Improvements in image quality at the very high end of digital imaging (medium format backs) improves by small increments. As pros and advanced amateurs who are fortunate enough to own a current MF back know, image quality from these devices is nothing short of superb; better than anything that we've had before, and I include drum scanned 4X5".

The challenge for back makers like Phase One is to continue to introduce new models. No high-tech capitalist will ever say –That's it.This is as good as it gets.The end of history. No. They must have something new to sell us. But what do you do for an encore when you have already produced a product that is state-of-the-art, cost-is-almost-no-object? You produce itsPlusversion, and that's what Phase One did in the spring of 2007 with its P+ series backs. The question then is – how well has Phase One fulfilled its –it's new, therefore it must be better– mandate?

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