100 MP!

[Mike Farley]

Phase One has just announced the latest back for its modular medium format XF camera system and it comes in at a whopping 100 MP. Unlike previous "medium format" digital cameras which had sensors smaller than 120 film, the new sensor really is full frame which means that lenses designed for medium format can be used at their full field of view with no crop factor. In addition Phase One is claiming 15 stops of dynamic range and full 16 bit colour.* 100 MP equates to pixel dimensions of 11608 x 8708, which will produce a print of just over 32" x 24" at 360 ppi, or 38.69" x 29.03" at 300 ppi. At normal viewing distances, it is possible to go much larger with a lower ppi, so 72" x 44" would be feasible without having to upres.

A complete system with 80 mm lens will cost $49k, which will probably work out at around £40k once UK taxes are taken into account. That would just be the start of the expense as it will require a well specified computer to process the Raw** files and a top end printer to output the images. A monitor to show the images full size at 100% resolution does not yet exist, nor is one likely to in the foreseeable future.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0998933437 ... -with-sony

For those curious to know what a 100 MP image looks like, Luminous landscape has some downloadable JPEG examples wich come in at over 17 megabytes, but you will need a subscription to see them as they are behind the paywall.

* The sensor has been designed in conjunction with Sony, so it is possible that these features will be available in the next generation of sensors for the cameras most of us can actually afford.

** Come on, who is going to shoot JPEG only with this thing?

[Mike Farley]

Unlike previous "medium format" digital cameras which had sensors smaller than 120 film, the new sensor really is full frame ......

That remark, based on the Phase One announcement, requires a little clarification. The sensor size at 54 mm x 40 mm is slightly smaller than a 645 film frame which measures 56 x 41.5. The traditional square image on 120 comes in at 56 x 56. The image circle required for a lens to cover the sensor is 67 mm in diameter, whereas it is 70 for either of the film formats; close enough to make little practical difference.