Phase One iXH
Reproduction camera system for cultural heritage digitisation – available in 150 and 250 megapixel versions
Phase One
“The more information a digital copy of a work of art contains, the more valuable it is to researchers,” said art historian Dr Johannes Röll, head of the photographic collection (Fotothek) of the Bibliotheca Hertziana – Max Planck Institute for Art History, in an interview. Phase One has developed yet another tool for producing these information-rich images. Together with the Capture One CH software, this camera is capable of things from which the entire GLAM sector and the scientific and technical photography industry can benefit.
The iXH camera system is now available in 150 and 250 megapixel versions.
Excellent image quality and A0@300ppi digitisation in a single shot
Built around a 151-megapixel CMOS sensor, the iXH 150MP camera can digitise flat objects up to A0 size at 300 ppi in a single shot. Thanks to BSI (Back Side Illumination) technology, the sensor has a wide dynamic range (15 stops). As a result, even the smallest features of the subject can be captured with great richness of detail and colour fidelity. The high resolution and high-precision colour reproduction are an advantage in every area of object digitisation.
“The iXH camera system was designed to be durable and ‘future-proof’!”
Accurate colour reproduction and broad spectral sensitivity
The iXH 150MP camera comes in three versions. Alongside the general-purpose model with an RGB sensor, there is an Achromatic (monochrome) and a WS (Wide Spectrum) version. The latter two combine high resolution with broad spectral sensitivity, making them ideally suited to specialised scientific imaging tasks, such as examining paintings and manuscripts with narrowband or multiband technology.
In addition to its broad spectrum, the iXH 150MP Achromatic version offers high light sensitivity (ISO 200–102,400), a wide dynamic range and, thanks to its non-interpolated imaging technology, high sharpness.
With multispectral sensitivity extending into the UV and IR ranges, the iXH 150MP WS is the right tool for examining paintings, or for medical and forensic imaging applications. Fitted with a simple IR-blocking filter, it can also be used as a normal camera.
FADGI, Metamorfoze, ISO 19264 and the Hungarian “White Book” (Fehér Könyv)
After set-up and on-site calibration by suitably trained specialists, the camera, lens and software meet the requirements laid down in museum imaging quality standards. The entire workflow can be standardised and quality control is possible at several points, so the equipment and the whole workflow are suitable for preservation digitisation and for the high-volume production of PDOs (Preservation Digital Objects) fit for research.
UltraRes RS 72mm MkII lens
Designed by Phase One specifically for reproduction photography, the 72 mm lens delivers an image that is sharp right to the edges at every reproduction ratio, thanks to the innovative UltraRes technology and its special optical design. This lens can also meet the resolution demands of sensors of 150 megapixels or more.
The iXH 150MP camera is, of course, also available with the Schneider-Kreuznach RS 120mm macro lens. With the 21 mm and 42 mm extension tubes on the 120 mm lens, high-resolution macro images can be captured. With these two lenses, libraries, archives and universities can also produce high-quality reproductions of flat originals and object photographs.
- Corrected for flat-field imaging
- “Floating” lens elements
- Designed for the iXH sensor
- High resolving power
- Sharpness to the edges of the image
- No distortion
- Even colour rendition
Electromagnetic shutter mechanism (Reliance Shutter)
The electromagnetic Reliance Shutter is a precision mechanism rated for industrial workloads; according to the manufacturer, it is guaranteed for up to one million exposures. It only needs to be used, however, when shooting with flash, as this is the only way to synchronise the flash units. Otherwise, when shooting with continuous light – for example a high-CRI LED panel or a dedicated Cultural Heritage LED system – exposures can also be made with the electronic “shutter” (ES) built into the digital back. In this mode, with no moving parts, an unlimited number of exposures can be made.
New heat dissipation system
With internal and external cooling fins, the newly designed housing keeps the sensor at a low temperature even with all-day use of live view. The result is noise-free images and reliable operation, even during prolonged continuous use.
Data connections designed for efficient work
The iXH 150MP is a camera designed for cultural heritage digitisation, with 10G Ethernet and USB-C interfaces. These high-bandwidth standards ensure fast and reliable data transfer.
The Infinity Platform
The iXH camera was designed around the Infinity Platform, a high-performance camera control and image processing framework previously available only in the iQ4 digital back. The open Infinity Platform allows the capabilities of the same hardware to be extended with new functions in the future, making the whole system “future-proof”. The platform handles large files smoothly and at high speed, supporting continuous work in mass digitisation projects.
iXH + Capture One CH
The camera and the Capture One CH (Cultural Heritage) software form a complementary, efficient system. The camera is controlled from the software, which is also where the raw data read out from the sensor – the RAW file – is corrected and precisely converted into standard archival file formats. Every detail and function of the software was designed, on the basis of decades of digitisation experience, to support practical work and to make the most of the capture device’s capabilities.
Capture One CH features that support productivity:
- Negative film reproduction tool
- Non-destructive RAW workflow
- Automatic corrections for presentation use
- Auto crop and auto rotate
- AutoColumn control
- AutoPPI and PPI-Assist – resolution-driven camera control technologies: the AutoColumn motorised copy stand and the Capture One CH software can work together to position the camera automatically so that the specified PPI value is reached.
- Barcode reader tool
- Advanced metadata management, with optional database connectivity
- Open platform: scriptable and customisable via an SDK
- Option of a simplified interface for untrained operators
Scientific photography – iXH and Capture One CH
Both the iXH 150MP camera system and Capture One CH were designed to provide an open platform for solving the new imaging tasks of the future. The hardware and the software alike are prepared for scientific, technical, machine-vision, sequential, multispectral and 3D photography applications.
© R.B. Toth Associates / Equipoise Imaging
You can read more about the device on the Phase One website.
Technical specifications – iXH 150MP
iXH 150MP | iXH 150MP Achromatic | iXH 150MP Wide Spectrum | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sensor technology | BSI (BackSide Illuminated) CMOS | ||
Sensor size (mm) | 53.4 × 40.0 | ||
Resolution (pixels) | 14,204 × 10,652 (151 megapixels) | ||
Pixel size (μm) | 3.76 | ||
ISO range | 50–25,600 | 200–102,400 | 50–25,600 |
Dynamic range | 15 EV (stops) | ||
Connectivity | USB-C, Ethernet 10G copper/optical | ||
File formats | RAW 14-bit, RAW 16-bit | ||
Weight (g) | 3,450 g including the 72mm MkII lens and L-bracket | ||
Dimensions (mm) | 227 × 130 × 130 mm including the 72mm MkII lens and L-bracket | ||
Cooling | integrated heat sink and external cooling fins | ||
Compliance | FCC Class A, CE, RoHS | ||
Technical specifications – iXH 250MP
iXH 250MP | |
|---|---|
Sensor technology | BSI (BackSide Illuminated) CMOS, Sony IMX811 |
Sensor size (mm) | 54 × 36 |
Resolution (pixels) | 19,236 × 12,836 (247 megapixels) |
Pixel size (μm) | 2.81 |
ISO range | 50–25,600 |
Dynamic range | 14.5 EV (stops) |
File formats | RAW 14-bit, RAW 16-bit |
Capture rate | 1.0 frames/s |
Lens specifications
Phase One RS 72mm MkII lens | Schneider Kreuznach 120mm Macro lens | |
|---|---|---|
Number of lens elements | 13 | 8 |
Groups | 8 | 4 |
Focal length (mm) | 72 | 120 |
Image circle (mm) | 67.36 | 110 |
Aperture range | f/5.6–f/22 | f/5.6–f/22 |
Floating element | yes – firmware-controlled | no |
Min. object distance | 44 cm | 67 cm |
Reproduction ratio | 1:70–1:3 (optimum 1:11) | 1:6.9–1:1.2 with extension tubes |
Weight (g) | 1,470 | 1,050 |
Dimensions (mm) | 150 × 90 × 115 | 150 × 90 × 115 |
Filter thread (mm) | 77 | 46 |
Contact our team at info@digitalizalas.eu if you would like detailed information about the product or any of our services, or would like to attend an (online) demonstration.
Gallery
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