Phase One has announced its latest medium format camera, the Phase One XC. Phase One has designed the XC to be a travel-friendly camera that you can take with you all the time. It has a more compact design than other medium format cameras and an ergonomic wooden grip.
What is medium format?
The XC medium format camera uses the Phase One 150-megapixel IQ4 image sensor or IQ4 Achromatic sensor, which is for black and white photography. The sensor also measures 2.1 inches by 1.6 inches (53.4 mm x 40 mm), which is around two and a half times larger than a full-frame image sensor. In addition, the 150-megapixel images captured are a massive 14,204 x 10,652 pixels which resolve a massive amount of detail. Phase One says the sensor has a dynamic range of up to 15 stops.
Fixed lens
The Phase One XC camera comes with a Rodenstock HR Digaron-S 23mm lens which is manual focus only. This is also a fixed lens, so you can’t swap it out for an alternative focal length. Due to the large sensor size, the XC has a crop factor of around 0.64 compared to a full-frame sensor. This means that the 23 mm lens on the XC is equivalent to around a 15mm lens on a full-frame camera. In addition, the 23 mm lens has a maximum aperture of f5.6 and a 72 mm filter thread.
Other features
The XC offers shutter speeds from 1/1000th of a second to 60 minutes. The camera also uses Phase One’s electromagnetic X-Shutter, which has carbon fiber shutter blades. The regular IQ4 sensor has an ISO range from 50-25600, while the Achromatic sensor can go up to ISO 102400. In addition, the back of the XC has a 3.2-inch multi-touch display. In terms of connections, the XC features Wi-Fi, gigabit Ethernet, USB-C and HDMI.
What we think
Medium format cameras are high-resolution and high-quality photography cameras. The compact design of the Phase One XC camera makes it easier to keep it with you for when inspiration strikes. However, the high price of the XC means it is a specialized camera for professionals who need the highest quality images or medium format enthusiasts with very deep pockets.
Pricing and availability
You can order the XC camera from Phase One for $62,490.
