Which Phase One P+ Digital Back is right for you?

The current line of Phase One digital backs is uncompromising in quality. Although there is a wide range of prices, every digital back offers exceptionally high-quality and flexible images. Instead of looking at solutions as entry-level or high-end, it is better to match a digital back to your needs. The Phase One P40+ digital back is a great balance of cost, resolution, and speed, and is our favorite back for most photographers. But each back in the current lineup caters to different niches.

Phase One P40+, The Ultimate in Flexibility

The little brother of the Phase One P65+ digital back is a 39 megapixel flexible speed demon. At 1.2 frames per second at full resolution or 1.8 frames per second in Sensor+ mode (10 megapixels) this back. The ISO range of 50-3200 is a new benchmark in flexibility for digital backs. As a bonus this back is fully compatible with view cameras and tech cameras.

Phase One P30+, the Perfect Balance for most applications

The 31.6-megapixel Phase One P30+ digital back is our favorite digital back. It is the best balance of cost, resolution, and speed. Those switching from a 35mm digital camera will find the increases in resolution, shadow detail, image flexibility, and color accuracy are not just a step forward, they are a major leap.

Need to Tilt/Shift on a View Camera with a Wide Angle Lens?

The Phase One P30+ and Phase One P21+ digital backs use an array of microlenses in front of the sensor, one microlens per pixel. This creates cleaner images at higher ISOs. However, when using movements on a view camera (or technical camera) with a lens wider than 45mm, the light from the lens strikes the microlenses at a strong angle, and creates undesirable effects. The widest fully-usable lens, the 45mm lens on a Phase One P21+ or Phase One 30+, is about the same as a 35mm lens on a 35mm system, so this is a fairly specific problem. However, architectural shooters and interior shooters who use wide angle lenses in conjunction with tilts and shifts will want to consider a Phase One P25+, Phase One P45+, Phase One P40+, or Phase One P65+ digital backs as these do not use the kind of microlenses that create problems with tilts/shifts. While the Phase One P25+ and Phase One P45+ perform excellently with technical movements the Phase One P65+ and Phase One P40+ does even better, yielding unprecedentedly low color-cast images even with large movements.

Want to Shoot Square Format Images?

The Phase One P20+ digital back uses a square 16-megapixel sensor. If you want to compose and shoot square images, the Phase One P20+ digital back is your best option. If you’re shooting tethered you can also consider using one of the larger-sensors like the Phase One P45+ or Phase One P65+ and turning on auto-crop to 1×1. Capture Integration can make you a custom mask for easy in-camera composition.

Need the Ultimate?

The Phase One P65+ digital back is not to be taken lightly. This back packs 60 megapixels onto the only true-full-frame medium format sensor in the world. It’s advanced electronics package and Phase One patent-pending chip design have elevated this DB to the highest dynamic range and most accurate color of any medium format digital back. For applications where speed is needed, the full 60 megapixel 16bit raw file can be captured at 60 frames per minute.  This back is not for everyone, but if you crave the absolute best, the exclusive availability of the Phase One P65+ sensor to Phase One ensures that you will own the best digital back made well into the future.

Need Resolution, but the Phase One P65+ is out of your budget?

Both the Phase One P40+ digital back and the Phase One P45+ digital back weigh in at 39 megapixels. Better yet, every one of those 39,000,000 pixels will have the incredible color, dynamic range, 16 bit accuracy, and sharp detail that only a medium format digital back can provide. If you crave resolution, crop often, or make very large prints, but have ruled out the Phase One P65+ then the P45+ or P40+ is your best option. The difference between the two is that the Phase One P40+ digital back is faster and has a smaller chip (larger crop) and is less expensive than the Phase One P45+.

Need More Speed on a Budget?

The Phase One P21+ digital back can capture one image every 0.8 seconds, or 50% faster than the Phase One P30+. If shooting quickly is your style, but you crave the quality of medium format digital, the Phase One P21+ is your best option.

PDF Datasheets for Each Back

Also see our Tech Spec Comparison.