No, it’s not the kind of camera that you’ll likely consider for your next purchase. Unless, of course, you’re a high-level professional who gets paid gobs of money for your fine art, landscape, or architectural photographs, in which case, you’re probably part of the target demographic for the Phase One IQ3 100MP Achromatic.
A dedicated black-and-white shooter, the rig ditches the Bayer color filter found in the original IQ3 100MP, eliminating the need for the sensor to interpret color, leaving it free to focus on capturing “absolute detail, luminance values and subtle tonal beauty.” Basically, it will take the kind of photos that you aren’t likely to recreate with color shots, no matter how much desaturation and post-processing work you attempt to put in.
The Phase One IQ3 100MP Achromatic uses a 101-megapixel CMOS sensor that, the outfit claims, is the most light-sensitive (ISO of 51,200) medium-format digital sensor in the market today. Aside from ditching the Bayer filter, it also sheds the infrared cut-off filter, so the camera can capture light outside the visible spectrum if so desired. With the sensor sporting fast read-out speeds, the camera is able to provide Live View via the 3.2-inch touchscreen display around the back. Features include an electronic shutter, exposures up to 60 minutes long, 15 f-stops dynamic range, HDMI output, integrated Wi-Fi, and compatibility with XF mounting options.
Available now, the Phase One iQ3 100MP Achromatic is priced at $49,990.