A pioneer of digital photography Phase One A/S is a leading developer of high-resolution aerial imaging systems, specializing in the research and manufacture of medium format and large format digital cameras for drones.
Our powerful, high-accuracy UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) cameras and drone-based aerial photography solutions enable efficient and versatile aerial imaging missions for a wide variety of applications, such as aerial mapping and surveying, industrial inspection and cultural heritage digitization, as well as serving the world’s most demanding photographers.
Our core imaging technologies and range of digital UAV cameras and high-resolution imaging modules provide the world’s highest image quality in terms of resolution, color fidelity, dynamic range and geometric accuracy. Working alongside customers, technology partners and a global network of distributors, Phase One nurtures long-term relationships. Based in Copenhagen, Denmark and with offices spanning three continents, we continually exceed expectations and strive to push the boundaries of digital imagery.
iXM-Series Cameras
Professional drone cameras for high resolution aerial imaging
The iXM series of cameras has been specially designed to provide superior-quality sharp aerial imagery for UAV-based applications. The high-productivity medium-format metric cameras can be integrated with a wide range of UAVs, and can be fitted with one of five specially-developed RSM lenses with focal lengths ranging from 35mm to 300mm.
The iXM cameras feature full wireless control, allowing users to easily define ISO, shutter speed, aperture, focus distance and more. HDMI output as well as USB-C and 10G Ethernet data connectivity provide versatile integration options for a variety of UAV platforms.
Explore the game-changing iXM 100 UAV Camera series from Phase One.
Specifications
| iXM-50 | iXM-100 | |
| Dimensions | 90x90x68 mm (excluding lens) 90x90x164 mm (including 80mm lens) | 90x90x68 mm (excluding lens) 90x90x164 mm (including 80mm lens) |
| Weight | 630g (excluding lens) 1100g (including 80mm lens) | 630g (excluding lens) 1100g (including 80mm lens) |
| Resolution | 50MP 8280×6208 | 100MP 11664×8750 |
| Dynamic Range | 84 dB | 83 dB |
| Aspect Ratio | 4:3 | 4:3 |
| Pixel Size | 5.3 µm | 3.76 µm |
| Effective Sensor Size | 43.9×32.9 mm | 43.9×32.9 mm |
| ISO | 100 – 6400 | 50 – 6400 |
| Capture Rate | 2 fps | 3 fps |
More Information: iXM-Series Cameras
iXM Camera Lenses
High-performance lenses for iXM Series Drone Cameras
The lenses specially designed for our iXM series of drone cameras feature shutters with an innovative direct drive technology, utilising electronic charging that increases exposure speed up to 1/2500s, with a lifespan of 500,000 exposures.
This high reliability and exceptional performance allow aerial imaging drones to fly faster and execute demanding aerial photography missions with greater operational efficiency.
Five RSM lenses are available, with focal lengths of 35mm, 80mm, 150mm and 300mm.
More Information: iXM Camera Lenses
4-Band Drone Camera Solution
Multispectral drone camera for aerial photogrammetry
Phase One’s 4-Band Solution combines synchronized metric calibrated RGB and achromatic cameras to provide a high-accuracy 150MP solution designed specifically for UAV aerial photogrammetry. The flexible combined NIR & RBG drone camera solution is ideal for agricultural use, such as crop analysis and environmental contamination, as well as urban applications such as green site monitoring.
The two cameras can be used together or as stand-alone units for a variety of mission types. The simplified workflow provides easy post-processing, using Phase One’s iX Capture software to automatically generate distortion-free images and perform fine co-registration of pixels from the NIR to the RGB images.
Users can generate the following products with the Phase One 4-Band Solution:
- 4-Band combined NIR and RGB (RGBN) TIFF (4-Band CIR)
- 3-Band combined NIR and RGB (NRG) TIFF (3-Band CIR)
- NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) TIFF
- Distortion-free / corrected RGB TIFF
- Distortion-free / corrected NIR TIFF
- RGB TIFF
- NIR TIFF
See the 4-Band Camera Solution in Action…
More Information: 4-Band Drone Camera Solution
PAS 880 Aerial Imagery System
Large-format nadir & oblique imagery
Phase One’s PAS 880 is a high-accuracy imaging system that combines a 280MP nadir with four 150MP oblique cameras in a single payload, providing over 20,000 pixels across flight lines for the nadir and 14,000 pixels per oblique sensor.
With excellent performance at 2 frames per second and shutter speeds of up to 1/2500 second, the lightweight and compact system is capable of simultaneously capturing photogrammetric 2D and 3D digital imagery.
The PAS 880 includes an advanced Trimble Applanix GNSS/IMU receiver, with a choice of two IMU accuracy options.
System specifications:
| Dimensions (diameter x height) | 408 x 716 mm |
| Weight | 45 kg |
| Power Consumption | 380 W (average) 450 W (max) |
| Operating Temperatures | -10 to 40 degrees C |
| Internal Storage | 6 x 2TB |
Sensor specifications:
| Nadir | Oblique | |
| Sensor Type | BSI CMOS Bayer Array | BSI CMOS Bayer Array |
| Sensor Size | 280MP 20,150 x 14,118 | 150MP 14,204 x 10,652 |
| Pixel Size | 3.76 µm | 3.76 µm |
| Max Shutter Speed | 1/2000 s | 1/2500 s |
| Dynamic Range | 83 dB | 83 dB |
| Aperture | F/5.6 | F/5.6 |
| Field of View | 32.9° along track 45.7° across track | Left/Right: 42° 15.2° along track 20.2° across track Forward/backward: 45° 15.2° along track 20.2° across track |
More Information: PAS 880 Aerial Imagery System
P3 Payload
Turnkey solution for drone-based inspection
The P3 Payload is a versatile solution designed to suit a wide variety of drone-based inspection requirements, designed to enhance productivity for even the most demanding projects.
Offering a choice of the Phase One iXM 100MP or 50MP cameras and a range of RSM lens options, the customizable solution also features a specially-designed gimbal with integrated rangefinder.
The P3 Payload is designed as a ready-to-fly plug-and-play solution for the DJI M300 drone, and is also available in a fully MAVLink-compatible version that is ideal for bundling with OEM packages. The MAVLink version also features full integration with the Auterion open drone ecosystem.
P3 Payload for MAVlink drones
The P3 Payload is ideal for a variety of inspection applications:
- High Value Assets – bridges, dams, and energy facilities requiring frequent, accurate, and detailed data
- High-Risk Assessment – electric transmission lines, oil refineries, and other complex sites where high-resolution inspection from a distance is required for maximum safety
- Time-Critical Assets – wind turbines, offshore oil rigs, and other facilities where inspection windows are limited and downtime must be minimized
See more videos of the P3 Payload in action…
Specifications (for DJI M300 version):
| Weight | 2.6 kg (with iXM-100 and RSM 80mm AF lens) |
| Power consumption | 22-24 W max |
| Gimbal mechanical range | Roll: +80.5 to -264.3° Pan: ±345° Tilt: -90 to +45° |
| Lens options | 35mm, 80mm, 80mm AF, 150mm AF |
| Rangefinder | 180m max range 90m max effective operating range |
More Information: P3 Payload solution for drone-based inspection
M600 Pro Drone Aerial Imaging Solution
High-efficiency aerial data collection platform based on the DJI M600 Pro
Phase One’s fully integrated, state-of-the-art Drone Solution combines a DJI M600 Pro hexacopter platform with our medium format iXM 50MP or 100MP camera. Featuring a professional gimbal with flexible rotation and full control, the Phase One Drone Solution expands operational capabilities for aerial data collectors, providing access to hard-to-reach areas and greater coverage in a single flight.
The Phase One Drone Solution is ideal for a wide variety of missions and applications, including:
Power Line Monitoring
Enable rapid, accurate fault-finding for more effective maintenance and repair
Civil Engineering
Easily plan infrastructure projects, inspect aging construction and identify weaknesses
Mapping
Efficiently capture high-resolution images for the creation of 2D and 3D maps
Wind Turbine Inspection
Detect even millimetre-sized damage and signs of wear, preventing sudden failures
Railway Inspection
Inspect thousands of miles of track efficiently and without disruption, making predictive maintenance faster, safer and less costly
Pipeline Inspection
Rapidly assess pipe condition, identify erosion, and spot exposed pipes and vegetation overgrowth
More Information: M600 Pro Drone Aerial Imaging Solution
iX Controller MK4
Control up to six Phase One Aerial Drone Cameras independently
The iX Controller MK 4 is a small-footprint computing solution optimized for integration with Phase One aerial cameras and capture software. With the ability to control up to six aerial cameras, as well as the gyro-stabilizing mount and GNSS/INS, it allows efficient capturing, monitoring and storage of aerial imagery and the ability to adjust camera settings in real time.
Built around an 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processor, the rugged iX Controller MK 4 features two easily-removable SSD hard drives with optional RAID mirroring. It supports up to three monitors via wired or wireless network connection.
More Information: iX Controller MK 4Camera Controller
iX Capture Software
Professional capture and RAW conversion application for Phase One aerial camera systems
iX Capture is a professional image capture and RAW conversion software solution designed exclusively for Phase One aerial camera systems. Featuring an intuitive touchscreen or mouse-driven interface, it allows full control of all aspects of aerial image capture missions and up to six aerial cameras.
iX Capture enables direct control and inflight adjustment of aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and other essential settings. Its advanced post-processing capabilities provide rapid production of distortion-free RGB and CIR images, as well as 3- and 4-band CIR and NDVI TIFF files from data captured by Phase One’s 4-Band Solution.
More Information: iX Capture Software
Aerial Imaging Applications
Mapping & Surveying
Our high-precision aerial imaging solutions simplify UAV mapping and surveying missions, providing unlimited aerial coverage and accurate, reliable data every time. High resolution images captured in flight can be used for professional photogrammetry to create both 2D and 3D maps.
More Information: Aerial Imaging Systems for mapping and surveying
Agriculture & Forestry
Our fully-automatic combined NIR and RGB aerial imagery solution is ideal for a wide range of multispectral imaging requirements, including precision agriculture, crop analysis for growth optimization, vegetation health, forestland management, environmental contamination, and more.
More Information: Aerial Imaging Systems for agriculture & forestry
Inspections
Our specially designed UAV aerial cameras provide invaluable data for predictive maintenance of power lines, wind turbines, roads, bridges, and pipelines. Large surface coverage at extremely high resolution enables millimeter-sized damage detection, reducing costs and allowing for timely, efficient repair.
P3 Payload Power Line Inspection Test Flight
Our P3 Payload for DJI M300 was put to the test to see how it executes a power line inspection. Take a look at the drone in action with the Phase One P3 Payload ready-for-flight solution:
More Information: Aerial Imaging Systems for inspections
Phase One introduces its new Case Studies Portal
Fly over the interactive map and click on one of the “+” to dive into a success story! Each case study is packed with useful information and a zoom-in showing the amazing results obtained with our cameras.
FAQs
What is UAV camera? ›
UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) camera specifications used in the three field campaigns. Source publication. Practical Applications of a Multisensor UAV Platform Based on Multispectral, Thermal and RGB High Resolution Images in Precision Viticulture.
What is the best resolution for a drone? ›At Perfect Perspectives, we offer Drone Image Resolution from 12 to 50 megapixels. Which resolution fits best depends, once again, on the final end use of the images. For example, for most web use, a 12 megapixel original drone photograph, down-sized to 72 PPI is usually more than adequate.
What is the highest resolution aerial imagery? ›Aerial and satellite imagery
On the other hand, aerial imagery offers incredible spatial resolution —up to 1-5 cm per pixel. The field of view covered in an aerial photograph is much smaller compared to satellite images.
While using the words drone and UAV synonymously is common, there is a distinct difference: drones must have autonomous flight capabilities—meaning they can operate without any human intervention—while UAVs do not.
Are UAV and drones the same? ›You'll most commonly hear the term Drone used by the media and military, and UAV used most often by the FAA. The words Drone and UAV mean the same thing, and can be used interchangeably.
What is the difference between UAV and UAS? ›In simple terms, a UAS is the totality of everything that makes a UAV work including its GPS module, ground control module, transmission systems, camera, all the software, and the person on the ground controlling the drone. To put it simply, a UAV is simply a component of a UAS.
Is there an 8K drone? ›Autel Robotics EVO II Pro First 8K Folding Drone with Camera for 6K Ultra HD Video, 20MP Photos, 10-Bit Color, 1” CMOS IMX383, 3.3” OLED Screen, Remote Controller.
Is a 4K camera good for a drone? ›Drones with 4K cameras offer pretty much cinema-quality footage with an average of 8 million pixels to produce at least 3840 x 2160 to up to 4000 pixels wide in video resolution—that's four times bigger than full HD 1080p. This offers countless possibilities for professional videography.
What drone has an 8K camera? ›Autel EVO II Pro: 1" Sensor & Adjustable Aperture.
Is 12 megapixels good for a drone? ›The best drone for photography is one capable of taking at least 12-megapixel photos or images. Premium resolution is also important if you plan on using your drone to shoot videos. The minimum video resolution to look for in a professional camera drone is 4K.
How do I choose a drone camera? ›
If you want the best-quality footage possible, camera specs should be a big consideration, so make sure to look for the photo and video resolution. Most decent-size models—not including toy drones—now come with a built-in camera, but some allow you to attach your own.
How do I get high quality aerial images? ›1. Google Earth - Free access to high resolution imagery (satellite and aerial) Google Earth offers free access to some of the highest resolution satellite imagery, although the highest resolution images are actually taken from airplanes. Most of the data on Google Earth was taken in the last 3-4 years.
Which image has the highest resolution? ›The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam has released an interactive photo of The Night Watch painting by Rembrandt in a staggering resolution of 717-gigapixels. The museum claims it is the highest resolution photo of artwork ever captured.
Is there a higher resolution than 300 DPI? ›High resolution for print is defined as 300-350 dots per inch (DPI) at the final output size. Files with resolutions higher than 350 dpi are ok to send for print, but not necessary, and the higher resolution will not improve the printed quality of your project.
How much does a 4k drone cost? ›How much does a 4K drone cost? A 4K camera drone with basic specs and minimal features can cost as low as $229. Industrial drones with 4K cameras can cost over $40,000 and are destined for specific use cases.
What is a Category 4 drone? ›Category 4 eligible small unmanned aircraft must have an airworthiness certificate issued under Part 21 of FAA regulations. Must be operated in accordance with the operating limitations Page 2 specified in the approved Flight Manual or as otherwise specified by the Administrator.
What drone can see through walls? ›Researchers at Canada's University of Waterloo have developed a drone-powered device that can use WiFi networks to see through building walls. The device – called Wi-Peep – can fly near a building and then use the inhabitants' WiFi network to identify and locate all WiFi-enabled devices inside in a matter of seconds.
What are the 5 types of drones? ›Types of Drones
Multi-Rotor Drones. Fixed-Wing Drones. Single-Rotor Drones. Fixed-Wing Hybrid VTOL.
Types of UAV Aircraft
Fixed-wing and multirotor are the two main types of UAS. Each type has its own unique characteristics and uses advantages and disadvantages. A Fixed-wing UAV looks like an airplane. Since the wing provides lift the motor doesn't have to spend all the battery power to maintain flight.
How long is the typical battery life on a drone? A typical consumer drone can fly typically between 10 to 30 minutes, while more advanced professional drones can fly for even an hour or more.
What are UAV pilots called? ›
A drone pilot is responsible for operating a drone, which is sometimes called an unmanned aerial system (UAS). Drones are operated remotely, which is why drone pilots are also known as remote pilots. A drone pilot controls a drone, causing it to take off, stay on course, and land safely.
How much do UAV pilots make? ›While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $183,500 and as low as $24,000, the majority of UAV Drone Pilot salaries currently range between $36,000 (25th percentile) to $70,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $160,000 annually across the United States.
How far can a military drone camera see? ›A high-quality drone camera can see 1,500-2,000 feet away during the day. At night, drone cameras can pick up an image about 165 feet away before it becomes blurry. The distance a drone camera can see depends on the terrain, nearby obstacles, quality of the drone camera, and air conditions.
What are the 3 most common UAS categories? ›Three types of UA exist: fixed wing, rotary wing, and lighter-than-air vehicles.
Is a drone UAV or UAS? ›An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without any human pilot, crew, or passengers on board. UAVs are a component of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), which includes adding a ground-based controller and a system of communications with the UAV.
Why is UAV called drone? ›In 1935 the British produced a number of radio-controlled aircraft to be used as targets for training purposes. It's thought the term 'drone' started to be used at this time, inspired by the name of one of these models, the DH. 82B Queen Bee.
What drones do the FBI use? ›While the US Department of Defense has been shouting itself hoarse over DJI drones being “potential threats to national security,” the FBI and the US Secret Service have bought at least 27 DJI drones in the past few months.
Can a drone fly 100 miles? ›A high-end consumer drone can have a range of roughly 2.5 to 4.5 miles (4 to 8 kilometers), whereas a toy drone may only have a range of 20 to 100 yards. A common range for mid-level consumer drones is between 400 meters to three kilometers, or 0.25 to 1.5 miles.
What drone Do Navy Seals use? ›Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV): ScanEagle
One of the operational advantages of the ScanEagle is its flexible catapult launch capability and skyhook recovery system, which is essentially a rope hanging from a 50 foot pole. It can be flown from forward battlefields, mobile vehicles and small boats such as the Mark V SOC.
As a general rule of thumb, the higher the resolution, the better the overall quality of the image. 4K security cameras offer superior image quality compared to 2K security cameras. With a higher resolution of 3840x2160 and at 8 megapixels, these cameras are currently the very high end of surveillance video quality.
Is HD camera better than 4K? ›
Even downsampled to 1080p, 4k looks better than Full HD because it captures four times the amount of information. Unlike 1080p footage, 4k can be cropped, zoomed in, or reframed without any loss of quality.
Is 4K camera better than 1080p? ›4K is defined as a 3840 × 2160 resolution video, with quadruple the number of pixels (detail) compared to full 1080p HD video. In video surveillance, 4K gives you more ability to see details such as faces at a farther distance compared to the same image using a 1080p camera.
Is there a 10K camera? ›As of 2021, there are multiple companies producing photo cameras capable of 10K and higher resolutions, such as Phase One, Fujifilm, Hasselblad, and Sony.
What can the human eye see 8K? ›8K only creates 33.17 megapixel images, so what gives? We should be able to see a lot more. The answer in the way the human eye processes visual information. The way it's designed, you can only see with the kind of clarity required for a 576 megapixel image with a tiny part of your eye called the fovea.
How far can a 5.8 GHz drone go? ›When it comes to the ideal frequency for mini-quads — that's the famous 5.8 GHz — the best you can expect is 500 meters. But, that means you're flying in ideal conditions where nothing stands between you and your drone.
IS 64MP better than 12MP? ›A 64MP camera will capture a ton of detail in comparison to a 12MP sensor.
Is 12 or 48MP better? ›The iPhone 14 Pro/Max, when using the sensor in 12MP mode, effectively has pixels measuring 2.44 microns. That's a really significant improvement. Without pixel-binning, the 48MP sensor would – most of the time – be a downgrade.
Is 12 or 64MP camera better? ›If anything, the 12MP one looks like it has more detail, but that's likely due to the bigger one going through more compression when being resized. As you'll see below, in reality, the 64MP is much sharper.
What is the number 1 drone? ›Your ideal drone choice is determined by skill level and budget, but we think the best drone for most people is the DJI Mini 3 Pro. Taking the crown from the DJI Air 2S, it packs a seriously impressive skill set for such a small drone, with a fantastic camera and three-directional obstacle avoidance.
What is a Category 3 drone? ›Category 3 sUAS Operations
In the third category, the FAA has considered larger UAVs and states a UAV operating under Category 3 can not produce greater than 25 foot-pounds of kinetic energy upon impact from a rigid object.
What is A1 and A3 drone? ›
They represent different scenarios of flying your drone: A1 - Flying Over People. A2 - Flying Close to People. A3 - Flying Far away from People.
What kind of drone do professionals use? ›DJI Matrice 300 RTK—Outdoor inspections. Flyability Elios 2—Indoor inspections. DJI Mavic 3—Aerial photography/videography. Freefly Alta 8—High-end cinematography.
What is the best UAV? ›- DJI Mavic 3. The ultimate prosumer drone. ...
- Autel Evo Lite+ A great combination of price and features. ...
- DJI Mini 3 Pro. A tiny and lightweight drone with professional features. ...
- DJI Air 2S. The Air 2S offers a combination of portability and image quality. ...
- DJI Mini 2. ...
- DJI Avata. ...
- Mavic Air 2. ...
- DJI FPV.
DJI Alternatives FAQ
If you want a compact and travel friendly drone, the Parrot Anafi or Ruko F11 Pro may be the best DJI alternative for you. For those who want a professional drone, Autel Robotics EVO 2 Pro is definitely the one to go for.
The best drone for professional photographers: DJI Mavic 3
Though, the price tag is bigger too. The wow-worthy DJI Mavic 3 is easily the best drone for professional photographers, but it starts at $2,199. The even-more advanced Cine Premium Combo will run you $4,999.
Drone photography can be quite a profitable job. Professional drone photographers can charge up to $450 per hour. In general, the amount of money you earn depends on the kind of aerial photography you want to pursue.
What drones do professionals use? ›- 1.1 DJI Mavic 3 CINE: (best drones for commercial use)
- 1.2 DJI Phantom 4 RTK: (best drones for commercial inspection use)
- 1.3 DJI Mavic 2: (best drones for commercial filmmaking use)
- 1.4 DJI Mavic 2 Pro: (best drones for road survey commercial use)
The major thing that differentiates police drones from other drones is their strobe light. Police strobe lights have blue and red colors. If you are a few meters away from a police drone at night, one side of the drone will have a red light and the other side will have a blue light.
Can a drone signal be tracked? ›Drones operating on RF communication can be tracked using RF sensors, while others that are GPS Pre-Programmed to a way point can be tracked using Radar detection. Visual detection technology like Pan, Tilt and Zoom (PTZ) Cameras can be used to get visuals on the detected drone, and confirm a drone threat.
How do you tell if a police drone is watching you? ›Radio. If you think you are being spied on, the best way of confirming this is by using radio counter-surveillance systems to track down the drone. A radio counter-surveillance system decodes radio waves generated by the drone and makes a pattern to show where the signals are coming from.
Are there any drones as good as DJI? ›
DJI Alternatives FAQ
If you want a compact and travel friendly drone, the Parrot Anafi or Ruko F11 Pro may be the best DJI alternative for you. For those who want a professional drone, Autel Robotics EVO 2 Pro is definitely the one to go for.
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General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper.
| MQ-9 Reaper / Predator B | |
|---|---|
| U.S. Air Force MQ-9A Reaper armed with a Paveway | |
| Role | Unmanned combat aerial vehicle |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | General Atomics Aeronautical Systems |
Military-Grade Unmanned Systems. Military-grade drones and tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) include helicopter drones, sUAS, RPAS (remotely piloted aerial systems), for ISR (Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) and ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance) missions.