQ3 100MP Achromatic digital back. This nearly $50,000 digital back has just over 100 megapixels of medium format goodness and does not record any color data whatsoever. By eschewing a Bayer color filter, the sensor is said to capture more detail and luminance than other sensors, including the traditional 100-megapixel Phase One sensor. The digital back also lacks an infrared cut-off filter, allowing the IQ3 100MP Achromatic to capture light outside the visible spectrum. Thanks to its large size and new CMOS design, it also has a maximum ISO of 51,200, which is uncharted territory for a medium format digital back.

Ted Forbes from The Art of Photography recently had a chance to go hands-on with the IQ3 100MP Achromatic thanks to Digital Transitions. Forbes is clearly very excited by the camera, calling it one of the most exciting things to happen in digital camera design. Along with an overview of the digital back and the Phase One XF camera system, Forbes also shares and discusses a variety of sample images from the IQ3 100MP Achromatic. It's very cool to hear hands-on thoughts about the unique monochrome digital back and to see what it's capable of. Be sure to watch the video below at a high resolution.

To learn more about the Phase One IQ3 100MP Achromatic digital back and XF camera system, click here. You can also read about the traditional Phase One XF 100MP camera and digital back in our Phase One XF 100MP Review.

(Via The Art of Photography)