I believe that is a digital back for the MF bodies on which you have to buy the digital back separately. The 645D does not have a detachable digital back, unlike most MF cameras.
What we don't know is whether future sensors could be swapped into the 645D by Pentax technicians a few years down the line. Say if 2 years from now Pentax release a 645D II with a 55MP sensor for $12,000, maybe they could offer current 645D owners to install the new sensor (and maybe update the processor) for $2,000.
That's the main issue I see with this camera: they're using the DSLR throw-away-the-body concept to a low-sales-volume MF camera. While it's true this model is also used on similarly priced high-end Canikon cameras, these are used by a higher number of professional photographers than the 645D will be.
The proof once more, however, will be in the lenses. If FA lenses work well, and new D-FA releases are good quality and sub $1,500, then this system could appeal to many studio and landscape professionals who could recover the investment over 2-3 years. Buying into a similar Hassy/Mamiya/Leica system would maybe double that recovery time. High-end pros don't care, they just charge their clients more for the "privilege" of shooting Hassy/Mamiya/Leica, but entry-level pros are another story, and this might be the target market for the 645D.
Good points, Miserere. But I think that most of the people who use MF are pros who could fairly easily recover their investement.
Does anyone know how sharp current 645 system lenses are? After looking at the keh link last page, I was flabbergasted how inexpensive they are. Are they sharp enough to resolve 40MP?
Miserere wrote:
That's the main issue I see with this camera: they're using the DSLR throw-away-the-body concept to a low-sales-volume MF camera. While it's true this model is also used on
Not if you look at this as a digital back w/ a free body.
The cost of the entire 645D is as much as a Hassy or Leica digital back...
I used Pentax 67 and 645 stuff in my film days. I thought they were a sensational value for medium format. I have made some amazing 20"x30" prints from scanned 645 negatives. Has anyone calculated the "crop factor", which is important to wide angle landscape photographers like me.
Thanks in advance
Dave
it was (to me) interesting that the pentax 645 announcement on dpr was just a couple of centimeters above this announcement:
"Mamiya announces DM40 medium format camera
Mamiya has announced the price and availability of its new DM40 medium format camera and a digital back of the same name. Priced at $21,990 for the camera and 80mm f/2.8 lens D series lens, and $19,990 for the digital back..."
they may be two fairly different products, but then again, they're really not. $40K, or 10.5K for a 40MB MF rig. 'woot,' as some americans would say.
Telyt you're right I dont know, just talking about how the specs look at first glance. We'll see when people start using them. Re lenses I take it for granted that the leica ones will be stellar, but Pentax is no slouch either. Also, I expect Pentax lenses to be better than normal on the 645D because they are built for a bigger image circle than what this camera utilises. No corners. Then again the S2 lenses are faster.
Does anyone know how sharp current 645 system lenses are? After looking at the keh link last page, I was flabbergasted how inexpensive they are. Are they sharp enough to resolve 40MP?
Mamiya has updated and re-issued most of their 645 (film) lenses with the introduction of the digital back.
Miserere wrote:
That's the main issue I see with this camera: they're using the DSLR throw-away-the-body concept to a low-sales-volume MF camera. While it's true this model is also used on
kenyee wrote:
Not if you look at this as a digital back w/ a free body.
The cost of the entire 645D is as much as a Hassy or Leica digital back...
Does anyone know how sharp current 645 system lenses are? After looking at the keh link last page, I was flabbergasted how inexpensive they are. Are they sharp enough to resolve 40MP?
Mamiya has updated and re-issued most of their 645 (film) lenses with the introduction of the digital back.
So are you guessing Pentax will do the same? Also, are all 645 lenses (from any brand) compatible?
abam wrote:
it was (to me) interesting that the pentax 645 announcement on dpr was just a couple of centimeters above this announcement:
"Mamiya announces DM40 medium format camera
Mamiya has announced the price and availability of its new DM40 medium format camera and a digital back of the same name. Priced at $21,990 for the camera and 80mm f/2.8 lens D series lens, and $19,990 for the digital back..."
they may be two fairly different products, but then again, they're really not. $40K, or 10.5K for a 40MB MF rig. 'woot,' as some americans would say.
Well I think it's $21990 for the camera, lens and back and $19990 for the back only. Still double the price of the Pentax 645D.
mMontag wrote:
Mamiya has updated and re-issued most of their 645 (film) lenses with the introduction of the digital back.
Dpic_arctic wrote:
So are you guessing Pentax will do the same? Also, are all 645 lenses (from any brand) compatible?
Back in the day, before Hoya bought Pentax, there was a lens roadmap that showed 2-3 645 lenses to appear after the camera was introduced, so yes, Pentax will be releasing new lenses, probably in different focal lengths than their old 645 lenses due to the crop factor (like they've done with their APS-C line).
As for compatibility, each brand has their own lens mount, so lenses are not directly interchangeable.
Let's remember that camera companies make a lot of money from lens sales, so a new camera format will always result in new lens releases.
Haha to quote Mark's statement at the bottom of that page: * One year after this was written, we can amplify with greater authority the statement that the system is dead and buried. RIP Pentax MF.
I stripped the EXIF but this is an FA 35 adapted to EOS (5Dii), and C-PL slapped on the front.
Adjusted for levels in PS only, sharpening set at 7 in DPP, "Landscape" picture style, ISO 100. No NR nor ALO. No other tweaks.
Micro-banding in the skies, perhaps from the level lift?
Flickr downsizes it a little...I think it was was shot at f/8...
You might add this quote from 16-9 as well:
"This is simply the best way to obtain maximum shift movements on a Canon digital body. The Zörk Panoramic Shift Adaptor permits movements of up to 22mm, and is the only system designed for DSLRs to accommodate parallax-free stitching. The lenses I'm selling with it have been chery-picked for ultimate performance: the Pentax FA35 is just the greatest medium format retrofocus wide angle ever. The SMC-A 55mm f2.8 is a cracking manual focus Pentax 645 lens that outperforms the Hasselblad 50mm CF. And the butter smooth manual focus 150mm f3.5 is even better at distance than the Hasselblad, Mamiya and Pentax Macro 120mm lenses. In my opinion (and that of Zörk in Germany), the Pentax 645 range is the best array of MF lenses ever, with a beautiful, Zeiss-like drawing style and bottomless resolution. Until a digital Pentax 645 option arrives, this remains the best way to unlock that potential in the digital realm"
I have all these and would add the 120mm Macro (A or FA) to the list as well.
