GEAR TALK - Phase One IQ3-100 Trichromatic First Impressions

MEDIUM FORMAT - AGAIN...

Pairing the Leica M10 Monochrom with a Phase One XF / IQ3-100 kit has been a recurring thought for awhile. The two may seem like an odd pairing, but from a shooting perspective, the Leica M10-M is not much different than shooting a medium format camera. Likening a rangefinder to medium format sounds farcical at first blush, but when considering how the Leica M10 Monochrom is used (in my case), the comparison becomes more plausible -

• Adding colored filters causes focus shift; therefore, every shot is focused via the EVF.
• Focusing via EVF is challenging handheld due the shaky EVF experience, so it is best to use a tripod.
• Red filters and polarizers eat 4 to 6 stops of light, so a tripod is needed (or really high ISO speeds).
• Shooting telephoto lenses at base ISO and stacking filters, it is often best to add a ND filter and do a long exposure, thus working the shutter shock.
• Proper exposure with colored filters is highly iterative, often needing 1.33 to 2.66 stops of EC.

While the pace of shooting the Leica M10 Monochrom can be likened to medium format, the physicality of the Phase One kit is a whole other story... The camera is large, the lenses are large, the bag is massive. Big cameras need big tripods. Holding the XF while taking a lens off and holding another lens (somehow) to do a lens swap in the field is awkward (at best).

A nicely priced used Phase One XF + Phase One IQ3-100 Trichromatic kit came along earlier this year, so I decided it was a good time give medium format another try.

THE MEDIUM FORMAT LOOK

It has now been 2-3 months with the Phase One kit, the results have been wickedly sharp and near perfect focus since I mostly use live-view. Electronic shutter is also being used quite often to work around shutter shock. Other features contributing to the sharp results include -

• The vibration sensitive shutter delay is brilliant - probably my favorite XF feature.
• Bracketed shots are much better (compared to the Leica M's) because there are shutter delay options with bracketed sequences.
• Image review has better tools (than the Leica M10-M and Leica M11) for evaluating exposure and sharpness.

The Phase One images have some of that "medium format" look, but not as much as I hoped. Or maybe my expectations are too high. I am gobsmacked by the acuity because my prior experiences with CCD based Phase One digital backs was marred one mis-focused shot after another. Live view makes such a big difference.

PHASE ONE VS LEICA M11

Around the time the Phase One kit arrived, the Leica M11 also arrived - which was several months ahead of what I had expected. That created an unintended Phase One vs Leica M11 situation. That was my intent, but with both new-to-me cameras arriving at the same time, comparisons are inevitable.

I hesitate to say one camera is better than another because with great content and good light, any camera can have a great day. Whereas poor light and boring content usually gets written-off as a bad-camera-day. Such as been the case with the Leica M11 and Phase One kit - both systems having had their good and bad days this past couple months.

The Leica M11 is much more forgiving when it comes to experimentation and impromptu picture-taking, such as trying different angles, compositions, lenses, etc. It can be handheld at awkward angles. It can be used in tight spaces. The M system weighs ~3X less on average, so carrying alot of different gear is much easier. Its lightweight is a welcome consideration in our +100º F summers here in Texas. Essentially, its primary advantage is size.

If the Phase One kit is used at a known destination with (pre)planned shots in good light / conditions and outfitted with the appropriate lenses - then the Phase One kit has a very good day. If the day is more of a spontaneous / impromptu approach, the XF is slow, heavy and awkward to wield. The Phase One kit begins to feel more like a shot blocker instead of being a shot enabler.

That said, I prefer the Phase One kit for color pictures, perhaps it is more the idea of the “medium format look” that it can deliver at times. But I also have moments where the camera feels too much - too heavy, too much work… On the other hand, there are days where I am totally frustrated with the Leica M11. So, good days and bad days - for both cameras.

The previous Gear Talk entry, Leica M11 First Impressions showcases some of my first pictures with the Leica M11. All I can do is spend some time doing the stare and compare exercise. At times a see different in the medium format captures, but thus far the delta has not been as obvious as I expected.