Phase One Released The First Amazing CMOS Medium Format Camera And It's Ready To Ship

For years, medium format cameras have been stuck with digital CCD sensors that are poor-performing at high ISO's because creating medium format CMOS sensors was prohibitively expensive. Well, that has all changed now. Hasselblad teased their new CMOS medium format camera earlier this week, but today Phase One announced their new CMOS digital medium format back and not only is it ready to ship on Monday, but it already looks like it will be a class dominator.

CMOS vs. CCD Medium Format Backs?:

First of all, to learn the difference between a CMOS vs CCD sensor in digital cameras, you can visit the how stuff works website where they wrote a great article describing the differences. Although if you want the quick version, CCD sensors create BEAUTIFUL images at low ISO's in comparison to CMOS sensors, but raise the ISO up a bit and you get a lot of noise. Also, CCD sensors consume many times more power to run than a CMOS sensor. Also, based on current manufacturing processes, it was much cheaper to manufacture a medium format CCD than it was a comparable CMOS, until now. A well manufactured CMOS medium format will give you much better dynamic range than a comparable 35mm, higher max resolution, the ability for easy live preview, and the chance to shoot low light environments with higher ISO. Essentially, a the introduction of a CMOS medium format will change everything we can do with a modern digital medium format.

You see, I love shooting with my Phase One 645DF+ with IQ140 digital back (CCD system). It has created some beautiful crisp, richly detailed, high dynamic range images in controlled lighting environments. I originally switched from Canon cameras and was thrilled with the performance of my IQ140, but any time I want to venture to a low light scenario I'm afraid to raise my ISO to 400 or higher because my images would be on the cusp of being a bit too noisy for print advertising applications. Although, Phase One does offer Sensor Plus shooting mode which allows cleaner shooting at higher ISO's with their CCD cameras, but at the same time only allows you to use part of the camera's full resolution in that mode. So up until today, a shooter like me could photograph with a camera that yielded the best quality on the planet, as long as I kept the ISO under 400. You can imagine how excited I am to know that my next Phase One digital back will allow me to do nearly everything I've ever wanted it to do. I knew something was coming down the pipeline when Phase One started asking photographers like myself what I'd like to see in a new back and it's apparent they have listened.

The Specs And Details:

• "A sensor size of 44x33mm, the IQ250 offers 68 percent more image-capture real estate than any full-frame 35mm DSLR camera and the widest usable ISO range of any medium format camera system" - Phase One press release
• The new CMOS model is 50 Megapixel and is called the IQ250
• Available for shipping January 27, 2014 unlike the Hasselblad CMOS back which apparently won't be released until at least March.
• Impressive 100-6400 ISO range.
• Has a 1.3x crop factor on a 645 body. 2 gigs internal ram. 1.2 FPS shooting.
• 14 Stops dynamic range. This is class-leading. A standard 35mm DSLR only has about 8 to 9 stops of dynamic range and the highest dynamic range medium format before today that I am aware of had only 13 stops.
• Shutter speed ranging from 1/10,000 to 1 hour. WOW.
• Now offering easy to use Live View mode that displays at 25fps like you are used to seeing on 35mm DSLR's to make composing images easier. Apparently live view mode will transmit to Capture One Pro tethering software and even to the Capture Pilot app on your iPad or similar mobile device directly since the back also has built in WIFI transmitting capability. "Live View on the IQ250 offers great composition and focus assistance -- whether it is used directly on the digital back, connected via USB3 to Capture One on the computer, or displayed wirelessly on iPads or iPhones running Capture Pilot."
• Prices start at $34,990 USD which may seem like a lot to some but considering that this is in the same ballpark as their current IQ260 (60 megapixel CCD) this is MUCH cheaper than I thought it would be.
• Digital Transitions, the NYC-based Phase One reseller (they are great and sold me my camera and many cameras to my friends) put together an awesome list of the 10 things you need to know about the new IQ250 : http://www.digitaltransitions.com/blog/dt-blog/phase-one-iq250-10-things-to-know 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvEEB7GYbY0#t=58

The Rumor Mill:

I have received info from various reliable sources on the following rumors. Nothing is confirmed or officially, obviously, but lets just call these well-informed rumors...

• It looks like the Hasselblad CMOS medium format that was teased recently will be overshadowed by the new IQ250. Why do I say that? I hear that Hasselblad has only updated the sensor and nothing else. That means that unlike the Phase One backs, it still does not have a high definition touch screen or built-in WiFi capability. I've shot with Hasselblads and I find this to be unacceptable for those of us that like to shoot untethered on-location. You simply cannot visually identify if your shot is in focus or not unless you are tethered. It's one thing to update to a CMOS sensor from CCD, but you have to upgrade your functionality as well. They are way overdue for an update to their on-camera interface. Although, please bear in mind this is an unconfirmed rumor...
• Phase One has some more really cool gear announcements to make that I DO know about, but that's all I can say. Stuff that I know I personally want to buy. Stay tuned is all I can say for now.

Read First Impressions By Photographers That Have Tried The IQ250 Out Already:

• Digital Transitions put together an article about famed wedding photographer (and my buddy) Justine Ungaro's first hands-on impressions with the new back: http://www.digitaltransitions.com/blog/dt-blog/iq250-first-experience-justine-ungaro

• According to the Phase One press release: Award-winning Australian wedding photographer Dan O'Day has found the IQ250’s abundant dynamic range to be a game changer. He said, “I shoot the majority of my work on location, and I prefer to shoot only using available light. With the IQ250, I can shoot portraits of couples any time of day, under just about any conditions Mother Nature offers me, and still retain all the details. Couples rely on me to capture one of the happiest moments in their life, and they expect the outcome to be perfect. With the IQ250 I can deliver on this expectation with greater confidence, quality and detail than ever before."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_rX9lRqgRg

Learning More About The IQ250 Including A Demo Event Coming To NYC:

• You can learn more on Phase One's website: www.phaseone.com/iq2 
• Interested in buying or possibly demoing any of the current Phase One backs, you can find a dealer close to you here: www.phaseone.com/partners. Although, I am biased, but I bought my Phase One from my boy Lance Schad at Digital Transitions in NYC. They can ship you a demo unit anywhere around the US and DT has taken car of / sold / educated numerous photographer friends of mine that wanted to make the leap to medium format photography.
• If you are in NYC on February 12th and are interested in seeing what the CMOS back can do, I am actually co-hosting an event with Digital Transitions where I will be doing live shooting demonstrations with the IQ250 as well. Come by and say hello and try it out! You can see links to sign up on www.Digitaltransitions.com or my Facebook page www.facebook.com/sondersphoto