Phase One launches a true 100MP medium format camera
The XF 100MP doesn't have to rely on tricks to take massively detailed photos.
Taking medium format photos above 60 megapixels has typically required some trickery, like shooting multiple pictures at a time. However, you won't have to 'cheat' with Phase One's new XF 100MP camera system. As the name suggests, the hardware uses a full-fledged 100-megapixel CMOS sensor (co-developed with Sony) that captures a massive amount of detail in one shot. Moreover, the output will be more likely to please you if you still prefer film. This is the first CMOS sensor to output richer 16-bit color, and Phase One is promising a natural look that you sometimes miss from 14-bit cameras. You don't have to shoot in perfect lighting, either, since it produces "clean" shots from ISO 50 all the way to ISO 12,800.
The XF 100MP is shipping now, although it's not a trivial purchase even for pros used to shooting with Hasselblads and Leafs. At $48,990, this is really for top-tier, no-compromise photographers that want to preserve every single detail. Even so, you may appreciate the difference the next time you see a close-up portrait or dramatic landscape in ads and magazines.
