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How the Phase One IQ180 camera sees the world (photos)

Phase One's 80-megapixel, $42,990 image sensor for medium-format cameras can capture an abundance of detail and color. Here's a look at some photos taken with--and of--the camera system.

Stephen Shankland
Stephen Shankland worked at CNET from 1998 to 2024 and wrote about processors, digital photography, AI, quantum computing, computer science, materials science, supercomputers, drones, browsers, 3D printing, USB, and new computing technology in general. He has a soft spot in his heart for standards groups and I/O interfaces. His first big scoop was about radioactive cat poop.
Stephen Shankland
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1 of 14 Stephen Shankland/CNET

IQ180 photo: macro flower power

A close-up of a flower shot with the Phase One IQ180 digital back and 645DF camera body with the Phase One/Mamiya 120mm Macro f/4.0D lens. 1/10 sec at F12, ISO 200. With 80 megapixels, this $42,990 image sensor can capture tremendous detail and color when mounted onto a medium-format camera system.
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2 of 14 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Phase One camera and Schneider-Kreuznach lens

Schneider-Kreuznach's 120mm F5.6 tilt-shift lens mounted on a Phase One medium-format 645DF camera make a formidably bulky combination. The lens itself costs $4,990; the IQ180 image sensor, 645DF camera body, and more conventional 80mm Schneider-Kreuznach lens cost $47,990.
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3 of 14 Stephen Shankland/CNET

IQ180 shot: Leather purse

A close-up of a leather purse shot with the Phase One IQ180 digital back and 645DF camera body with the Phase One/Mamiya 120mm Macro f/4.0D lens. 3 sec at F14, ISO 35.
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4 of 14 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Drawing boy

A portrait taken with the Phase One IQ180 digital back and 645DF camera body with the Schneider-Kreuznach 80mm f2.8 lens. 1/60 sec at F2.8, ISO 100. The camera does a great job at capturing skin tones.
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5 of 14 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Fallen leaves

A close-up of fallen leaves shot with the Phase One IQ180 digital back and 645DF camera body with the Phase One/Mamiya 120mm Macro f/4.0D lens. 1.5 sec at F13, ISO 35. The camera can capture subtle colors as well as bright ones, though in this case the camera's color balance was thrown off--perhaps by all the light filtering through yellow leaves still on the trees.
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6 of 14 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Phase One camera and Schneider-Kreuznach lens

Phase One's IQ180 sensor mounted to the 645DF camera body and Schneider-Kreuznach's 120mm tilt-shift lens. The lens looks crooked because tilt-shift lenses can be oriented in unusual ways to correct perspective and achieve unusual focus characteristics.
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7 of 14 Stephen Shankland/CNET

IQ180 photo: iridescent beetle

A close-up of a dung beetle shot with the Phase One IQ180 digital back and 645DF camera body with the Phase One/Mamiya 120mm Macro f/4.0D lens. 1/6 sec at F14, ISO 100.
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8 of 14 Stephen Shankland/CNET

IQ180 100 percent crop

A close-up of an iris at Claude Monet's garden in Giverny, France. The area in the green rectangle is shown at 100 percent zoom below. This was shot with Phase One's IQ180 and 120mm macro lens at 1/125 sec. at f/10 and ISO 200, with no extra noise reduction applied.
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9 of 14 Stephen Shankland/CNET

IQ180 photo: Claude Monet's house

Claude Monet's house in Giverny, France, shows its abundance of color and detail in this Phase One IQ180 image.
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10 of 14 Stephen Shankland/CNET
The Phase One IQ180 digital back does an excellent job with bright or subtle colors. This was shot with the Phase One IQ180 digital back and 645DF camera body with the Phase One/Mamiya 120mm Macro f/4.0D lens. 1/10 sec at F9, ISO 35.
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11 of 14 Phase One

Phase One IQ180 mounted on 645DF camera

Phase One's IQ180 digital back on a 645DF camera body.
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12 of 14 Phase One

Phase One IQ180

Phase One's IQ180, with 80-megapixel resolution and 12.5-F-stop dynamic range, has a high-resolution touch screen on the back and a USB 3.0 data connection.
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13 of 14 Stephen Shankland/CNET

IQ180 photo: Claude Monet's garden

Claude Monet's garden, photographed with the Phase One IQ180 digital back and 645DF camera body with the Schneider-Kreuznach LS55 55mm lens. 1/20 sec at F16, ISO 50.
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14 of 14 Stephen Shankland/CNET

IQ180 photo: flower in Claude Monet's garden

A close-up of a flower shot with the Phase One IQ180 digital back and 645DF camera body with the Phase One/Mamiya 120mm Macro f/4.0D lens. 1/250 sec at F7.1, ISO 200.

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