Medium Format Camera News

Phase One Industrial has announced the Phase One iXU 180, which the company says is the world’s smallest and lightest 80-megapxiel medium format aerial camera. The Phase One iXU 180 weighs less than 34 ounces and can fit in the palm of your hand.

Phase One Industrial says the iXU 180 is so small “its body is barely wider than its lens barrel.” The iXU 180 can be used “as a standalone photogrammetric camera, or as part of an array of multiple cameras, either to cover a larger swath or as part of an oblique camera system,” according to Phase One Industrial.

The company added that with the popularity of high-resolution 3D city models, photographers need smaller medium format cameras that can fit inside a gyro mount for aerial photography. The Phase One iXU 180  is so petite it can be used in an ultralight plane or even a remote controlled gyro copter to capture high resolution aerial stills with the quality of medium format.

The Phase One iXU can utilize the central leaf shutters in a variety of compatible Schneider-Kreuznach lenses including 28mm, 55mm, 80mm, 110mm, 150mm and 240 mm models.

The Phase One iXU 180 goes on sale in mid-April. It will also be available in 60MP RGB and 60MP achromatic versions.

More info here.