Phase One iXM-100

The iXM-100 is a camera body from the Danish maker Phase One for payloads of heavy-class multicopters. It delivers 100 megapixels in medium format and is used for inspection and mapping, among others in the Phase One P3 payload. It brings no gimbal of its own.

The back-illuminated medium-format CMOS measures 11,664 × 8,750 pixels at a pixel pitch of 3.76 µm. The body weighs 630 g without lens and measures 90 × 90 × 67 mm. RSM lenses of 35, 80 and 150 mm at f/5.6 (80 and 150 mm also with autofocus) and an RSM 300 mm AF at f/8 are available; the longer focal length shows more detail from the same height. The sensor reads out line by line (rolling shutter): at fast flight or under vibration, images can be distorted, which its global-shutter sibling iXM-GS120 avoids. It connects through USB 3.0, 10G Ethernet (glass or copper) or HDMI; the Phase One SDK controls the camera, and four M4 threads serve for mounting.

The weight counts towards the take-off mass of the aircraft, for which the EU class limits are 4 kg (C2) and 25 kg (C3 and C4). Mapping and inspection touch data-protection law as soon as people or property are recognisable.

100 megapixels produce large amounts of data that storage and data link must carry without loss. Dust on the sensor shows as spots in every image, so cleaning and protection during lens changes are routine. The lens mount and the connectors are the mechanical points to check.