I’m pleased to announce that this past week I took delivery of a new camera and set of lenses, a Phase One Medium format system! I believe I am the first portrait photographer in the Topeka area to be using this system, and quite probably one of the first in Northeast Kansas to do so!
Normally I don’t discuss the type of equipment I use with my clients, unless they ask for some reason. I firmly believe that the single most important element in choosing a photographer is whether you like the images they produce, and the type of camera used rarely makes a difference in image quality these days.
So why am I writing about my new camera (or any piece of equipment, for that matter) here on the blog? Because this is one of those rare times when the type of equipment can actually make a difference in the quality of photos delivered.
The new camera system uses a 31 megapixel sensor and is compatible with the high-quality, high-resolution Mamiya lenses for the 645 system. The sensor on this camera is significantly larger than that of a 35mm sensor, allowing it to capture a higher range of tonal values from light to dark (called “dynamic range”) while maintaining detail throughout. The sensor captures at a true 16-bits of color information for each pixel, creating smoother transitions between tonal values. (Most 35mm “16-bit” cameras actually only capture at 12- or 14-bits but store the information in 16 bits.) There is also not an anti-alias filter in front of the digital sensor on this system like is found on 35mm-format digital cameras, resulting in overall sharper photos. The 31 megapixels allows me to print files at more than 16 inches x 20 inches without doing anything in the computer to “up-rez” the image, and larger prints require less computer interpretation.
There are numerous other advantages as well, but the last one I’ll mention is the ability to upgrade just the sensor portion of the camera without having to replace the entire camera. If in a year I decide I’d like to purchase the 39 megapixel sensor, or the new 65 megapixel sensor that was just released, or whatever they come out with next year, I simply replace the sensor portion or “digital back”, allowing me to more economically stay up to date with the latest technology!
This will be one of the few times I ever post on this blog about camera gear. I simply felt this was an important enough development and showed my determination and commitment to continue to provide only the highest quality photography in the area to my clients that this blog post was merited.
If you’ve read this far, congratulations, you’re probably as dedicated to receiving the best quality photography as I am to delivering it and I look forward to working with you!