Phase One IQ3

The Best LCD of Any Camera

The LCD used on the Phase One IQ3 Digital Backs is the best LCD ever used on any SLR camera of any brand, and is light years ahead of any other medium format digital back. All Phase One IQ3 Digital Backs come with a 3.2″ Retina-type LCD. The term “retina” refers to displays where the pixel density is so high that, at standard viewing distances the pixels are imperceptible. The resolution, brightness, clarity, and color rendition of the Phase One IQ3 LCD is comparable to the iPhone 4, providing a view of the image on par with viewing medium format slide film on a light box. In addition the viewing angle of 170 degrees allows the image to be viewed by several people at once.

Technical note: The “total pixels” chart above reflects the way LCD manufacturers talk about resolution. This is different (by a factor of 3) than the way photographers define resolution. Read more on our blog “LCD Resolutions Explained“.

OneTouch UI

• Accessible directly from the back, the OneTouch UI allows for versatile workflow options fitting whatever challenges you may meet. Whether it’s cramped quarters, a high tripod or even just ease of use from a larger touch screen, the OneTouch UI seamlessly integrates all controls of the XF camera system at your fingertips.

Intuitive & Fast Multi-Touch Interface

The best way to understand a touch interface is to see it in action. Please watch the video above. Phase One designed their own custom multi-touch user interface  for the Phase One IQ3 Series of digital backs. An 8-image thumbnail browser can be swiped through with a single finger, a single tap can zoom the image to 100%, and two finger gestures such as pinch-to-zoom are also possible. Phase One knows that some users will use these backs in extreme environments, and provided four physical buttons that allow a photographer to access most functionality of the back (including ISO, WB, and reviewing images) with gloved hands.

Live View on the Back’s LCD Without a Computer

The Phase One IQ3 will continue the IQ tradition to allow live view on the digital back without a computer. By building in a total of 9 cores worth of processing, including custom designed dedicated processors, and by working closely with DALSA, Phase One has been able to do what was previously thought to be impossible. For anyone who has used Digital Back Live View tethered to a computer, the experience should be very similar. The refresh rate is sufficient (assuming light levels are optimal) to allow still life, interior, architectural, and landscape photographers the ability to check focus in real-time without the need to lug a laptop along (it will not be possible to use this feature off of a tripod due to the limitations of CCD sensors – expectations are for 1fps to 3fps). Live View on the IQ3 50MP is much faster and is even fast enough to be useful with portraiture. The CMOS design of the IQ250 also avoids blooming issues as seen on CCD back Live View usage. In addition to the new Focus Mask and fast 100% zoom views (or 200-400% zoom views for critical applications) Live View on the back will make the Phase One IQ3 the best back in the world for users of technical and view cameras.

Up to ISO3200 and 1.8 fps via Sensor+

The IQ3 80MP, and IQ3 60MP backs in the Phase One IQ3 series feature the same Sensor+ technology found in the Phase One P65+ and Phase One P40+. Both of these new backs in Sensor+ mode is capable of shooting at ISO3200 and at 1.8 frames per second. Because of a large 1.5 gigabyte buffer, a total of 9 cores of processing power, and UDMA6 compact flash write speeds (or FW800/USB3 tethering) the Phase One IQ3 60MP and IQ3 80MP can sustain that speed for a very high number of frames, unlike many dSLRs and competitive medium format systems which slow down drastically after an initial burst of speed. Because of the flexibility of Sensor+ the Phase One IQ3 Backs have the flexibility of two cameras in one. For instance the Phase One IQ3 80MP:

• In full resolution mode it produces 80 megapixel files allowing prints of up to an A1 poster size at true photographic resolution (300dpi) or far larger with only moderate interpolation, the highest resolution available today
• In Sensor+ mode the Phase One IQ3 80MP produces highly details 20 megapixel images, more than enough for a double-page magazine spread.

You can read the technical explanation of Sensor+, including the patented non-rectangular binning pattern.

Durability, Reliability, and Warranty

Phase One has long had the reputation for making the most durable and reliable digital backs in the industry. The Phase One P+ backs have been baked in an oven, frozen in dry ice, dropped onto concrete and used to hold up a two-ton truck. The IQ3 series of digital backs are even stronger. The Phase One IQ3 series is milled from a single block of Aerospace Grade Aluminum. The battery compartment has been moved into an internal housing to reduce it’s exposure to the elements, and the black coloring has been accomplished by anodization rather than painting to ensure it will never chip or crack. Phase One is ready to stand behind it’s lofty claims that the Phase One IQ3 series of backs will be even more durable and reliable than the P+ series, widely regarded as the (previously) most reliable backs in the world.

The standard manufacturer warranty (no additional cost) on the Phase One IQ3 series is a one year warranty. In addition, a $4,000 Value Added Warranty extends the warranty an additional four years for a total of five years of Value Added Warranty, and includes a free loaner digital back shipped within 24-hours to anywhere in the world during the duration of any repairs, as well as adding a variety of accessories.

USB2 / USB3 / FW800 / FW400

The Phase One H, P and P+ backs all used only Firewire 400, while most dSLRs use USB. , but it’s also less universal. Many computers, including the ultra portable but still very powerful MacBook Air as well as ultra portable PC laptops, do not include a firewire port. The Phase One IQ3 Series of digital backs ends that compromise by providing four tethering options on every back.

• FW800: Twice as fast as the FW400 used in the H/P/P+ series.   FW800 provides very fast tethering.
• FW400: Because firewire 800 is backwards compatible to firewire 400 any computer with FW400 can be used for tethering
• USB3: The Phase One IQ3 series are the only digital backs with USB3 tethering, providing, by far, the fastest throughput for tethering of any digital camera system made.
• USB2: because USB3 is backwards compatible to USB2, any computer with USB2 can also be used to tether to a Phase One IQ3 digital back.  This includes the MacBook Air and PC laptops.

Fast Interface with Powershare

• With full system integration, the XF Camera System offers power sharing between each of it’s independently powered components. The ability to provide consistent power for the system, as a whole, allows for maximum usage without the necessity to change batteries. Further, tethered workflow allows the system to charge when not in use. The new powersharing feature ensures consistent performance across all components. In addition, all Phase One IQ3 digital backs feature a built-in battery charger. When tethered by FW400 or FW800 the Phase One IQ3 will charge a battery (if present) in the battery bay.

Now with built in WiFi – create a wireless hotspot from your camera and view previews, rate, and fire the camera all from your iPad or iPhone!

• Connect iPads or iPhones running Capture Pilot directly to an IQ3 Series back
• Remote trigger captures
• Zoom, Pan and Browse full res images
• Save location data (GPS and more) from iPad/iPhone
• Built-in antennas and Wi-Fi functionality, no additional accessories or computers needed – it just works.

• To ensure the best quality of long-exposure imaging it is important to operate the digital capture device at a relatively constant temperature. When turning on an IQ3 Digital Back the power consumption will lead to a temperature increase that stabilizes in time.
• The Temperature Graph Tool displays the sensor temperature change when in use, giving you an easy overview of when the sensor is ideally suited for long exposures.