Digital Photographer - UK (2019-08)

(Antfer) #1

you would expect, so it’s as if you are editing
a colour file. And if you untick ‘Enable Black &
White’, the colour image is revealed.
By the time you’ve added a lens to the XF
body and IQ4 back, you’re lifting some serious
weight. Thankfully, the XF has a chunky grip
that’s well-shaped. However, the camera
system is best-suited to use on a tripod, and
using features such as the seismograph,
which can be linked to the self-timer and the
Hyperfocal Point or Focus Stack tools, enables
you to milk every last drop of detail from the
sensor and lens.
It’s worth mentioning that you can expect
to wait around 15 seconds or so after pressing
the power button before the XF IQ4 150MP is
ready to let you start shooting.
Once you get over the size and weight of
the XF camera, the AF system is its only real


FeaTureS
Phase One has given it very clever
features, but more sophisticated
focussing would be nice

Build qualiTy
You can’t question the tank-like
robustness of the XF IQ4 camera
system – it’s made to last

qualiTy oF reSulTS
In the right hands, the XF IQ4
150MP delivers astonishingly
good images with heaps of detail

handling
While the AF system frustrates
and the camera is big and heavy,
the interface is very clear

Value For money
Staggeringly expensive, it’s more
likely to be rented than bought,
but the results may be priceless

megapixels
151
max resolution
14,204x10,652
Sensor
information
53.4 x 40mm
CMOS BSI
Shutter speed
1/4,000sec-60min
iSo sensitivity
50-25,600
exposure modes
Manual, Aperture
priority, Shutter
priority, Program
metering options
Matrix, Centre,
Spot
Flash modes
External only
Connectivity
Wi-Fi, USB-C, HDMI
Weight
1,890g (back plus
camera body and
prism finder)
dimensions
152 x 135 x 160mm
(with prism finder
but without lens)
Batteries
2x Rechargeable
Li-ion
Storage
XQD and SD
lCd
3.2-inch
Viewfinder:
Prism or waist-level

Phase One XF IQ4 150MP


Its size, weight and AF
system are limiting and the
cost is incredible, but the
quality of the results from the
Phase One XF IQ4 150MP is
absolutely stunning.

overall


dual TouCh-
SCreenS
Like the screen on the
camera back, the smaller
top screen on the body is
touch-sensitive for quick,
intuitive setting changes.

ConTrol dialS
There are three dials on
or near the grip to adjust
shutter speed, aperture
and sensitivity. It can
help to customise one for
exposure compensation.

TWin Card SloTS
The IQ4 back has twin
card slots, one that
accepts XQD media
and the other SD-type
cards. The SD card slot is
UHS-II compatible.
FlaSh ConTrol
The camera body has a
Profoto Air trigger built
in. This lets you adjust the
output and fire Profoto
lights remotely in manual
or TTL mode.

TWo BaTTerieS
Both the IQ4 back and
the XF camera body
require a battery, but
the camera can also be
powered via an ethernet or
a USB-C connection.

XF-mounT lenSeS
Phase One offers eight
focal plane lenses and
12 XF-mount Schneider
Kreuznach leaf shutter
optics, and over 60 legacy
lenses are supported.

FEATURES


dual TouCh-
SCreenS

weak point. For a start, it’s slow in comparison
to Fujifilm’s GFX cameras. And one AF point
seems a little old-school for a camera with
so many modern flourishes and such a
huge cost. However, the AFr mode, which
is designed to address the slight shift in
focussing that occurs when you focus and
recompose, at least ensures that your subject
remains sharp – although you need to check
lens compatibility.
Alternatively, you can also focus manually,
which is easiest in Live View mode or remotely
with the camera tethered to a computer. The
latter means you can use a large screen to
assess the focus. However, we found that
the feed doesn’t provide quite the level of
detail you want for precise focussing when
previewing the scene on a 5K iMac screen.
That said, focus peaking is on hand, and we

“ Features such as


the seismograph


enable you to


milk every last


drop of detail”


were able to get the results we wanted, but it
would be nice to have a crisper view.
We shot with the XF IQ4 150MP in its matrix
metering setting, and generally this worked
well, giving well-balanced exposures. However,
the Exposure Zone view and its coloured
warnings are useful when you want to ensure
you’re gathering the maximum amount of
data. The low-ISO images also have very good
latitude, so it’s possible to recover a lot of
detail from the shadows or the highlights.
If you’re a portrait photographer, models
are unlikely to thank you for opening an image
and checking the focus on a large screen, as
every pore and imperfection is laid bare for
all to see. But the results are nothing short of
stunning. Still life, landscape and commercial
photographers will really appreciate the
incredible level of detail that’s visible.
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