The Phase One camera system is my go-to system to shoot because I believe the XF / IQ4-150 pairing to be the most formidable image making system that exists in commercial photography. The feature set on the camera is amazing and the internal integration with Profoto lighting is well matched. I routinely make use of Feature Update #2-automated Focus Stacking through the XF body for my studio work and use what was the first IQ4 ‘Lab’ offering, Frame Averaging, on every architectural scene I’ve shot since the incredibly valuable introduction of that tool. I’ve now had the opportunity to work with the beta release candidate for Feature Update #8 for a few days as well as the formal release version, System 8.00.18 for a few days as well, within the midst of all other activities going on here and can report on what I’ve found and experienced so far, listed in order of what I find the most important leaving out the overly obvious ones, like 4k Jpg. XF Camera Body Performance Improvement The response of the XF trigger feels substantially better in XF Firmware 5.00.5 (as part of System 8.00.18), especially on the first shot fired. It feels like the camera is kept in a more readied state than it was previously. Not having a laser trigger here to be able to time the micro-second differences, I took more of a ‘man on the street’ approach and shot some moving traffic. Both cameras had their internal Profoto transceivers enabled and I triggered both cameras at the same time with a single Profoto remote. The results were interesting. On the first shot fired after ~20 seconds of latency, the Firmware 8 camera (IQ4-150) outperformed the Firmware 7 camera (IQ4-150 Achromatic) on nearly every capture (slowest car wins the race): On subsequent shots fired within a few moments of the last, however, the Firmware 8 camera didn’t always have the advantage: Switching the Achromatic to FPS shutter only gave the Firmware 7 camera a clear advantage again, but not on every frame. While there could be some other variables at play here (variable traffic speed being primary as to total effect), this was strictly speaking, a real-world test that shows generally a good benefit to the application of XF Firmware 5.00.5 as part of Feature Update 8. Well done Phase, I like my favorite camera being a little snappier. Variable BUG NOTICE for Firmware 5.00.5 – It’s likely that you’ll upgrade your XF to this new firmware and experience the positive benefits of reduced shutter latency with no ill effects, but we’re tracking some variability when it comes to specific combinations of camera bodies and lenses that can cause lens errors and subsequent inability to capture. If failure happens, it is because of specific issues caused by the reduced latency and increased voltage of the new programming and it could be because of a specific lens or a specific XF body not performing to the ask created by the firmware. For this reason, I would recommend keeping 4.06.3 on a card stored in your kit, in case you experience lens errors and need to revert to the ‘safer for all seasons’ tried and true 4.06.3. A camera camera that is performing fine at room temperature could potentially still have issues in extreme heat or cold as a result of these variables. Ad-Hoc Wifi A router is NO LONGER NECESSARY to connect your IQ4 to your computer and wirelessly transmit raw images to it.    Complete remote control of the camera body is possible including most all digital back and camera settings through Capture One. Note: Adhoc Wifi (Access Point) will use only the available 2.4Ghz frequencies. Even though the Phase One IIQ compression algorithm is amazing at saving image breath and detail in a lossless, yet petite fashion, you’re not going to set the world on fire with the speed of your raw image transfers of 150 megapixel files to your computer. If your expectations set so that you expect each image to take just about 90 seconds to reach the computer, then you will enjoy the use of this feature. If you want to raise the number of shots that travel through the air per minute, you can certainly alter the IIQ compression level to do so. —Details on the 5 available IIQ formats for IQ4-150 here– WiFi Tethering Shooting Stats: (specific computer, distance to camera and competing wifi pollution factor greatly as variables) Buffer = 8 Frames IIQ-L 16-bit 27’ from Computer 1.8-2.2 MB/s   6’ from Computer 2.8-6.2 MB/s  (mostly ~3.3)  When I’m shooting interior architecture, I loathe having a physical tether between me and my computer and having to move the camera/computer pair endlessly throughout the day. Most of the time this means I’m shooting to card and then downloading the scene onto my machine that’s usually set up in an area more common to the entire shoot. Ad-Hoc Wifi will solve this problem perfectly for me, as the shoot pace of my scene that is neither breathing nor spoiling, doesn’t need dozens of frames shot especially if I’m light painting with the ALPA Silex. Forget about using Live View if shot files are in transit, it can be about as responsive as CCD Live View with around 1fps, which makes it difficult to focus by, but otherwise works quite well when the buffer is clear of images.  Note: If camera becomes disconnected from WiFi due to sleep or too great of distance, C1 will have to be restarted to regain camera connection. Steps to connect to IQ4 from Capture One via AdHoc Wifi: CFexpress (CFX) added as compatible card format. We had been waiting for this one for a while, and given the near identical price per GB to XQD, owners have been anxious to have access to the new card format which offers considerably faster transfer rates and considerably larger storage sizes.  Interestingly, CFX cards mount on the computer desktop like a removable hard … Continue reading Phase One Feature Update #8 – Tested Features, Procedures & Caveats