p.2 #1 · 645D Review - 2nd Impressions and a longer play
Graham Mitchell wrote:
I had a look at the lens lineup for the 645, and there seems to be a huge gap in the primes from 75 to 150mm. Am I missing something? Apart from that, the system is quite promising and I'm happy for Pentax that they finally managed to get the camera out there.
There is a 120mm Macro and a 135mm leaf shutter. You also have a 55-110 and 80-160mm zoom.
p.2 #2 · 645D Review - 2nd Impressions and a longer play
Wayborn, is there anywhere you could post a 645D DNG file? I’m sure there are many of us who would like to work with one. I plan on traveling to Japan in December and intend to purchase a 645D then, if it doesn’t appear in North America beforehand. The 645D has been getting a lot of coverage in Canada, so it may very well appear there soon. Any advice on purchasing in Japan?
BTW, the last German shepherd I owned was also sired by a Sieger – Bodo vom Lierberg (1967). Graham Mitchell wrote:
I had a look at the lens lineup for the 645, and there seems to be a huge gap in the primes from 75 to 150mm……..
120mm macro (sharpest lens I own), 135mm LS and since the 67 lenses are fully compatible (no AF however), add the 67 90mm (very nice, compact lens), 90mm LS, 100mm macro, 105mm f2.4 (beautiful portrait lens) and 135mm macro.
p.2 #3 · 645D Review - 2nd Impressions and a longer play
Mr.Lindy wrote:
Congrats on the new tool, be careful on the shutter clicks, its only rated at 50,000 right?
50,000 cycle average life expectancy is normal for a larger, medium format shutter, right? So after a minimum of 5 - 10 years of average use (if he shot 5,000 - 10,000 frames per year!), he might have to spend around $300 or so on a new shutter. Hardly something to be worried about.
p.2 #4 · 645D Review - 2nd Impressions and a longer play
I ordered the new 55mm made for the 645D from JapanExposures.com, and it arrived with the camera. Should a repair or maintenance be required before the 645Ds are sold in the US, then yes, it will have to go back to Japan. However, given my experience with Dirk at JapanExposures, I have great confidence that they could handle it.
As for the 50,000 clicks, I spoke at length with a Pentax tech support rep who had some working knowledge of the 645D. Basically, he said, all cameras have sort of a "planned obsolescence or built-in obsolescence;" therefore, maintenance, if not a thorough cleaning is required. The blades wear down and may need replacing, there's dirt or other foreign objects not easily seen, etc., so it's not a limitation, but more a means to get owners to do preventative maintenance. I ran into the same thing with my 5D, nearing the then 100,000 mark, scared that smoke would come out and it would melt. Luckily, I had it cleaned around the 75,000 mark and it cost me $75 at Canon's excellent repair facility. The camera surpassed 100,000 some time ago and still works just fine, albeit less now that I have a 5D2 and 645D.
Just as with my car, I am a big fan of schedule maintenance, periodic oil changes, etc., and found that keeping my lenses and cameras clean (although impossible to keep spotless) goes a long way in keeping them healthy and is cheaper in the long run.
You might find this interesting, as many 5Ds live way beyond their shutter life expectations and I have no fear that the 645D will do the same.
p.2 #5 · 645D Review - 2nd Impressions and a longer play
I've owned Pentax for years now.
After Hoya buyout of Pentax, Pentax closed their repair center in Colorado, they now use CRIS in Arizona.
As tough as Nikon is concerning grey market equiptment repairs I don't know why Pentax would be any different.
Especially since Pentax themselves no longer services what they sell in USA.
The 5D Classic shutter life link is nice to have, thank you !
p.2 #6 · 645D Review - 2nd Impressions and a longer play
I think anyone remotely interested Pentax was dismayed at the closing of the CO repair facility and I have to think it would severely limit the marketability of the 645D in the US. Pentax Canada still performs repairs and the 645D has gotten a lot of press there lately; hence my suspicion that the 645D may appear there soon.
I don’t understand the concern about the shutter life. The 645D is not a replacement for a Canon 1D something or a Nikon D3 something; it’s targeted at a different audience. As Tariq pointed out: what’s the shutter life for a Phase? ( at 3-4 times the price, it better be longer). It is clear that Pentax, at least initially, is targeting photographers with existing Pentax MF lenses. How else could they sell a camera with only one lens? Many of those photographers still use film. For me, a 645D would replace my 67II. The 67 costs me about $1.00/exposure; a 645D could turn to dust after 50,000 exposures and I would still be way ahead. Digital cameras are not a lifetime investment, they're consumables and are outdated in a few years.
p.2 #7 · 645D Review - 2nd Impressions and a longer play
I just used a lot of ink & paper making a 22"x30" print at 240 dpi without ressing up. I down loaded a full size jpg made with a 645D and EXISTING MANUAL FOCUS 35mm f3.5 lens. Very impressive. The photographer's site allowing full res down loads has some fantastic work using a bunch of differnt old (MF & AF) lenses. His site is here: http://ganref.jp/magazines/index/1/0/369
I have a shelf full of 645D lenses (7 of them); if the 645D were availavble here I would buy it today. Check out this gentleman's site. It is in Japanese, but you can make out the lenses used, f stop and shutter speed.
Best regards
Dave G
Beach Haven, NJ
www.modernpictorials.com
p.2 #8 · 645D Review - 2nd Impressions and a longer play
For me it goes beyond shutter life. According to the video at LL done with Pentax Canada he mentioned theres a sticky item installed in the camera for dust removal. It needs to be changed when needed. Customer serviceable ? I don't know.
I've watched the new film era 645 lenses dwindle to none at B&H yet the LL video says all the many old film era 645 lenses are in production. If so, who has bought the 645 35mm autofocus lens recently ?
Hoya closed down all Pentax Japan manufacturing so they need to get the lenses made elsewhere, as the first and only digital optimized 645 lens is made in Viet Nam, they need to recreate this line up elsewhere and make it lead free to conform to stricter EU lead standards.
From what I've seen people don't compare 645D to Hassy, Leica. The comparision is with Canon and Nikon full frame owners. I own both Canon and Nikon and Pentax remains my first digital slr system.
Pentax has its pluses and minuses as does everyone. But, I wouldn't be one to buy a grey market $10,000 camera from Hoya assuming Pentax 645 is going global. I've learned with Pentax they can show off products as coming soon and then not deliver.
I hope everyone who buys 645D gets the most joy from it, but I suspect its global roll out may not be global for months, years or never in some countries. 645D repairs, service could be a multi month turn around. Only one place service 645D and supposedly they make 500 units a month the last 6 months. If a product wide problem emerges, then send it roundtrip prepaid shipping to Japan and wait.
p.2 #9 · 645D Review - 2nd Impressions and a longer play
Has it occurred to you that there are no used 645 lenses at B&H or KEH because they have all been purchased in anticipation of the 645D. A few years ago 645 lenses were all over ebay at give-away prices, not now. During the announcement of the end of production of the 67II and 645NII, Hoya stated that 645 lens production would continue. I don't know where they are manufactured and they may intended only for the Japanese market. Here is a listing for the 645 lenses at Amazon Japan:
They can’t be shipped outside of Japan, but you can certainly go there and buy one.
I share some of your concerns, but for me and photographers like me the 645D offers an affordable path to MF digital. Why is there is little comparison to Leica or Hasselblad, I haven’t a clue unless its snobbery. The cameras have similar Kodak sensors as far as I know.
p.2 #10 · 645D Review - 2nd Impressions and a longer play
I have my doubts that Pentax USA will offer the 645D, even if Pentax Japan makes it available to them. After listening to the interview with the Pentax Canada rep on LL, it seems that the camera will be marketed and supported in Canada.
I'm still waiting for some comprehensive reviews, but I suspect it will perform at a level that I'd be willing to buy one in Japan or Canada knowing i could obtain service from our neighbhors to the north.
p.2 #11 · 645D Review - 2nd Impressions and a longer play
tsjanik wrote:
Has it occurred to you that there are no used 645 lenses at B&H or KEH because they have all been purchased in anticipation of the 645D. A few years ago 645 lenses were all over ebay at give-away prices, not now. During the announcement of the end of production of the 67II and 645NII, Hoya stated that 645 lens production would continue. I don't know where they are manufactured and they may intended only for the Japanese market. Here is a listing for the 645 lenses at Amazon Japan:
They can’t be shipped outside of Japan, but you can certainly go there and buy one.
I share some of your concerns, but for me and photographers like me the 645D offers an affordable path to MF digital. Why is there is little comparison to Leica or Hasselblad, I haven’t a clue unless its snobbery. The cameras have similar Kodak sensors as far as I know. ...Show more →
I plead guilty. I was a big Pentax 645, 645N fan. Some of my best work was done with these cameras and lenses.The same day the 645D was announced, I went to KEH and purchased three lenses...non were over $175. I also went to ebay and bought several more. I now have 7 lenses (2 AF); non were expensive. Obviously I am in line for the body. If I have to I will buy from Japan on ebay.
Dave
p.2 #12 · 645D Review - 2nd Impressions and a longer play
gurtch wrote:
I just used a lot of ink & paper making a 22"x30" print at 240 dpi without ressing up. I down loaded a full size jpg made with a 645D and EXISTING MANUAL FOCUS 35mm f3.5 lens. Very impressive. The photographer's site allowing full res down loads has some fantastic work using a bunch of differnt old (MF & AF) lenses. His site is here: http://ganref.jp/magazines/index/1/0/369
Unfortunately those images are all taken at f8-16. Any lens will look good in that sweet spot. I'd like to see a few wide open shots too. Of course, if you're a landscape/architecture photographer, then this won't apply.
Towards the end its mentioned the next 645D might have CMOS instead of CCD sensor.
My first two dslrs were CCD, I find the same Pentax 24x36 format lenses with aps-c crop format CMOS exhibit much less purple fringing I achieved with crop sensor CCD.
Might be a reason to wait for 645D II ? Or not ?
At least you know its on the table as possible future improvement.
And who knows, maybe the next sensor may be "full frame" instead of current 33mmx44mm crop format.
The one and only newly designed Pentax 645 lens is "full frame"
Also, if you have connection/friend in Japan you can order these new old stock lenses:
p.2 #14 · 645D Review - 2nd Impressions and a longer play
Graham Mitchell wrote:
Unfortunately those images are all taken at f8-16. Any lens will look good in that sweet spot. I'd like to see a few wide open shots too. Of course, if you're a landscape/architecture photographer, then this won't apply.
You are correct Graham. All my work is seascapes f11 or f16/22.. For wide aperature stuff I use a 1DSIII or A900 with prime f2 or f1.4 lenses.
Dave
www.modernpictorials.com
