Phase One’s New Drone Camera is First to Pack 100MP Sony BSI Sensor

Phase One has announced the iXM 100MP, a 100-megapixel medium format camera for drones that’s the first camera to feature Sony’s 100MP backside-illuminated (BSI) 44x33mm sensor. It’s “a breakthrough aerial camera platform driven by the world’s fastest medium-format imaging sensor,” Phase One says.

The backside-illumination design allows the sensor to have increased light sensitivity and expanded dynamic range.

Features and specs of the camera include an ISO range of 50-6400, a dynamic range of 83dB, weatherproofing (IP53 compliant), a temperature tolerance of -10°C to 40°C, a continuous shooting speed of 3fps, a Phase One RSM lens mount, USB3 and Ethernet 10G ports, HDMI out, XQD memory card storage, 14-bit RAW images, an infrared cutoff filter, and a weight of 1.38 pounds (630g).

Phase One has also announced four new RSM leaf-shutter lenses for its aerial cameras: fixed-focus 35mm and 80mm lenses, and motorized-focus 80mm and 150mm lenses.

The iXM 100MP camera is geared towards industrial purposes — things like inspections and mapping — so it doesn’t come cheap. The camera itself will set you back $40,000, and each lens is an additional $10,000.

mirrorlessrumors writes that future cameras by companies like Sony, Fuji, and Hasselblad may pack the same sensor technology, so you may not have to wait too long to get it in a professional still photography camera.