160 million pixels in one second!

This scan back 6x17 camera is extremely fast. The image results are comparable to a one-shot digital or film back. This is possible thanks to a very high read-out speed of 300 MB per second - 100x faster than for any existing scan back. The fastest exposure speed is 1/2'000 per pixel - or one second for the entire 6x17 scan at full resolution!

>>> view Seitz 6x17 Digital sample images

Solalex - 6x17 Panorama captured with Seitz 6x17 Digital and Fuji 617 150mm lens
Image: Patrick Jantet

Seitz 6x17 Digital 2500

The Seitz scan back is also available with a reduced resolution of 2,500 pixels - ideal for high quality virtual tours, group photography or landscapes, for which highest productivity and highest quality are important factors. The digital sensor is identical with the one built into the Seitz 6x17 Digital. Like her bigger sister the Seitz 6x17 Digital 2500 uses large format lenses and a 60mm sensor. The panoramas are compressed within the camera to 2,500 pixels, allowing a very high image quality. The Seitz D3-2500 digital scan back can be upgraded to the D3 full version at any time. Reduced in resolution means also reduced in price!

Unique medium format resolution

What few thought possible has now come true: wide-format digital photography. With a resolution of 7,500 pixels vertically and 21,250 pixels horizontally this camera creates a 160 million pixel image. This substantial resolution makes it possible to create high quality reproductions. A variety of different formats is possible: 6x6, 6x9, 6x15 or a full 6x17 panorama. No limits for high definition photography!

World-class large format lenses of Seitz/Schneider, Linhof 617 or Fuji 617

For best image results we recommend using the advanced Schneider lenses on a Seitz lens board. Another possibility is to use large-format lenses of existing 6x17 panoramic cameras such as Linhof Technorama, Fuji and others. These lenses are connected to the Seitz camera on an optional adaptor plate.

Outstanding image quality in virtually all light situations

We have achieved a true technological breakthrough not only in speed and resolution but also in its impressive image quality. Our digital technology corrects natural brightness decrease towards the edge without the use of a center filter. The image has a 48-bit color depth and a high dynamic range. When shooting directly into the sun, the sensor’s anti-blooming feature reduces glare and allows a clean passage between highlights and lowlights. The image is further enhanced by advanced optimization algorithms developed by Seitz for ultimate image quality. Or work directly on the raw image and apply your own raw conversion preferences.

New color TDI sensor specifically developed for professional photography and exclusively for Seitz

The Seitz D3 digital scan back sensor has been designed and developed exclusively for Seitz by DALSA Corporation. The electronics have been engineered by Computechnic of Switzerland. In this multi-year project specialists around the world have brought together the best capabilities in digital technology, computer science, image optimization and knowledge of photography applications to build a camera system that has no comparison.

Very user-friendly software with very advanced features

We designed our new D3 software with one objective in mind: make the work for the photographer easy and fun! The D3 software is self-explanatory and its features are logically grouped with graphical icons. The software menus are built to represent the image capture workflow. It is an image capture software for camera control and data processing as well as a raw converter. The "shoot menu" shows the image transfer in real time. The most frequently used camera control functions are directly accessible in the "shoot menu" drop down list. This way, the photographer can preview the panorama on the large screen, zoom in, change the focus, apply different image processing options in real time and work with the image to perfection. Our new Seitz D3 camera software incorporates some very advanced software features never seen in a camera before. We save the image temporarily to the fastest storage medium possible: computer RAM. This makes it possible to process the high resolution panorama quickly and apply some very innovative functions. Thanks to the large screen and the 100% zoom feature sharpness control is easy and very reliable. The interactive focusing assistant allows perfect focusing on the lens for a specific point in the preview. Various image processing options are activated at the touch of the digital pen and include different white balancing options, gamma and s-curve (tone-mapping), noise removal and sharpening functions. The results are displayed in real-time.

Latest technology in tablet PCs for image control, display and storage

Operating the camera is easy with a tablet PC with touch screen which is connected to the camera via gigabit ethernet. The touch screen feature makes the work with the camera a true pleasure. The computer works as a control, display and storage device. The large color screen with a 1,024 x 768 Pixel resolution allows perfect preview, editing, zooming and image control. It is also possible to run the software on any other 32-bit or 64-bit computer using Windows (XP, Vista, 7) or Intel-Mac (OSX 10.5 or 10.6) operating systems. The Seitz Roundshot D3 capture software is now also available in a pure 64-bit version.

Possibility to remove the Seitz D3 digital scan back from the Seitz 6x17 Digital and to use it with the Roundshot D3 camera

Just like a traditional digital back the Seitz D3 scan back cassette can be removed from the 6x17 camera body and fitted to other cameras, e.g., the new Roundshot D3 360° panorama camera and, in the future, medium format cameras. The possibility to use the scan back in a variety of different cameras makes the system truly versatile - to the benefit of the photographer. >>> Roundshot D3

Full control over the raw workflow

Contrary to conventional digital scanning cameras, the D3 system makes it possible to save the image as a DNG raw file. This has two important advantages: saving the panorama is much faster (only 33% of RGB data) and the choices for color conversion into RGB are entirely in the hands of the photographer. Or in other words: the raw conversion and post production can be done conveniently back in the studio. There are currently three available raw converters: camera raw (plug-in to Photoshop), Lightroom and our own Seitz Roundshot D3 software.

With a fast computer, a 64-bit operating system and Photoshop CS4 64-bit the post-processing of large panoramas is done in no time.

Full aluminum body for absolute robustness and resilience

We designed this camera to meet the expectations of those photographers who like to take their equipment on exploratory adventures. The Seitz 6x17 Digital aluminum body is extremely robust and resilient. With increasing image resolution the engineering precision of the camera hardware becomes very important. All our cameras are made from solid blocks of aluminum as used in space technology with state-of-the-art CNC machinery. Our machining tolerances are at the decisive 1/100 mm. Uncompromising precision and perfectly adjusted lenses are our guarantee for excellent results. Every Seitz 6x17 camera is hand-made in Switzerland and is unique.

captured with Seitz 6x17 Digital and 90mm Schneider Super Angulon XL lens
f=16, 160 million pixels, three 160 MP panoramas bracketed at 2 f-stops merged to a 32-bit HDR (exr), tone-mapped to 16-bit tiff
image: Urs Krebs

Products [::] Terms [::] Contact