Phase One A/S has announced an exclusive strategic alliance with Hartblei to drive medium format photographic lens innovation. The first product of this alliance is the Phase One 3.5/45 mm TS lens, based on the popular Hartblei 45 mm f/3.5 Super Rotator lens.

Specially designed for the professional photographer, this small, lightweight tilt shift lens is ideal for location or studio applications. It offers up to 12 mm shift and 8 degrees tilt for maximum flexibility.

Together Phase One and Hartblei have engineered important design advancements with this lens, including:

1. New 2008 batch optical glass with multi-layer coating
2. Improved 12 blade aperture design
3. Mechanics with tighter tolerances
4. New interior antireflection coating
5. More streamlined mechanical design

When used with the Phase One 645 camera system, the Phase One 3.5/45 mm TS lens offers a simple, alternative to more advanced technical cameras. With it, photographers can adjust the plane of focus without changing the depth of field, correct perspective and selectively sharpen and soften an image – quickly gaining creative possibilities that cannot be realized in post-production.

The Phase One 3.5/45 TS lens comprises a simple eight-lens optical system. Each element is coated with a multilayer anti-reflective coating to reduce internal reflections, increase image transmission efficiency and enhance contrast. The new lens is also is supported by Phase One’s Lens+ and Focus+ optical correction technologies available in Capture One 4.

Product specifications:

Compatible Cameras -- Phase One 645 / Mamiya 645AFD
Focal length -- 45 mm (equivalent to 24 mm focal length for a 35mm camera)
Focusing -- manual
Maximum aperture -- 1:3.5
Aperture range -- 3.5 - 22 (manual)
Optical Construction -- 8 elements in 7 groups
Angle of view -- 83° (98° with optical unit shifted)
Minimum focusing distance -- 1.15 ft (0.35 m)
Filter size -- 82 mm
Lens movement -- Individual rotation of both tilt and shift in any direction
Rotation movement range -- 360°, with click stops every 15°
Shift movement range -- 0 to 12 mm in any direction
Tilt movement range -- 0 to 8° in any direction
Dimensions -- 96-110 mm
Weight -- 880 grams

Hartblei was founded in the mid-90s as a Ukrainian company based in Kiev. Its original mission was to modify Kiev Cameras and Lenses made by Arsenal. Hartblei then developed the famous line of Super Rotators -- Shift and Tilt lenses with 2x 360 degrees of free movements -- for medium format and 35mm cameras. Today the company works with world-class companies to ensure high quality. Its offices are located in Munich and Kiev, from which it produces its special TS lenses.

Pricing and Availability
The Phase One 3.5/45 TS lens is 2.990€ / $3,990 and may be ordered now. It will be demonstrated at Photokina, at which time more details will be available. Volume shipment is expected in Q4 2008.

For more information, please contact sales@phaseone.com or please visit www.phaseone.com/Content/ContactUs/LocateDealer.aspx