Phase One’s iXM; First to Pack 100MP Sony BSI Sensor

Phase One has announced the iXM 100MP, a 100-megapixel medium format camera for drones that’s the first camera to feature Sony’s 100MP backside-illuminated (BSI) 44x33mm sensor. It’s “a breakthrough aerial camera platform driven by the world’s fastest medium-format imaging sensor,” Phase One says.

The backside-illumination design allows the sensor to have increased light sensitivity and expanded dynamic range.

Features and specs of the camera include an ISO range of 50-6400, a dynamic range of 83dB, weatherproofing (IP53 compliant), a temperature tolerance of -10°C to 40°C, a continuous shooting speed of 3fps, a Phase One RSM lens mount, USB3 and Ethernet 10G ports, HDMI out, XQD memory card storage, 14-bit RAW images, an infrared cutoff filter, and a weight of 1.38 pounds (630g).

Phase One has also announced four new RSM leaf-shutter lenses for its aerial cameras: fixed-focus 35mm and 80mm lenses, and motorized-focus 80mm and 150mm lenses.

The iXM 100MP camera is geared towards industrial purposes — things like inspections and mapping — so it doesn’t come cheap. The camera cost $40,000, and each lens is an additional $10,000.