Phase One P40 Plus vs Phase One P65 Plus — Which Is Better?

The Phase One P40 Plus and Phase One P65 Plus are medium format digital cameras built around the Mamiya 645 AF lens mount, so both draw on the same range of 645 AF glass for studio and location work. The P65 Plus arrived in July 2008 and the P40 Plus followed in April 2009, placing them one year apart in Phase One's Plus generation. Both use a CCD sensor in medium format size and a pentaprism optical viewfinder for composing frames.

The bodies are almost the same size, at 154 x 128 x 184 mm for the P40 Plus and 155 x 128 x 184 mm for the P65 Plus. The P65 Plus weighs 993 g against 1030 g for the P40 Plus, a 37 g difference. Neither asks for different bag space or a different tripod setup, so the practical choice between them sits with the sensor and capture speed.

The P65 Plus is the stronger choice when maximum detail is the goal, because its 60.5 megapixel sensor captures 20.5 million more pixels than the 40 megapixel P40 Plus. That extra data matters for landscape and architectural work destined for very large prints, or for any deliverable that will be heavily cropped and still needs fine texture to survive. Both use CCD medium format sensors, so the advantage here is pixel count rather than a different sensor technology.

The P40 Plus answers with speed on both capture fronts. It shoots at 2 frames per second against 1 fps on the P65 Plus, which helps when a portrait subject moves between poses, and its 1/10000 second top shutter speed gives a shorter exposure option than the P65 Plus's 1/4000 second for working wide open in bright light. Both share the same 50 to 3200 ISO range, three autofocus points and no in-body stabilisation.

Neither camera records video or offers a built-in timelapse function, so both are dedicated stills tools for photographers whose deliverables are entirely frames. Anyone whose workflow needs motion capture should look outside this pair.

Image review and transfer work the same way on both cameras. Both offer a 2.2 inch LCD with 230400 dots for checking captures, wireless transfer for tethered and location workflows, and external flash support for studio lighting. Neither has a built-in flash, touchscreen, tilting screen or live view, so composition happens through the optical viewfinder on both.

Location shooters should note that neither camera has GPS for geotagging captures, and neither carries weather sealing, so both need protection in rain or dust.

Both cameras write to a single Compact Flash card, with no second slot for overflow or backup on a long shoot. Carrying spare cards matters equally for both, and existing Compact Flash stock works in either body.

The P40 Plus holds the endurance advantage, with a rated 2500 shots per charge against 2000 for the P65 Plus. Both run on the same BP-915 battery, so spares are interchangeable, and neither charges over USB, so a dedicated charger stays in the kit bag.