Summary: The H20 was used in a studiosetup compared with Kodak Proback Plus, Leaf C-most and film. After shoting a tabletop setup, a portrait and a sample of clothings, we did a comparisson. The H20 was way aheat of the other backs, and did a great job in the clothing shot. The moirre nois was higher then the film take, but not as bad as the Kodak or Leaf. The low noise and high contrast was great.....
Strengths: Low noise, clean colors, high contrast, easy software, high dynamic range, stability, large files.
Weaknesses: No video mode, no multishot, need to conect to a powerbook or G4, burst rate to low for models, Firewire is slow (USB 2.0 better)
Similar Products Used: Kodak Proback Plus, Leaf C-most
Summary: This is one very impressive back.
The quality from this single shot back is perfect for the type of work we do, better quality would always be nice; however, I believe the quality from this back is better than 2 1/4 tranie and that is good enough of us.
We tested the H20 in the studio and on location for a couple of weeks, side by side with our two MegaVision systems. The S3 had to go straight away, the H20 handled all situations much better. The 3 shot, T32, results were slightly better in the way it held detail in the high-lights; however, there wasn''t much in it from a sharpness point of view.
There is nothing like looking thur the lens and pressing the camera button once to take a picture.
I love shooting square, it was the one thing I missed most with the 3x2 backs.
Very easy to use.
Strengths: Fast exposures, Long exposures, fast flash sync, 100iso, large files, handles burnout, single shot and FireWire to the PowerBook, to mention just a few.
Weaknesses: Being linked to a computer / PowerBook all the time. As most of our outside location work is advertising based - controlled, set up, art directed, etc., this is less of a problem for us as it would be for a Wedding photographer for example.
Summary: It´s the best digital back I´ve ever used. I got expirience with Kodak, Leaf, Sinar, Megavision, Eyelike but this one...great. With 16 bit colordepth per channel you´re able to catch the most numbers of apertures. Very easy Software, developing the image ready to sell! And a fantastic service person at the dealer and at phaseone.
Strengths: We can do all our work with it now. This was the step in the right direction.
Similar Products Used: Kodak, Leaf, Sinar, Megavision, Eyelike
Rating Reviewed by: John McCallum(Unregistered User)
(Professional)
Review Date February 14, 2002
Overall Rating 1 of 5
Value Rating 1 of 5
Used product for 0-1 years
Visitors rate this review 3.38 of 5,
8 votes
Review 4 of 4
Price Paid:
$24000.00
from Calumet Chicago
Summary: Initially I was impressed with the product,and tested it in the studio where banding (digital artifacts which resemble a posterized effect) where seen on captured 48 mb image of vignetted light on a background of plexiglass created with a Speedotron 11" reflector. Not want you want with clients like Philip Morris, Handspring, Audi, Kraft, etc.
After searching the web for any info on this product, I found similar complaints from another user who had who posted to a professional discussion group. He complained about "banding all over the place on out of focus background areas" with the Phase One H20 back.
Before our end of the year studio equiptment purchases (12/31/01), I called Phase One in New Jersey to inquire about the "banding", as we were preparing to arrange a lease to purchase the H20 as well as a Hasselblad system, and the Phase One Flex Adapter. I asked specifically about the banding issue, and was told specifically that this issue "was completely resolved" with the forthcoming release of software version 2.7, and that my digital back would have no such issues as it would come with 2.7.
Sadly, I believed the people at Phase One. Big Mistake as it turns out. The banding IS there, and now the people at Phase One have another story to tell me. They say that it won''t print using a line screen. Actually, it will show unless your line screen is 133 or coarser, which helps to "hide" the banding. Then, Phase One sent me a "White Paper" (technical paper) which acknowledged the banding, and basically described described the effect as a result of the superior quality of their device. Nice spin, huh?
To make matters worse, I am aware of other professionalphotographers who have purchased this back complaining of the banding.
To make matters even worse, the software is buggy and is unstable on our Apple G4 800 (new). When I tried to use it on it''s first job (3 outdoor national billboards for national beer client). It crapped out, crashing, and causing us to revert to film at 7 P.M. and begin reshooting the job until 2:30 A.M. Now that''s what I call a really bad product. Phase One will not take this one month old camera back and give us our money back. They told me this afternoon (2/14/02) and I quote "We''re not in the business of taking our product back". Nice attitude Phase One.
We are now preparing legal action against Phase One,
Strengths: The few times it did work while testing, it made large files.
Weaknesses: Poor product and software development.
Similar Products Used: Nikon, Dicomed.
Customer Service: The customer is NOT always right in Denmark, apparently.
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