Pentax 645D

[torphoto]

http://www.pentax.jp/english/news/2010/201008.html

released finally, 40 mp, for 10k it's a 1/3 the price of other mf gear. Hummm who wants to give me a loan :XD

[NSLog]

Awaiting the reviews for IQ. The specs look outstanding. The dedicated MLU button is a nice touch.

[richjob]

Clearly the digital back Pentax.

[crossdrilled]

Not good enough to be able to use one of those as yet.... and for a very long time. Next stop for mee will be medium format film. I think those MF digitals only make sense if you are being paid to do a job. Otherwise, the good old Nikon and Canon will do well.

[Snoflo]

Buh, it's not exactly full frame medium format is it? Some ISO constraints too like other medium format systems. Interpretation: suck at anything over ISO 400. Will this have its own line of new lenses? I wonder because I was not exactly thrilled with my Pentax 645 lenses.

Anyway, I echo cross's sentiments.

[scullman]

Been following this for a while.

Nice to see that it actually materialised. Though Mamiya is giving them STIFF competition by offering free lenses (Read: Over $2000USD worth of lenses) with their Medium format digitals.

[crossdrilled]

I see them thing have hot shoes on them. What type of flash do they use?

[scullman]

^^Equally expensive ones...



lol...nah jus kiddin, I think that would be more for triggering devices than on-camera flash.

[torphoto]

The 645 will work with the pttl flashes the regular Pentax dslrs use, as well as triggering devices.

The problem with the original 645 lenses was that they sucked, the 67 and newer 645n were much better, so much so many used adapters and used them on hassleblads and contax 645 systems.

The 645d is getting some new lenses and the better 645n lenses are being re-released ( or just continued ) Mamyias $2000 free lenses won't hurt the 645D much, we can tell by the fact most of the used 67, 645 and 645n lenses dried up on KEH, BH and adorama as well as ebay, the prices are also creeping up on the new ones. For Pentax this was a long time coming and it's obvious they were waiting on tech prices to drop and the MF market to stabilize. I'm sure nat geo and many fashion mag shooters will be happy again, the 67 and 645n were location favs as unlike hassy and contax these were "FIELD" cameras that could take a beating, and in the $9600 usd price range it will dig into the high end Nikon and Canon systems for those who want high rez studio or location cameras ( IE not the sports shooters ). IQ should be the same as the mamyia 40 mp camera, but $20k ( with a lens ) vs $9600 and cheaper lenses ( plus many who have lenses already ).

in either case Pentax always considered MF as their flagship line and this time should be no different, now we'll wait and see if a 67D follows

OH camera Pron time



In the Photo of 645D lenses each row, left to right:
Top: 33-55 45-85, 55-110, 80-160 all FA's
Middle: 35, 45, 75, 120, 150, 200, 300/5.6 all FA's
Bottom: FA150-300, FA300/4, FA400, A600.
Largest MF lens line up

[crossdrilled]

I doubt Canon or Nikon care. They don't make anyting like this, and the high end guys who were always using medium format would not even think of Nikon or Canon, so not their market. As said before, this is DX medium format, so high end studio's might still keep their hasselblads, myima etc. However, one thing that will be nice is the new lenses, I am sure is where Pentax will make the real money, and the rest of the industry will benifit.

[torphoto]

Actually they will care, this can bite into their high end dslr sales, and bite into the sales of mam RBZ backs from phase one or whole systems. The sudden price jump on used 645 lenses says that people are gonna buy it, pre orders and also encouraged Pentax to start selling them world wide by sept/oct ( vs the Japan only as they only thought the asian market would buy into it ).

The real added bonus is they ( semi officially ) announced that other, cheaper MF cameras will follow, if they release a 33 MP version in the sub $5k range that will really bite into high end dslr sales for canon and nikon. I can see many fashion and travel photogs buying in ( those with the budget that is ) for them more mp the better as they don't need fps.

Btw while this isn't the same sensor, the hassy h3 ( read $45k usd ) 39 mp using an older kodak sensor, the Pentax will use a newer version of similar, btw most MF sensors are MF DX few are real 6x4.5 cm.

http://download.swiatobrazu.pl/alphaVSh ... re_028.TIF
http://download.swiatobrazu.pl/alphaVSh ... re_036.TIF
http://download.swiatobrazu.pl/alphaVSh ... re_034.TIF

tell me your not impressed.


In any case Rob from luminus landscapes went to Japan to check out the launch, see his initial impressions and interview.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/revie ... -1st.shtml

now lets wait see what the final cam can do.

[Snoflo]

Okay torphoto, you're convincing me!

[crossdrilled]

Lemme summarize what I am thinking is the crux of the matter, and maybe the canon folks can answer this, will you trade your 5D MKII and your L glass for this pentax camera and lens system?

Remember too, this is digital, so can you afford to change and upgrade at the same rate as a high end canon/ nikon SLR, or will this body be a keeper and have a longer life cycle? As for the "Am I impressed", I find sno takes bettah pictcha.

[torphoto]

Trade my 5d for this, probably not. Add this with my 5d, if I had the cash hell ya.

Remember the typical canon or nikon shooter has different uses, sports etc where fps is needed is where you find them. The life cycle for MF is longer, at 40 mp it will be a while before regular FF cams get up there ( the up comming 1ds mkIV is rumored to be 33mp and cost the same if not more ). For a nat geo, SI, high end fashion mag, Travel or landscaper ( city scaper and similar to ) photog this will out resolve any FF cam for the next 2-3 years and for them this is what counts.

As for Snoflo taking better pics, well ya but don't look at the dudes skillz look at what that sensor does, similar per pixel accuance as my 5d MKII but with 20 more mp, I can't wait for them to drop price into the sub $4500 usd bracket, I'll have a field day as the lenses I would use for this are rodenstock 35mm, the 75mm 645 and the 150mm F2.8's and they are cheap to ( $450 usd each ). IN studio or shooting hotels with this would just rock, add to it's weather sealing ( Pentax kills nikon and canon here, my K20D is super survivable vs the 5d ) and I can go on hikes in any weather with no fear.

For now all those fashion photogs with 67 and 645 systems will be buying in I'm sure.