it is here... Pentax 645D

<p >You know, I always laugh when people complain that a medium format back has a smaller sensor than it should. But when you complain about 645 being a misnomer that is trying to trick people, it is going a little far. The actual 645 format isn’t even actually 60x45. We are talking about a format called 645, is actually 56 × 41.5, another misnomer. So a crop factor here isn’t something I would worry about.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >On the other hand, there is zero chance I would ignore the 50K shutters as a reasonable life. That is honestly a bit over the top in today’s world.</p>

<p>I do not understand this bickering over the shutter life. I have friends that shoot 1D series cameras at surfing and other sports events, and if the shutter were much louder, I'm sure the group of them would sound like the opening sequence from "Saving Private Ryan". The so called "machine gun technique" may be derided by some, but they do get some fantastic action sequences in my opinion. Do they worry about the shutter life? One of them does. The rest just shrug and reply that "things wear out, I can always get it replaced". Cameras are tools, and tools wear out. Some wear out faster than others, but that is always relative to the use that they are put to. Does shutter replacement really cost so much to be a concern?<br>

It serves no useful purpose to attack each other's shooting styles in some attempt to prove that one person's knowledge level is greater that the other. The only way to see if a 50K shutter life is going to be a hinderance is see how the camera gets used in the field or the studio.</p>

<p>

<p>By the way, I do not believe that the 645D will replace the either the digital 35mm (APS-C or FF) in wedding photography. It may be trotted out as an "ultimate image quality tool" for the posed shots, but the ceremony and party shots will probably remain the domain of APS-C or FF DSLRs. Admittedly, I have never tried shooting a wedding with my 645N. Does anyone have any experience at shooting a wedding with either digital or film MF cameras? My impression was that digital MF cameras needed to be tethered, whereas the 645D is a little more portable.</p>

 

</p>

<p>A shutter guaranteed (?) for 50,000 releases.<br>

A Mercedes Benz SL65 AMG costs over a quarter of a million dollars and is guaranteed for 80,000km or 3 years. Do I expect the car to no longer work after this distance/time?NO!</p>

<p>Should I expect the car to be guaranteed for longer? It is after all a "Driver's" (read professional) car. Should I buy a Mitsubishi for less than 1 tenth the price but with a guarantee over 3 times as long and twice the distance?<br>

Do I expect the shutter to break on the 50,001 release?NO!<br>

Either way, whatever the guarantee period or expected shutter actuations, I don't think it's a deal breaker for most people who would buy this camera.</p>

 

<p>

<p>I will admit that in the past I had the view that large format photographers would take like one or two shots in day, and I image some do/did. But I was surprised at how many shots one photographer took in his lifetime.<br>

<a href=" Henry Jackson</a><br>

So given today's tools I would think some pro landscape photographer might well take many tens of thousands of photos in a year.</p>

</p>

<p><em>Yes, better than you from the sound of it. If your lifetime of photography can be covered by 50 000 digital images then you really are not shooting very much. </em><br>

It's more like a 100,000 film frames, including 645, 6x7, 6x9, 617 and 4x5, along with digital. Having the right tools means not locking yourself to one format or one body. <em><br /> </em></p>

<p>Colin,</p>

<p>You're right about the shutter not waiting until the 50,000th exposure has been made, and then change it's behaviour.<br>

But you're not right comparing this to a guarantee. The figures given by manufacturers are estimates of the mean time before failure. That's not quite the same.</p>

<p>Anyway, for low volume amateur shooting, this thing may be good enough.<br>

Low volume shooting amateurs however should not spend that much on a digital machine, when they can get better results using good old MF film. At that pace of shooting, having to scan is not a problem either.<br>

And even if you choose to use a decent scanner, like the expensive Nikon 8000/9000, you will still have saved enough money for a lifetime supply of film.</p>

<p>So for whom did they make this thing exactly?</p>

 

<p >O.G. de Bakker said:</p>

<p > </p>

<p ><em>“</em><em>Low volume shooting amateurs however should not spend that much on a digital machine, when they can get better results using good old MF film. At that pace of shooting, having to scan is not a problem either.<br />And even if you choose to use a decent scanner, like the expensive Nikon 8000/9000, you will still have saved enough money for a lifetime supply of film.”</em></p>

<p > </p>

<p >That describes my exact procedure for the past several years, including the Nikon 9000. There are some factors to consider however. The Nikon now lists at over $2000, approaching ¼ the cost of the 645D and they are hard to find (although not as difficult as getting a 645D). The 6x7 transparency film I use entails approximately $1.00 in film and processing costs per exposure and then requires some time for scanning. 50,000 exposures would cost me $50,000 plus any expense to keep the Nikon (and my cameras) running. If I could purchase a 645D, I’d break even after 8500 shots and get a $2000 rebate when I sell the Nikon 9000.</p>

<p > </p>

<p ><em>So for whom did they make this thing exactly?</em></p>

<p > </p>

<p >Someone like me.</p>

<p > </p>

<p>deleted duplicate</p>

<p>How about you all grow up and just make a decision on a piece of equipment without all of the "strut my stuff," Mr. macho-photo attitude? If you think they're lying about the format - don't buy the camera, buy something else. If 50K shutter life isn't enough in your world - don't buy the camera, or get over it and figure out you'll have to either replace the body or shutter - your choice. My lord, talk about insecure photo-weenies....</p>

<p> </p>

<p>"The shutter life cycle for "professional" cameras is typically in the 200,000 to 300,000 range. And those figures are conservative too."<br>

Not for MF cameras. 50 000 cyclesis the norm. Pentax have been making MF cameras for 42 years and most of them are still going strong. In addition, shutter life is not a measure on when the shutter disintegrate, but when it is expected to need a service and/or adjustment to be within specs...</p>

<p>Sadly too late for me. I started selling off my P67 kit a year ago, having finally given up on this. I have now almost fully moved to 35mm FF digital while keeping a Hasselblad 6x6 system for nostalgic reasons and possibly waiting to someday get a digital back for it. With the investment in lenses in these systems, it does not make sense for me to switch again. It would have been a sure buy for me if it had come a year and a half ago. </p>

<p>I agree that the misnomer isn't only Pentax's problem. But still, it does seem very weird to me that these cropped sensor cameras are called 645. After all, do any APS-C makers try to call their cameras 35mm? Besides 645 barely qualifies as medium format anyway. Here in Japan it is referred to as "semi-format", meaning "semi-medium format" or more pointedly "sort of medium format" or "almost medium format". Now the digital versions are even smaller and still everyone is raving about "medium format digital"... I guess the only requirement to be called "medium format" in the digital world is that the sensor be even just a little bit bigger than 35mm and the lens mount be compatible with medium format lenses. <br>

Now if the 645D had exchangeable backs that were compatible with existing Pentax film holders and they later on released backs with larger sensors that would be interesting!</p>

<p>Don't tar all 645 digitals with the same brush.<br>

You can get ones with sensors only a tiny bit smaller than the film format (about 40 x 54, vs. 42 x 56 mm 6x4.5 film format).<br>

They cost a bit more though.</p>

<p>In the early days of Digital SLR's, they were often referred to as "35mm digital" cameras. Obviously they were crop bodies at the time... the smaller sensor was a fine point. The real miracle was having a digital camera in approximately the same form-factor as 35mm SLRs, using the same lenses.<br>

Talking about a "digital 645" shows the same kind of overexuberance. It gives some sense of scale, without ever being accurate. Maybe Leica didn't call the S2 a 645 camera, but ALL of the press I read did call it that. I can't imagine the marketers of any camera wanting to talk about a "digital 345".</p>

<p>"I agree that the misnomer isn't only Pentax's problem. But still, it does seem very weird to me that these cropped sensor cameras are called 645"</p>

<p>It is a "system" name. The lenses are already labeled 645 and besides, Pentax plans more digital MF cameras; perhaps also full (645) frame at some point?</p>

<p>Got a new interview up about this camera in Luminous Landscape</p>

<p><a href="http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/pentax645d-1st.shtml">That LL interview</a> Dennis mentioned. This bit might interest some people:</p>

<p><strong>Will the 645D become available outside Japan?</strong></p>

<blockquote>

<p><em>We intend to sell the 645D outside Japan at a certain point in time but I cannot give you a firm date today. We believe that such a high end body has to be sold on top of a suitable support infrastructure. Japan as our historical base was the market with the best readiness for such a launch, which is why we decided to control the availability in this first step. </em></p>

</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>

<p >Sadly too late for me. I started selling off my P67 kit a year ago, having finally given up on this. I have now almost fully moved to 35mm FF digital while keeping a Hasselblad 6x6 system for nostalgic reasons and possibly waiting to someday get a digital back for it. With the investment in lenses in these systems, it does not make sense for me to switch again. It would have been a sure buy for me if it had come a year and a half ago.</p>

</blockquote>

 

<p>Ilkka,<br>

I could not have said it better myself. My days of buying into another system are long gone and I let my Pentax 645 AF system go back when Nikon came out with D1 series. I recall the optimism I felt when Pentax announced a FF DSLR many years ago, but I have never regretted the many digital images I have made since without my Pentax equipment.<br>

I wish them luck, and it looks like a nice system.</p>

 

<p>I always laugh at all these people who complain about the expected shutter life of cameras. IMHO 50,000 shutter actuations is quite a bit for landscape photography, which is what this camera was designed for. Many out there spend tens of thousands on gear and then do little more with it than shoot resolution charts and complain on the internet about other gear they desire that isn't built yet.<br>

I bought my used 1DSII that was 3 years old and it only had 10k actuations on the shutter....probably another person who complained that the camera ONLY had a shutter life of 150k.</p>

<p>As a Nikon user, I have a difficult time paying $7,400 for 24MP D2X. Especially since I previously purchased a D2X (new) and watched it drop to $1,200 in a couple years. Ouch. The Pentax 645D offers 40MP for a couple thousand dollars more. Has anyone noticed the price of auto focus Hassleblad and Mamiya lenses. Add several thousand dollars to the price of the digital body. In anticipation of eventually purchasing a 645D, I was just able to purchase a new Pentax 645 auto focus 45-85 FA for under $900. That may be expensive relative to other old medium format gear but it came in original box with warranty card and instruction card. All appear to be untouched. If the 645D catches on, I suspect significant appreciation in 645 FA auto focus lenses.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>If the 645D catches on, I suspect significant appreciation in 645 FA auto focus lenses.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>This is what happened when Pentax released their APS-C digitals. Not only did F and FA glass go up in price, but eventually so did A, given how the only functionality one loses is autofocus (thanks to Pentax's excellent backwards compatibility). Add to that that many great A lenses were never reissued in F or FA mounts, and you have a perfect recipe for crazy bidding wars on eBay.</p>

<p>Anyone intending to buy a 645D in the future would do well to stock up on used lenses now. The only DFA lens one might want to purchase is the semi-announced wideangle.</p>

<p>Funny you mention that. I used 645n and 67 Pentax systems in my film days. I sold all to convert to digital. The same day the 645D was announced, I went on line and bought near mint condition 45mm, 55mm, 75mm, and 80~60 Pentax lenses; non was more than $175. I had my choice from many dealers; most have sold out now or have doubled the price.<br>

Dave<br>

<a href="http://www.modernpictorials.com">www.modernpictorials.com</a></p>

<p>Mixed feelings here...<br>

PLUSES:<br>

Nice ergonomics<br>

Quality of pixels<br>

Bright viewfinder/LCD<br>

It is not too heavy<br>

Digital Spirit Level<br>

Mirror Lock-Up function<br>

MINUSES:<br>

Only two "native" lenses?!? Yes, I know, the camera is compatible with the other 645 lenses but these are old, some of them are not even autofocus, many of them are very soft and out of production, some exhibit an ugly distortion, unattractive bokeh, yadda, yadda, yadda...<br>

Crop Factor (does not help for Architectural Photography). Yes, I know that Hartblei has a Tilt/Shift lens for this camera (I do own it), but the glass is from Ukraine (no offense) and with the magnification factor you end up having almost a standard 50mm lens. Plus, vignette is out of control<br>

No Live View/Tethered Shooting (What?!?). There are no excuses because a Russian gentleman is building a tool for tethered photography and it actually works<br>

50,000 shutter cycle (yes, it is not a typo)<br>

14-Bit only (Hey, this is a MF camera)<br>

98% coverage<br>

1.1 FPS<br>

Thank you,<br>

FRod</p>