The Road To The Phase One IQ4

Phase One Raises The Bar Again
The modular hardware components of the XF IQ lineup.
By now you’ve likely read about the new Phase One IQ4 series. If not, head over to our “Phase One IQ4 150mp - 17 Surprises” article to read a succinct review of those features. Like the IQ3, IQ2, IQ1 and P+ before it, the IQ4 broaches many “firsts” such as first camera to feature the Capture One engine inside the camera, the first back to ISO25,600, the first camera with native wireless tethering to Capture One, the first camera with a 150mp sensor, and the first medium-format camera with a BSI sensor.
But this article is not about the IQ4 150mp, but rather about the road that led to it. Instead, this article answers the question “In a crowded camera industry worth billions, how does Phase One stay in the lead?”
The answer is multifaceted: they aren’t as small as you think, they keep growing and finding new markets, they have a long history in digital imaging, and they maintain a tight product focus.
Th...