[Drew Altdo]

Medium Format

on: March 3, 2020 at 9:33 am

Greetings all,

We’ve just recently released a new firmware for the IQ4 150MP that enables access to a new feature. The feature is one that our imaging engineers are still working to finalize but it’s in a state now that it can be used in the real-world. Rather than wait and test our patience, we’re opening up the feature to anyone that would like to have access and provide feedback on the performance.

https://tinyurl.com/upbm9ch

The feature itself is called Dual Exposure+.

It allows the IQ4 150MP to seamlessly integrate two overlapping captures of different shutter speeds (the second begins before the first is finished). The resulting file is one RAW file that acts as any other in Capture One, however the resulting Dynamic Range of the file is drastically improved. As a result, shadow recovery of the file is absolutely pristine and provides some rather stunning image quality improvements to an existing camera.

The Phase One Lab is where we hope we can work closer with the photographers we build our products for and continue to work towards improving and expanding the IQ4 Infinity Platform.

Attached is a quick sample captured by Peter Marshall in our Support department here around Copenhagen. The image is exposed for the highlights and then the shadows are recovered. Comparing the two images, a normal capture and the Dual Exposire+ capture, the shadow detail is recovered 100% and the Black level is boosted 50pts, to emphasize the difference the noise reduction is turned off entirely on both images.

When pushed so far, the noise of the single image can be seen. Typically noise reduction would be applied to “handle” this level of unwanted noise.

With Dual Exposure+ however, and no noise reduction applied, the image is still crystal clear as if it were exposed for the shadows and developed for the highlights.

Looking forward to hearing your feedback.

~Drew

• This topic was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by Drew Altdo.

[Kevin Raber Silver Member Posts: 1311]

Re: The Phase One Lab

Reply #1 on: March 3, 2020 at 4:17 pm

That’s pretty cool Drew,  Thanks for sharing.  Let’s catch up soon.

Kevin Raber
Owner and Publisher of photoPXL

[Dave Chew Silver Member Posts: 64]

Re: The Phase One Lab

Reply #2 on: March 4, 2020 at 1:38 am

Hi Drew,
Very nice firmware update; much appreciated. The the quick test I did looks like DE+ results are good even compared with 10-image frame averaging. Here is the hotel room scene, SOOC (White Balanced) and +4 Exposure with +100 shadows:

Compared to 5/10 frame average:
3223 standard 100 ISO 0.8 sec
3224 DE+ 100 ISO 0.8 sec
3225 5-image FA 100 ISO 0.8 sec
3226 10-image FA 100 ISO 0.8 sec

Live view looks much improved, too. Now, can we talk about the ability to change Electronic Shutter speed from Live View on all technical cameras?? And, when in frame averaging and this DualExposure+ mode, how about showing the grayed out ES button w/delay countdown so we know the back detected our finger press?

🙂

Dave

How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains! - John Muir
https://www.davechewphotography.com
Find legacy Schneider-Kreuznach Apo-Digitar lens data here: https://www.davechewphotography.com/skdata/

[Drew Altdo Gold Member Posts: 7]

Re: The Phase One Lab

Reply #3 on: March 4, 2020 at 9:07 am

Hey Dave,

That’s a perfect example! Great evaluation with seemingly limited resources 🙂

Per your suggestions…

• Shutter Speed control in Live View w/out the XT – It’s unfortunate that it hasn’t happened sooner but it is contingent on other implementations that aren’t finished. But, stay patient and look for it relatively soon… or you can always buy an XT 😉
• Deactivate Virtual Shutter Button when pressed – This is connected to the above, as are many other operations of the IQ4 without camera integration, and as such they are in a silo of their own to address together.

I recognize that ES functionality could be much smoother and we aim to make it such… we just need to get a few things in order first and then I’m certain that we can get them all aligned at once.

[Dave Chew Silver Member Posts: 64]

Re: The Phase One Lab

Reply #4 on: March 4, 2020 at 11:24 am

Thank you, Drew! Your presence here is much appreciated. Again, great improvement in live view.
Dave

How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains! - John Muir
https://www.davechewphotography.com
Find legacy Schneider-Kreuznach Apo-Digitar lens data here: https://www.davechewphotography.com/skdata/

[Paul Caldwell Participant Posts: 4]

Re: The Phase One Lab

Reply #5 on: April 25, 2020 at 9:12 am

Getting the Live View experience back to the levels of prior P1 CMOS cameras, IQ250,150,250,3100, was a needed for sure.  Sad that P1 either was totally not listening to users, (I for one complained about this from day 1) and that it took over 1 year to get a firmware fix to bring the LiveView to the level of prior backs. Glad it happened, but still surprised in the time it took and for the lack of communication on that fact that P1 was aware of the issue and working on it.

I also agree that Dual Exposure is probably the 2nd best feature update to any Phase One back after the ES.

 

Paul C

 

Paul Caldwell
www.photosofarkansas.com

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