Using the innovative lacquer techniques developed by Sakamoto Urushi Manufacturing Co., Ltd. of Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, PENTAX has made use of the traditional art of urushi (lacquer) for the exterior of the 645D Japan camera body. This exclusive lacquer finish not only gives the camera an elegant, exquisite appearance, but also enhances the camera’s durability. In order to create a sense of exclusiveness and a rich depth to the coating, the process requires a number of painstaking steps, such as pasting many different types of silver leaves on a black-lacquer base — as if creating a collage of torn paper — and applying an overcoat of paint in a rich Bordeaux-wine tone. This sophisticated, meticulously handcrafted lacquer technique using natural urushi and silver leaves means that each camera body will be slightly different, ensuring the camera will be a one-of-a-kind, unique possession for the photographer....Show more →
DubiousDrewski wrote:
Excuse me, but are we looking at the same camera? This looks stunning.
Yeah, just my take. I much prefer the look of the standard black version. Just looks more elegant and professional to me. This one looks like it might come with a Velvet Elvis.
I've come off the fence. As artistry and a concept, I really like it. You take an item which is mass produced (though really on a smaller scale than a DSLR) and you actually add something very unique the body itself, more unique than the perverse Leica-obsession-with-emitting-special-editions crew can come up with.
This is new and different than that. It's probably more collect-y than useable (I wouldn't want to damage that nice finish) but it's a new way of looking at the limited edition market.
The laquer looks nice, but the camera makes it butt-ugly (or vice versa). The modern design with its black plastic electronic function buttons and all just make it totally unfit for any kind of chique style like this. Imagine a 1Ds3 or D3x with the same laquer -- same thing if you ask me.
AhamB wrote:
The laquer looks nice, but the camera makes it butt-ugly (or vice versa). The modern design with its black plastic electronic function buttons and all just make it totally unfit for any kind of chique style like this. Imagine a 1Ds3 or D3x with the same laquer -- same thing if you ask me.
black plastic and bordeaux lacquer, nice!
Like fish with a side of ice cream
I never really understood collector editions in digital cameras. As in, what value would a camera have in 50 years if it has been superseded 20 times and the sensor is not considered good enough for a 5 year old to play with? Cameras are not assets any more, they are expenses/consumables. Use, then throw away.
