Seitz / DALSA 160MP monster of a digital camera.

Seitz has released information on a 160MP digital camera. When I first saw the information, I was awed but I think I will stick to my $799.00 8MP Olympus for a while. This monster is around $30000.00. But it is worth at least to go through the details. If you see the sample photos and if you in any way like photographs, you would wish just to hold it and click away a few frames. These few frames will be transfered over Gigabit interface to a tethered Apple Mac mini or similar computer.
For the starters here is a sample image from the product information page which was taken by Alois Stutz;
This is a 6 X 17 image. But I can't get a true size image and this will have to do. Ok lets look at he camera now, no let's see the camera in somebody's hand. It will give you a more perspective how this monster of a hand held camera will behave in your arms.
I think it is a quite handfull!.
Here are some tech information about the camera;

• Very high speed and resolution: 300 MB raw data per second!
• Special imaging sensor developed by DALSA Corporation exclusively for Seitz for photography applications
• Very high sensitivity and broad ISO/ASA range (equivalent): 500 - 10'000
• Very high image quality thanks to 48-bit colour depth, low noise, high dynamic range, DALSA anti-blooming feature, Seitz image optimisation algorythms, freedom to use own raw-conversion workflow
• Possibility to freely interchange Seitz D3 digital scan back between Seitz 6x17 camera, new Roundshot D3 panorama camera and - in the future - medium or
  large format cameras

How about some features;

• Create a high resolution 6x17 digital image (160 million pixels) in
  one second!
• Ideal for use with world-class Schneider or Rodenstock large format lenses (on Seitz lens board) or Linhof Technorama, Fuji and other large format lenses (on adaptor plate)
• User-friendly camera system and software with 640x480 pixel colour touch screen for perfect preview, editing, zooming and image control
• State-of-the art computer technology with gigabit Ethernet file transfer, powerful portable mini-computer (storage device) and handheld control device (PDA) with IP network WLAN connection
• Fully mobile and open system:
  - full mobility for outdoors assignments (with camera, portable
  mini-computer, handheld control device)
  - possibility to use in studio and run software on
  computer with free choice of operating system (Mac OS,
  Windows, Linux)
• Uncompromising precision of camera body and accessories

The Digital 3 scan back sensor has been designed and developed exclusively for Seitz by DALSA Corporation.

In this multi-year project specialists around the world have brought together the best capabilities in digital technology, computer science, image optimisation and knowledge of photography applications to build a camera system that goes beyond the imaginable.

Here is the PDF of the product info and sample images. The Seitz home page is here.

Tags: seitz, 160MP, DALSA, olympus, Digital Camera