GEAR TALK - Phase One IQ3-100 Achromatic

CATCHING UP ON 2024

The previous Gear Talk entry summarized my coming to terms with the pro's and con's of the Leica M11 Monochrom. Listing the pro's and con's is one thing, accepting them is something else. Despite knowing that a changeover to Phase One's Achromatic was likely a bad decision, I charged ahead, hellbent on change.

Eventually a Phase One IQ3-100 and an IQ3-100 Achromatic were in hand. The Achromatic went to Phase One In Denmark to have an IR filter installed, thus converting it to "visible light". Instead of being a "full spectrum" IR digital back, it now behaves like traditional B&W film. I use red filters and polarizers the same as I did with the Leica M Monochroms.

The first Achromatic pictures reminded me alot of the Leica M10 Monochrom's tones and contrast. Though, there was a gaping omission in the lens kit - a shift lens. Starting around 2022, a wide angle shift lens had become central to my style, so getting that sorted topped the to-do list.

PHASE ONE XT BODY

The initial idea was to use the IQ3's with Phase One XF cameras. During the summer there was alot of "buy and try". A used Arca Swiss Rm3di kit was purchased. Somewhere along the line I picked up a Hasselblad 110mm F2 Planar FE as well. Since the gear was already here and the lens adapter was cheap, on a whim, I decided to see how well the Hasselblad 110mm F2 Planar FE would do as a "shift lens". That whims worked much better than expected.

One thing led to another and a Hasselblad 40mm F4 Distagon CFE IF and Hasselblad 250mm F5.6 Sonnar Superachromat CFE were soon in hand too. Unfortunately those two lenses proved too heavy for the Rm3di's tilt mechanism. The summer buying spree included a used Phase One XT as well. The XT is often criticized for its limited shift range, but that limited shift range coincided quite nicely with the Hasselblad V lenses and their respective image circles.

Phase One XT and IQ3-100 Achromatic with the Hasselblad V Lenses

The Phase One XT with the Cambo WRS-HV Lensplate and Hasselblad V lenses emerged as my tech-cam "lite" solution. The Hasselblad 110mm F2 Planar FE is my favorite; the 40mm IF is performing well; the 250mm Superachromat will likely be sold. Its shift-able range is small, so with that being the case, the Mamiya M645 200mm F2.8 APO via the Cambo WRS-M645 Lensplate is just as viable and a lens I know very well.

A WORK IN PROGRESS

Most of the pictures along the righthand side were taken with the Phase One XF and Blue Ring lenses. And most of the Schneider Kreuznach Blue Ring lenses are very sharp. Leveling the XF relative to the scene, shooting wide and then cropping to a result in Capture One is a very plausible approach in lieu of dedicated shift lenses. Frankly, the same approach is just as do-able with a Leica M10 Monochrom and something like the Leica 21mm F3.4 Super-Elmar-M ASPH..

While cropping to a result is viable approach, I much prefer shifting a lens and seeing an immediate outcome while on site. Whereas shooting wide and editing perspective in post is a leap of faith. There is alot more reassurance seeing the result on site and recomposing, etc., as needed. But..., the technical cameras come with alot of extra baggage, headaches and gotchya's. The price tag being one of the biggest gotchya's.

I am tussling with how committed I am or am not to a technical camera. But for now I am going to ignore that noise and fiddle with the gear on hand. Hopefully there will be an epiphany or two and that big hairy large format decision won't be as hairy as it seems today.