Pixii APS-C

Pixii APS-C

Before the introduction of the Full-Frame "Max," the Pixii Camera (APS-C) was the standard bearer for the French startup. The most significant iteration, the Model A1571 (released in 2021), features a high-performance 26-megapixel Back-Side Illuminated (BSI) APS-C CMOS sensor. Unlike the Max, this sensor has a 1.5x crop factor, meaning a 28mm lens provides a field of view equivalent to a 42mm lens, and a 35mm lens behaves like a standard 50mm. This crop factor is often preferred by street photographers who want extra reach from compact lenses.

The APS-C Pixii pioneered the "software-defined camera" architecture. It lacks a rear LCD screen, instead using a top-mounted monochrome OLED panel to display essential exposure data (Shutter Speed, Aperture simulation, ISO, Battery). For image review, Live View, and menu configuration, the camera pairs wirelessly with the Pixii App on iOS or Android.

Mechanically, the APS-C models are housed in the same machined aluminum unibody as the Max, but the internal optical assembly is optimized for the smaller sensor size (0.67x magnification). The camera uses a virtually silent electronic shutter, which allows for ultra-fast shutter speeds up to 1/32,000s, enabling the use of fast f/1.4 or f/0.95 lenses in bright daylight without neutral density filters.

History

The Pixii (APS-C) lineage consists of three distinct hardware generations before the Max.

The Original (Model A1112 - 2018/2020) The first Pixii released to the public. It featured a 12-megapixel APS-C sensor with a Global Shutter. While the resolution was low by modern standards, the Global Shutter eliminated "jello effect" (rolling shutter distortion) entirely. However, high ISO performance was limited (max ISO 2500), restricting its use in low light [1].

The Performance Leap (Model A1571 - 2021) Pixii responded to feedback by releasing the A1571. This model swapped the sensor for a modern 26-megapixel Sony BSI-C sensor. This upgrade drastically improved dynamic range and high ISO capabilities (native ISO up to 12,800), making the camera a serious tool for varying lighting conditions. Crucially, original A1112 owners could send their cameras back to France to have this new sensor installed, proving Pixii's concept of hardware upgradability [2].

The Processor Update (Model A2572 - 2023) The final APS-C iteration before the Max. It retained the 26MP sensor but upgraded the computing core to a 64-bit Quad-Core processor. This significantly sped up image processing and Wi-Fi transfer speeds. This model is often referred to as the "New Pixii" or "Pixii+" in reviews [3].