If there’s anything I remember from Toy Story, it’s that I should reach for the sky, which is exactly what Phase One is aiming for with its new line of cameras. The iXU-R series is the latest in Phase One Industrial’s cache of medium-format digital cameras for aerial photography, and it comes in three varieties: 80-MP, 60-MP and 60-MP achromatic. As you can see in the picture above, it is literally a box with a lens, and it comes with three dedicated Phase One Rodenstock lenses (40mm, 50mm and 70mm). They’re also USB 3.0 compatible.
The idea behind these cameras is impressive specs in a lightweight package because if there’s anything you need to cut down on with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), it’s weight. So, if you’re a film director looking to get high-res imagery of the fjords in Norway, know that this camera, whichever one you get, will deliver.
To illustrate what this series can do, the iXU-R 180 (that’s the 80-MP version) can provide 10,823 pixels of cross-track coverage (read: 10,832 pixels on the long edge), and it’s small enough to fit on your average gimbal. It can also connect with any GPS systems you might be using so that you can accurately capture and transfer data.
Who might use these? Filmmakers, definitely. Amateur pilots in Cessnas who’d love to make some landscapes from the sky. Drone enthusiasts. You know the ones who make those nifty aerial videos of their local beach. Governments, probably.
We estimate these will be very expensive. Stay tuned!
Get rid of the ads!
Did you enjoy reading this article as much as we enjoyed writing it? There's a way to support us and our reporting, getting ad-free navigation and more as a bonus. Subscribe to us for less than a coffee per month —just $3.99— or take advantage of our yearly subscription with a hefty discount for only $25.- An ad-free experience
- A free mystery box for Lightroom or Capture One
- All the books in our store
- 20% discount on Capture One
- 30% discount on Imalume Photo Theft Protection
- 20% off Herbs and Kettle Tea Company.