My dealer gave me the chance to test an IQ180 during a week. I'm a P40+ user and want to evaluate the need to upgrade. The goal is for using the back in combo with the DF camera for all kind of amateur purpose and on a Cambo WRS for architecture paying jobs.
So, after 2 days, here is a small initial summary:
* The interface is a huge improvement.
I was first thinking that Phase was exagerating, charging that much extra money for a better (needed) screen and some extra widgets. But this new interface does change the way pictures are taken. It brings me a lot more control and decrease drasticaly the rate of missed shots. The screen is beautiful, the focus mask, histogram and exposition warning just perfect.
It really does increase my control over composition, expo, and focus.
Only cons points are:
I find the onscreen image to be quite soft at 100%. It is not that easy to judge sharp or thack sharp images on it. But of course magic focus mask is there to help.
It should be nice being able to navigate from 1 image to another in 100% zoom mode to compare their sharpness. Now you have to db clic for 100% view, then reduce to screen size, then scroll to the other image then db clic for 100% view. Not a big deal but a fixed 100% view could be better (if the processor can digest that ?).
On the DF camera, it saved me a few missed focus shots already as the Mam. 150mm f2.8 I also received on test is front focussing after the first half-press on the AF button (pressing it several times helps).
On the Cambo WRS with 35mm Schneider digitar, the new interface became quickly a must have. No need (immediate need I should say) in investing on a viewfinder, a disto and HPF rings. Simplicity...
My first impression on using the IQ180 with the 35mm Schneider is that 5mm shift left & right when the sensor is in its horizontal position is a max. The color cast and vignetting are strong. Capture 1 can deal with them but noise does clearly appear in the corners. With a 10 to 12mm shift, Capture 1 cannot always correct: oversaturated data error message is sometimes displayed.
The center filter seem to help for color cast too. The color cast shots show a bit less magenta color than without the filter - but maybe I'm biased by the fact that vignetting is stronger and then magenta color darker without the filter.
By the way, when pixel peeping, I can't see no center sharpness difference with or without the filter. But light was very flat during the shot and that did not help compare micro contrast.
But what about the 80mpix sensor ?
I was expecting so much that I was a bit disappointed. The resolution difference between the P40+ and the IQ180 are not THAT huge. But, comparing the 2 backs, I even began to think that the IQ180 does present a more 'dslr like' result. The P40 images are crisper and with more contrast. Scary as the last thing I want to invest on is in a 80mpix DSLR...
At the end of the afternoon....I discovered that the 150mm I was using was not the Schneider 150mm LS but the Mam 150mm.... Compared to my 80mm Schneider, the 150mm Mam does look less sharp (although I know this 150mm lens has a very good reputation). So now I'll redo tests with the 80mm schneider. Maybe the 150mm Mam copy I have does not follow the IQ180 resolving power ? The last test shot I made (studio shot with flash gen.) clearly showed wonderfull details, that the P40 could not approach.
With the 150mm Mam, images of the IQ180 looked almost like they were taken from the P40 and upscaled. Need to be investigated.
I didn't see the extra dynamic range this new back is supposed to have. With controlled light and compared to the P40 I just saw more or less an equal histo in the extreme left and right zones. Again, to be further anaylsed.
The most pleasant surprise was about the colors. The look is very natural and pleasing. Strong yellows maybe are a bit off, needing extra saturation, but the overall colors do appeal me more than my P40+.
I hope that - in a week - I will be able to determine if I will upgrade to a IQ140 - 160 or 180.
I'm afraid by the 'too shallow' depth of field of the larger sensors.
But also concerned by the need to shift all the time with the Cambo and P40+
The 'DSLR look' first impression was also scary. Colors are saturated and beautifully natural. But there is a lack of 'natural sharpness' and 'natural 3d effect/micro contrast' on some shots compared to my P40+
But this can be the result of using a bad copy of the Mam 150mm - or also to unappropriate C1 parameters.
But maybe the IQ160 is the ultimate back I will die with: a perfect interface, beautiful pixels and.. oh noo, no super natural colors. That's clearly in the IQ180 camp.
So that's it for this report that should have take more care and time (as a better english).
Please do remember I'm no pro photographer and that these comments are only initial thoughts :salute:
So, after 2 days, here is a small initial summary:
* The interface is a huge improvement.
I was first thinking that Phase was exagerating, charging that much extra money for a better (needed) screen and some extra widgets. But this new interface does change the way pictures are taken. It brings me a lot more control and decrease drasticaly the rate of missed shots. The screen is beautiful, the focus mask, histogram and exposition warning just perfect.
It really does increase my control over composition, expo, and focus.
Only cons points are:
I find the onscreen image to be quite soft at 100%. It is not that easy to judge sharp or thack sharp images on it. But of course magic focus mask is there to help.
It should be nice being able to navigate from 1 image to another in 100% zoom mode to compare their sharpness. Now you have to db clic for 100% view, then reduce to screen size, then scroll to the other image then db clic for 100% view. Not a big deal but a fixed 100% view could be better (if the processor can digest that ?).
On the DF camera, it saved me a few missed focus shots already as the Mam. 150mm f2.8 I also received on test is front focussing after the first half-press on the AF button (pressing it several times helps).
On the Cambo WRS with 35mm Schneider digitar, the new interface became quickly a must have. No need (immediate need I should say) in investing on a viewfinder, a disto and HPF rings. Simplicity...
My first impression on using the IQ180 with the 35mm Schneider is that 5mm shift left & right when the sensor is in its horizontal position is a max. The color cast and vignetting are strong. Capture 1 can deal with them but noise does clearly appear in the corners. With a 10 to 12mm shift, Capture 1 cannot always correct: oversaturated data error message is sometimes displayed.
The center filter seem to help for color cast too. The color cast shots show a bit less magenta color than without the filter - but maybe I'm biased by the fact that vignetting is stronger and then magenta color darker without the filter.
By the way, when pixel peeping, I can't see no center sharpness difference with or without the filter. But light was very flat during the shot and that did not help compare micro contrast.
But what about the 80mpix sensor ?
I was expecting so much that I was a bit disappointed. The resolution difference between the P40+ and the IQ180 are not THAT huge. But, comparing the 2 backs, I even began to think that the IQ180 does present a more 'dslr like' result. The P40 images are crisper and with more contrast. Scary as the last thing I want to invest on is in a 80mpix DSLR...
At the end of the afternoon....I discovered that the 150mm I was using was not the Schneider 150mm LS but the Mam 150mm.... Compared to my 80mm Schneider, the 150mm Mam does look less sharp (although I know this 150mm lens has a very good reputation). So now I'll redo tests with the 80mm schneider. Maybe the 150mm Mam copy I have does not follow the IQ180 resolving power ? The last test shot I made (studio shot with flash gen.) clearly showed wonderfull details, that the P40 could not approach.
With the 150mm Mam, images of the IQ180 looked almost like they were taken from the P40 and upscaled. Need to be investigated.
I didn't see the extra dynamic range this new back is supposed to have. With controlled light and compared to the P40 I just saw more or less an equal histo in the extreme left and right zones. Again, to be further anaylsed.
The most pleasant surprise was about the colors. The look is very natural and pleasing. Strong yellows maybe are a bit off, needing extra saturation, but the overall colors do appeal me more than my P40+.
I hope that - in a week - I will be able to determine if I will upgrade to a IQ140 - 160 or 180.
I'm afraid by the 'too shallow' depth of field of the larger sensors.
But also concerned by the need to shift all the time with the Cambo and P40+
The 'DSLR look' first impression was also scary. Colors are saturated and beautifully natural. But there is a lack of 'natural sharpness' and 'natural 3d effect/micro contrast' on some shots compared to my P40+
But this can be the result of using a bad copy of the Mam 150mm - or also to unappropriate C1 parameters.
But maybe the IQ160 is the ultimate back I will die with: a perfect interface, beautiful pixels and.. oh noo, no super natural colors. That's clearly in the IQ180 camp.
So that's it for this report that should have take more care and time (as a better english).
Please do remember I'm no pro photographer and that these comments are only initial thoughts :salute:
