Phase One P65 Plus

The P65 Plus is a medium format camera released in 2008 by Phase One, built around a high-resolution CCD sensor. The Mamiya 645 AF mount connects it to lenses designed for that system.

It works at a deliberate pace. One frame per second and an optical pentaprism finder suit a considered approach far better than fast action.

Owning it means accepting bulk: 155 x 128 x 184 mm and 993 g. There is no weather sealing, so it deserves careful handling out in the field.

The 60.5-megapixel CCD sensor is the heart of this camera, with image data handled by a Phase One image processor. On a medium format frame, that resolution lets landscape, product and studio photographers crop heavily or reproduce fine texture at large sizes.

Sensitivity runs from ISO 50 to 3200. The low base ISO suits controlled lighting, while the modest ceiling limits flexibility in dim conditions.

The maximum shooting rate is one frame per second, which rules out rapid continuous shooting. Autofocus offers three points, a sparse count that matches the camera's unhurried character.

There is no in-body stabilisation, so reducing camera shake relies on shooting technique, support such as a tripod, or shutter speeds up to 1/4000s. Stabilisation of that kind reduces camera shake rather than subject movement, so steady technique matters for handheld work.

The P65 Plus does not record video at all, and there is no built-in timelapse function. Motion capture was left out of the design, and the maximum shooting pace of one frame per second keeps even rapid sequences out of reach.

The rest of the shooting experience follows the same stills-first logic. Composition happens through the optical pentaprism finder, and the rear screen offers no live view, so framing on this camera stays an optical affair.

The practical consequence is that any moving-image or timelapse project requires other equipment. The P65 Plus takes still photographs only, and its single CompactFlash slot, optical finder and fixed screen all serve that one purpose.

The rear LCD is 2.2 inches with 230,400 dots, fixed and non-touch, and there is no live view. Review and menus are button-driven, and the small, low-resolution display makes checking critical focus on the camera awkward. Precise inspection is better done at the computer.

The camera works with external flash, though there is no built-in flash and no GPS. Wi-Fi is present; Bluetooth is not.

Our Features score of 14/100 reflects a limited toolset, and the camera sits in the bottom 2% of cameras in our database for Features. Touch control, live view and weather sealing are all absent here.

The BP-915 battery is rated for 2000 shots, a strong result that earned nearly full marks in our scoring. A rating is not a promise of real-world endurance, and actual results will depend on conditions.

Overall, Storage & Battery scores a modest 51/100, pulled down by missing conveniences rather than by the battery itself.

A single CompactFlash slot means no second copy of a frame as you shoot, so a card problem is harder to recover from. High-resolution files also use card capacity quickly, so plan storage for a full day's work.

There is no USB charging. For travel or long location days, a charged spare battery is the practical safeguard.