Phase One IQ3 100MP | Technical Camera Testing

Posted January 8, 2018

In Dave Gallagher, News, Phase One, Tech, Tech, Tech Camera

Testing a camera system is not as simple as one might think. We literally have thousands of customers and each one has their own individual workflow, system components, and style. When a new advanced piece of gear comes out we are inundated with questions and requests that span the globe. Importantly, we never answer these questions without first hand knowledge ourselves. Each and every member of our team understands and actually shoots with our products. Our management, account managers, and book keepers take gear home and test it on their own to become more familiar with its nuances and special requirements. By doing so, we never answer your questions with pre-packaged marketing blurbs from the manufacturers. We answer with the understanding and knowledge of the products that has been gained through our own evaluations. And if we don’t know the answer, we grab a camera that night and go find out.

We shoot. And we test. And we go to new locations. And we try new lenses. But what never fails, is that some clients feel let down because their specific question wasn’t addressed in the test. And worse, we are accused of skewing tests to show the products in a better light. “Of course you showed it that way, you sell it!” is what we hear no matter what we do. So to put it simply, we just can’t make everyone happy. We do our best. We make no sales arguments about quality, judgements on results, or statements versus the competition. We just try to get you honest information for you to use and judge for yourself. Here is one of our first tests with the new Phase One IQ3 100 digital back. Please take a look and let us know what test you would like next.

Equipment Used

Phase One IQ3 100mp Digital Camera Back

Phase One IQ280 Digital Camera Back

Phase One IQ3 60mp Digital Camera Back

ALPA 12 MAX Technical Camera

Induro Grand GIT204 tripod with ALPA 3D Micro Leveling Head

And the following lenses:

What questions were we trying to answer?

How does the new full frame CMOS perform when attached to a technical camera?

How does it perform when pushed to the edges of the image circle?

How does it compare to the CCD 60mp and 80mp sensors in the same scenario?

Is there a noticeable change in Dynamic Range and bit depth?

Our Methodology

What is the easiest way to show incredible detail with a new camera system? Shoot a controlled lighting environment of a model cropped in on their face! This is not a joke. This is what every single manufacturer has done for every single new release since digital began. “Wow! Look at the details in her eyelashes” Yes, its about as cliche as it gets. I remember the Kodak 760, the Leaf Cantare, and the MegaVison S2 first images to this day. All of them of a beautiful model with perfect make-up and an extremely controlled lighting environment.

What was our thought process here? Lets find one of the most difficult environments possible. Lets have uncontrolled daylight mix with interior tungsten. Lets capture the most extreme lighting contrast possible and see what this thing can do. So it was off to one of our local coffee shops in Atlanta to capture 2 hours of changing light and environment while enjoying a cup of some amazing java.

The Resulting Images

Below you will find images captured with the ALPA MAX, Phase One IQ3 100 digital back, and each lens listed. There are 6 files with each lens.

Straight Hero Shot
Hero LCC
Extreme shift
Extreme shift LCC
Extreme Shift with 10mm of Fall
Extreme Shift with 10mm of Fall LCC

These are all extreme conditions. These files contain strong contrasty details from blown out highlights to deep dark shadows. We pushed each lens to its limits and we pushed the ability of the LCC to render. There is no question that there is a tremendous amount of data to play with. That was our intent.

The last set of images are a series with the ALPA Schneider 60mm f/5.6 APO-Helvetar with the Phase one IQ3 60mp digital back and the Phase One IQ280 digital back. These were captured as reference files to compare to the IQ3 100 with the same lens.

Now it’s your turn. There is 7Gb of images to download. Pull them. Push them. Stretch the HDR sliders to their max. Do what makes you happy and then tell us how what you want us to capture Next! Enjoy!

IMPORTANT – CAPTURE ONE 9.0.3 NEEDED

Through our testing, we have found a bug in Capture One 9.0.2. YOU SHOULD NOT apply the LCC files to their corresponding partner until Capture One 9.0.3 is released in the very near future. It could be today. It could be this weekend or early next week. For now, please download them and have fun playing around with the data.

All files require Capture One 9.0.3 to view the .EIP format

3 images captured with our first IQ3 100 db test

Rodenstock 23HR

Phase One IQ3 100MP with Rodenstock 23HR (111 MB)
Phase One IQ3 100MP with Rodenstock 23HR LCC (104 MB)

Rodenstock 32HR

Phase One IQ3 100MP with Rodenstock 32HR (106 MB)
Phase One IQ3 100MP with Rodenstock 32HR LCC (106 MB)
Phase One IQ3 100MP with Rodenstock 32HR with 10mm shift (109 MB)
Phase One IQ3 100MP with Rodenstock 32HR with 10mm shift LCC (106 MB) Phase One IQ3 100MP with Rodenstock 32HR with 10mm shift & 10mm fall (103 MB)
Phase One IQ3 100MP with Rodenstock 32HR with 10mm shift & 10mm fall LCC (103 MB)

Rodenstock 40HR

Comparison: Phase One IQ3 60MP, Phase One IQ280, Phase One IQ3 100MP

IQ3 60MP with Schneider 60XL

Phase One IQ3 60MP with Schneider 60XL (51 MB)
Phase One IQ3 60MP with Schneider 60XL LCC (49 MB)
Phase One IQ3 60MP with Schneider 60XL with 18mm shift (50 MB)
Phase One IQ3 60MP with Schneider 60XL with 18mm shift LCC (48 MB)
Phase One IQ3 60MP with Schneider 60XL with 18mm shift & 10mm fall (50 MB)
Phase One IQ3 60MP with Schneider 60XL with 18mm shift & 10mm fall LCC (48 MB)

IQ280 with Schneider 60XL

Phase One IQ280 with Schneider 60XL (67 MB)
Phase One IQ280 with Schneider 60XL LCC (64 MB)
Phase One IQ280 with Schneider 60XL with 18mm shift (66 MB)
Phase One IQ280 with Schneider 60XL with 18mm shift LCC (63 MB)
Phase One IQ280 with Schneider 60XL with 18mm shift & 10mm fall (66 MB)
Phase One IQ280 with Schneider 60XL with 18mm shift & 10mm fall LCC (62 MB)

Dave Gallagher

Dave Gallagher began Capture Integration in 2004. But more importantly, he is a husband and father and works diligently to be better at both every day.