80 MP drone camera that promises a sharper eye for aerial photographers

Remember that breathtaking 10k-timelapse video that went viral last month? Expect to see more stuff like that in the future, but shot from drones: PhaseOne has announced the world's smallest 80-megapixel medium format camera — a high end, lightweight shooter designed specifically for aerial photography.

The iXU 180 will weigh in at a modest two pounds without a lens and has a low profile, gyro-mountable 3.8 x 3.6 x 4.3-inch body. It doesn't sound very light (and a lens will add another pound), but when it comes to drones, every ounce count s. PhaseOne hasn't announced pricing yet, but says the new shooter will ship in mid-April alongside a pair of 60 megapixel RGB and achromatic (read: black and white) variants.

It is a lot of technical mumbo jumbo, but what it means for photography is stunning.