Design & Usability

The design of the Phase One 645DF+ body is exactly the same as the 645DF. It features a large, accommodating grip with a comfortable rubber coating, a power switch that doubles as a shutter system selector, dual control dials, and an excellent viewfinder that provides coverage of the entire frame.

We haven't spent much time with Phase One bodies in the past, but we were impressed by the feel of the camera once you attached a digital back and the 80mm Schneider Kreuznach f/2.8 AF lens. The heavy Phase One IQ180 back does change the weight distribution somewhat, but it shifts toward the rear of the camera, aiding stability when mounted to a tripod.

Phase One leaves the 645DF+ open design, allowing photographers to attach third-party digital backs of any kind. While most smaller format cameras tend to be designed to inhibit third-party compatibility (or at least they rarely make it easy), Phase One would be perfectly happy if you used a Hasselblad digital back on their shiny new body. This openness gives photographers in the Phase One system no end of options for medium-format backs and lenses. Those extras don't come cheap, but for a professional photographer, comfort and dependability are more important.

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Features

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The Phase One 645DF+ body offers some improvements over the 645DF it ostensibly replaces. The most notable change that we could see was the addition of a rechargeable battery pack, which now operates for up to an impressive 10,000 shutter actuations on a single charge (as opposed to the AA-battery-draining 645DF). That number is far larger than you'll see on most cameras as the battery isn't responsible for powering the image sensor, processor, or rear LCD, all of which are integrated into the digital backs and their separate power supplies.

The other major improvement was in autofocus accuracy. While we didn't have a 645DF body to directly compare it to, the 645DF+ produced exceptionally sharp images with the 80-megapixel IQ180 digital back. We were also impressed by its autofocus sensitivity, as it was able to lock onto very low contrast subjects even in a dimly lit trade show floor.

The one downside we saw is the 80mm f/2.8 lens rotated almost entirely when autofocusing, making it difficult to support the camera while shooting hand-held. Admittedly, for a camera that's designed primarily around tripod shooting for advertising and reproduction work, that's less of a concern.

Phase One also claims that the 645DF+ has a more durable shutter system than the 645DF. The 645DF offers an actual warranty (rather than just a rating, as most cameras do) of up to 100,000 shutter actuations, so an improvement on that would be quite good. At the Phase One booth at Photokina, they could not give an exact number on how long the shutter should last, though.

Conclusion

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Phase One's medium-format digital backs are renowned for their extreme image quality and extraordinary high resolution. The 645DF+ body complements them with an incredibly accurate autofocus system, a new rechargeable battery pack, and a more durable shutter system.

While we don't think that's going to compel anyone to immediately upgrade, those with a 645DF that's on the way out (or those with digital backs from a company like Hasselblad) will certainly want to check it out. Phase One's commitment to an open platform should at least provide you with a slew of options for how to expand your system and upgrade as necessary.

It's not the most intuitive body we've ever used, but as with other medium format bodies, it provides direct control when necessary. Denizens of this part of the market don't need their hands held through the entire shooting process, and the camera does what it can to simply stay out of the way.

Introduction

Medium-format stalwarts Phase One have long produced some of the more impressive pieces of kit you can buy. Their interchangeable, open systems provide incredible image quality with extreme-resolution digital backs, sharp lenses, and compatibility with a wide range of accessories and lens mounts.

The 645DF+, announced here at Photokina 2012, follows up on the 645DF with improved autofocus, a rechargeable battery, and a more durable shutter system. The 645DF+ is outwardly identical to its predecessor (save for the "+" in the logo). We were able to spend some time with the camera, strapping on the 80-megapixel Phase One IQ180 digital back to take the new body for a test drive.

Specs

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