First Look At The Phase One XF Medium Format Camera System

Earlier today Phase one introduced a new camera system called XF to its line of medium format camera bodies. The new body includes several improvements and innovations including a whole new AF system.

The Phase One medium format system is divided into several components including the body (with the AF, mechanical parts etc.), the viewfinder (which is detachable and replaceable), the back (including the sensor and LCD) and of course the lenses. The Phase One XF represents a step forward in almost all of these components – with a new body (and AF system), IQ3 backs, two new Schneider leaf lenses and new viewfinder.

Different configurations of the new XF system

According to Phase One these are some of the actual changes with the new XF:

New Autofocus Platform – The XF Camera System has a new patent pending, fully controlled in-house autofocus system known as the Honeybee Autofocus Platform (HAP-1).
New Flexible OneTouch User Interface (UI) – A clean, highly customizable combination of dials, keys and touch screens, allowing photographers to personalize camera controls for their specific shooting requirements, via camera or software.
New IQ3 Digital Backs – A new IQ3 80MP digital back will be the first of its kind to offer exposures of up to 60 minutes using a new and Phase One-exclusive imaging sensor. It joins the new IQ3 60MP and IQ3 50MP digital backs — all three of which feature a high-bandwidth interface that enables advanced tools in the new OneTouch UI, including power-sharing capabilities.
New Lenses Ready for 100MP and Beyond – Two new Phase One Schneider Kreuznach Leaf Shutter lenses — 120mm and 35mm — are both designed to resolve beyond 100MP. They add to Phase One’s range of 20 high-resolution medium format optics, including a dedicated Leaf Shutter range, a Focal Plane range, specialty and zooms, and support for 60 legacy lenses.
New Capture One Pro 8.3 – Delivering the market’s best RAW image quality, more than 25 advanced photographic tools, and industry leading professional workflow, Capture One Pro 8.3 is built specifically for the XF Camera System and supports more than 300 different models of 35mm DSLRs. It offers the option to customize XF camera controls and delivers up to 30 percent faster tethered shooting.
New Modular Viewfinders – The XF Camera System introduces a new 90° Prism viewfinder and a new waist-level finder. The full frame solid glass prism viewfinder is the brightest of its kind, and comes standard on all XF cameras. The new waist-level viewfinder (an industry classic) can measure exposure thanks to the HAP-1 autofocus platform ability to perform light metering.
Upgradeable Camera OS – The new XF Camera OS powering its OneTouch UI allows for easy and fast upgrades that will provide both new features and unique customization in accordance with the feedback of our customers. XF Camera Systems users are encouraged to submit ideas and feature requests and will be able to easily upgrade their system at regular intervals to benefit from new features.
Soft-configured controls – The XF Camera controls can be controlled from the camera or via tethered computer/mobile device. Three customizable dial and six customizable controls let photographers personalize the operation of each control to support their needs at any given time.
Intuitive Touch – There are two touch screens: A 1.6” grip screen is designed for clear visibility under any lighting condition using a transflective capacitive touch display. On the back is a 3.2” retina touch screen designed to show high-quality image previews, with the ability to zoom to 100 percent with a single tap.

Down looking viewfinder

The XF series pricing is going to be high (even for a high end medium format camera). The XF body with an IQ3 back, prism viewfinder, Schneider-Kreutnach 80mm LS Lens (and Capture One 8.3 software) will be:

XF IQ3 80MP – $48,990 (€38,990)
XF IQ3 60MP – $41,990 (€33,990)
XF IQ3 50MP – $40,990 (€31,990)

The new Schneider leaf shutter lenses will be priced as follows:

35mm F3.5 – $6,490 / €5,490
120mm F4 – $6,490 / €5,490

A new interface and personalize camera controls

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Iddo Genuth

Iddo Genuth is the founder and chief editor of LensVid.com. He has been a technology reporter working for international publications since the late 1990's and covering photography since 2009. Iddo is also a co-founder of a production company specializing in commercial food and product visual content.