Promising back-to-basics photography and yet also the highest quality of prints, Phase One has released a brand new camera system for nature, landscape and location work. Beginning at a list price of $56,990 (yes you read that right!), the XT Camera marries Phase One’s IQ4 Infinity Platform medium-format camera sensors and image processing with three possible Rodenstock lens options.

With up to 150-megapixels of resolution, their FAQ says the standout price point has been justified by the camera’s engineering. The compact field camera, which they claim as the smallest digital model available, has been designed from the ground up to simplify the field camera process. 

With easy-to-use external knobs, the lens can travel 24mm horizontally and vertically, like a tilt-shift lens, to correct for perspective distortions like vanishing point. It also has manual focus and Live View for composition.

Flashes can be synced through the PC port, and the Phase One XT can also be tethered for live capture through USB, Ethernet or WiFi. They promise future updates, additionally.

Automated Frame Averaging, for example, was introduced to the IQ4 Infinity Platform and Phase One IQ4 Camera as an upgrade only this last summer. Automated Frame Averaging is a mode for interesting in-camera effects like motion blur that have historically required optical filters. 

Phase One’s own X-Shutter gives electronic controls for shutter. The “XT” system will exchange information electronically between the camera and the lens. Additional lens options and accessories are planned, as are more Infinity Platform features.

To bundle more Rodenstock optics, the XT lenses are priced from $8,990–$11,990.