Phase One (company)

Phase One is a Danish company specializing in high-end digital photography equipment and software. They manufacture open platform based medium format camera systems and solutions. Their own RAW processing software, Capture One, supports many DSLRs besides their backs.
PODAS workshops (Phase One Digital Artist Series) is a series of worldwide photography workshops designed for digital photographers interested in working with medium format, high-resolution cameras. PODAS is a part of the Phase One educational division. Each attendee receives a Phase One digital camera system for the duration of the workshop.
On 18 February 2014, it was announced that UK-based private equity firm Silverfleet Capital would acquire a 60% majority stake in the company.
On June 17, 2019, Phase One A/S was once again sold, this time to the Danish investment company Axcel.
Products.
Cameras.
In 2009, Phase One purchased a major stake in Japanese Mamiya and the two companies develop products together. The following cameras are currently produced and sold by Phase One:
The Phase One 645DF+ and 645DF cameras are medium format cameras which support both focal plane and leaf shutter lenses with shutter speeds ranging from 1/4000s to 60 minutes and flash synchronization up to 1/1600 sec. Among the new features on the 645DF+ are:
The Phase One V-Grip Air vertical grip is compatible with the 645DF+/645DF. The V-Grip Air supports a Profoto Air flash trigger for wireless flash synchronization.
The 645DF+/645DF supports digital back interfaces including the IQ and P+ series digital backs as well as 3rd party digital backs from Hasselblad, Leaf and others.
In 2012, Phase One released two specialty cameras: iXR which is made specifically for reproduction and iXA which is made specifically for aerial photography. Both uses the 645 lenses as the normal 645 cameras. Main difference on this camera is they have no viewfinder and very few mechanical moving parts.
In 2013, Phase One signed a collaborative distribution agreement with Digital Transitions (DT) to deliver advanced digitization solutions for cultural heritage preservation imaging projects worldwide (Repro camera solutions). The range of Digital Transitions digitization equipment includes a multitude of reprographic benches, purpose-built reprographic cameras, specialized book copy stations, film scanning kits, and accessories that are designed to host the line of Phase One digital capture hardware and Capture One software.
In 2014, Phase One launched a medium format digital back with a CMOS/active pixel sensor: The IQ250. All Phase One digital backs launched prior to the IQ250 have sensors based on the CCD (Charge-coupled device) technology.
In 2015, Phase One introduced the XF camera system. It is a new digital camera platform, medium format system built with the intention to upgrade it over a series of updates throughout the product lifetime. At the same time, the IQ3 series digital backs were introduced. This included the IQ3 50MP based on the previous IQ250, the IQ3 60MP based on the previous IQ260 and the newly introduced IQ3 80MP which includes a new CCD (Charge-coupled device) sensor exclusive to Phase One.
Lenses.
The 645DF / DF+ / XF is compatible with the following lenses:
Rodenstock.
Phase One XT compatible lenses
Industrial lenses.
RS Lenses compatible with iXM-RS
RSM lenses compatible with iXM
Lenses for iXM-MV
NOTE: iXM-MV is also compatible with Schneider-Kreuznach medium format lenses
Digital backs.
IQ1 series.
The IQ series Phase One backs included many industry-first innovations. It was the first camera series to utilize a USB 3 connection. At the time of the release, this was not very widespread, but did allow for backwards compatibility with USB 2.0. It was also the first camera series to include a high resolution multi-touch display, similar to the "Retina" screen used in the iPhone 4.
P+ series.
The P+ series are similar to the normal P series but have higher capture speeds, better response to long exposure times, and add Live Preview, which allows the user to focus and compose on a monitor while tethered. Also, a new high resolution LCD screen was implemented with better resolution and luminance.
P series.
The P series are fully untethered backs available for many different camera mounts.
H series.
The H series are tethered backs available for many different camera mounts. Camera back connects through standard 6pin IEEE 1394. Originally this type of camera back was released as the "Lightphase", a continuation of Phase One's previous tradition of using the name "phase" in the name of the product. This changed with the release of the "H20", which was originally called "Lightphase H20" but the name was changed to "Phase One H20" for better brand recognition.
Scan backs.
The Scan backs are tethered digital scan backs. All use SCSI connection except for PowerPhase FX, which uses IEEE1394 "Firewire". The very early models, which were known as the CB6x (StudioKit) and FC70 (PhotoPhase), were made in plastic and had an external control unit that connected to a computer through NuBus.
XF Camera System feature updates.
The XF Camera System is upgradable and received various planned new features and functionality over its product lifetime.
Repro camera solutions.
Phase One reprographic camera systems and book capture / scanners are purpose-built to provide preservation-level rapid capture of rare books, circulation materials, manuscripts, documents, photographic slides, photographic negatives and photographic glass-plates.
Phase One repro camera solutions include the following products:
The above camera systems are purpose built for the following solutions but compatible with standard Reproduction systems.
Imaging software.
The Capture One software comes in several flavours but is still a single binary. License key and option selected determine which version is active:
Capture One companion software: