Musings on the Phase One XF and IQ3-100
Back in April and May of 2017 (last year as I write now) I wrote about my experiences researching the two new 100mp offerings from Phase One and Hasselblad, the Phase One XF camera with IQ3-100 digital back and the Hasselblad H6D-100… and how I chose which one to buy to upgrade from my ageing Hasselblad H4D-60.
To summarise the results of that research, I chose the the Phase One XF and IQ3-100, for details of the process you can read about it HERE>>
Phase One XF Kit with the IQ3-100
I ended up buying the XF camera and IQ3-100 with a series of lenses to match. The Phase One 28mm f4.5 (Not the Schneider Kreuznach version), the Schneider Kreuznach 55mm f2.8, the Schneider Kreuznach 110mm f2.8, the Phase One 75-150mm f4.5 (not the Schneider Kreuznach version, much too heavy) and an older Mamiya 210mm f4…
Along with the Lee 150 filter system that I had to upgrade to from the 100 system (not sure it’s an upgrade…) due to the lack of filter flange on the 28mm, and my trusty old Really Right Stuff 24L tripod with the BH55 head, stainless steel foot spikes and the levelling base…
It’s a great kit and it makes awesome images, but it’s bloody heavy! Especially when you add in the Sony A7-r Mk II and 16-35mm f4 lens as backup camera…
A very heavy camera bag…
A couple of years back on my way to Iceland (for the fourth time) the airline check in staff insisted on weighing my hand luggage… and without the tripod my camera bag, well… weighed 19kg…
On that trip to Iceland I spent 2 weeks hiking through the Highlands of Iceland, and while they are not strictly mountains, they are very high steep hills in the Highlands. When you add the (rather heavy) tripod plus a couple of litres of water, food and rain gear to the kit it becomes a very heavy bag to carry. Too Heavy. Way too heavy.
But Look what it can do! Image below is a 100% crop of the Iceland image above (click on the image to get a closer look).
The Phase One camera and a new pair of knees?
On that trip to Iceland, with my knees and back groaning under the strain, I started thinking that this setup was simply too heavy to travel with, or indeed even carry, and I needed to re-assess my kit… or get new knees… Or a Sherpa to carry my gear.
That was difficult as once you have experienced the joys of 100mp files from the IQ3-100 everything else is disappointing. Very disappointing. What to do…?
Image of Detifoss waterfall in Northern Iceland, shot on the Phase One XF camera, IQ3-100 (100mp) back and Phase One 28mm lens.
More from the wonderful world of technical cameras in This Post>>