p.4 #6 · Official: Pentax 645Z Medium Format priced at $8,499
H.Lux wrote:
Strange, in Germany it's in stock, yet cheap for a medium format lens: FA150/2.8
Stefan
Yeah, if you read through the rest of this thread, I think you will see that most of those older, FA lenses are no longer in production. Probably why it's relatively cheap. Whenever a replacement for that lens comes out, it will likely be many 1000's more in price.
p.4 #7 · Official: Pentax 645Z Medium Format priced at $8,499
I thought they restarted manufacturing the FA lenses. They are all officially listed on german Ricoh-Pentax homepage and you can even buy them on there.
p.4 #8 · Official: Pentax 645Z Medium Format priced at $8,499
H.Lux wrote:
I thought they restarted manufacturing the FA lenses. They are all officially listed on german Ricoh-Pentax homepage and you can even buy them on there.
Do you have a source/ link? All lenses are now made in Vietnam so it would be interesting for anyone who has recently bought say this 150 to see where it was made. If it's Japan, it's old stock and not currently being made.
p.4 #11 · Official: Pentax 645Z Medium Format priced at $8,499
It's a miserable situation in the US for 645D users, how does Ricoh think to sell cameras, when virtually no lenses are available? I couldn't believe it, that's why I posted and because in Germany there is no delivery problem. My FA lenses are not surprisingly all "Made in Japan", I bought them used. On the DA25 and the D-FA55 I found no sign of origin.
I remember the story like when Pentax introduced the 645D in Japan a couple of years ago, they relaunched the production of the FAs as there was only the D-FA55 available. It was in the context of a discussion, if it makes sense to invest into a P645D system or is it about to die. But I don't remember the source.
Actual quick search brought this thread: http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/48-pentax-645d-medium-format/251339-645-fa-lenses-still-production.html
At the end of this thread there is a link onto the japanese homepage of Ricoh with a list of discontinued lenses which comprises only four lenses: Catalogue of discontinued lenses
Further there is a file which lists the roadmap for future lenses, three zooms: Roadmap. The UWA Zoom has already been announced.
p.4 #12 · Official: Pentax 645Z Medium Format priced at $8,499
corposant wrote:
It's a 0.8x smaller sensor than a traditional 645? So the 120mm Macro will feel more like a shortish Tele-portrait lens?
I usually calculate the long side equivalent focal length in 35mm. Because of different aspect ratio it's different if you regard width, height or diagonal. Shooting in landscape it's a factor of 44/36=1.2222222. Therefore the 120mm has about the same angle of view as a 100mm 35mm lens. But I would not use the macro as a portrait lens because of it's busy bokeh and it's sharpness but the 150mm does extremely well. It's a classic portrait lens, a bit soft wide open, but sharp stopped down. Pleasing bokeh. AOV is about as 120mm FL in 35mm format.
p.4 #13 · Official: Pentax 645Z Medium Format priced at $8,499
H.Lux wrote:
It's miserable situation in the US for 645D users, how does Ricoh think to sell cameras, when virtually no lenses are available? I couldn't believe it, that's why I posted and because in Germany there is no delivery problem. My FA lenses are not surprisingly all "Made in Japan", I bought them used. On the DA25 and the D-FA55 I found no sign of origin.
I remember the story like when Pentax introduced the 645D in Japan a couple of years ago, they relaunched the production of the FAs as there was only the D-FA55 available. It was in the context of a discussion, if it makes sense to invest into a P645D system or is it about to die. But I don't remember the source.
Actual quick search brought this thread: http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/48-pentax-645d-medium-format/251339-645-fa-lenses-still-production.html
At the end of this thread there is a link onto the japanese homepage of Ricoh with a list of discontinued lenses which comprises only four lenses: Catalogue of discontinued lenses
Further there is a file which lists the roadmap for future lenses, three zooms: Roadmap. The UWA Zoom has already been announced.
The 25, 55 and 90 Macro are available new here in the U.S. All are current production and made in Vietnam. There is supposedly a wide zoom about to be announced as well (edit. Where are the actual specs? I must have missed the announcement).
I think with Ricoh now in charge and with the commitment shown by releasing this major update, there would be nothing to worry about as far as buying into the system.
p.4 #14 · Official: Pentax 645Z Medium Format priced at $8,499
Tariq Gibran wrote:
[ There is supposedly a wide zoom about to be announced as well (edit. Where are the actual specs? I must have missed the announcement).
I think with Ricoh now in charge and with the commitment shown by releasing this major update, there would be nothing to worry about as far as buying into the system.
They strangely announced an UWA Zoom without specifying it. Maybe tomorrow when CP+ starts, we will know more.
Is there any chance that there will be an upgrade pricing for current 645D users when the 645D2 comes out?
p.4 #16 · Official: Pentax 645Z Medium Format priced at $8,499
These are essentially digital backs w/ the body glued on (compare it w/ the prices of competitor's medium format backs which are more expensive for only the *back*). Just as disposable as regular DSLRs nowadays...
p.4 #20 · Official: Pentax 645Z Medium Format priced at $8,499
It would seem very awkward to release a new digital medium format body and not bring out any new lenses. I am sure they have some sort of plan for it, just hope they are more open in their road map announcements and not tight lipped as Ricoh usually are about new products.
I think the new camera looks great and I am quite sure it will make for a very good system if they don't drop the ball. In that price range you don't want customers to feel hesitant to invest and insecure about system future.
