Pentax 645D review

<p>Part 1 of my Pentax 645D review is now online.<br /><br />See http://wyofoto.com/Pentax_645D/Pentax_645D_review_pt1.html<br /><br />All input is welcome.<br /><br />Part 2, the field test "From Blizzard to Desert" will be here in the next several days.</p>

<p>Awesome. This camera is currently out of my budget. However, it's better value than a D3X at the moment. I suppose it's better to be right than to be first, but Pentax sure did take its time to release this thing. I'm looking forward to the next part.</p>

<p>It might be of more return technical wise than a D3X but there are many people complaining about the relation ship between the camera and the lenses.</p>

<p>All the lenses are fully available in both the UK and Japan.</p>

<p>See http://www.cliftoncameras.co.uk/Pentax_645D_Lenses</p>

<p>I don't what the problem is with Pentax USA. !!</p>

<p>Thank you Miles for this report...looking forward to the next installment!</p>

<p>Miles,</p>

<p>Good review, however, your information regarding the Hasselblad H3D in cold temperatures is very inaccurate. I regularly shoot in well below freezing temps with the H3D (and the H2 prior) without any failure. In fact, I did my ice fishermen series on frozen lakes and rivers exclusively with the H3DII39.</p>

<p>I have plenty of other snow/ice photographs, obviously made in very inclement weather conditions. I have used the H2 in temps around -18F, sadly, I failed to function, not the H camera. I have worked with the H in temps as high as 114F, no issues.</p>

<p>The 32 degree temp rating from Hasselblad is the Kodak sensor temp rating specified by Kodak.</p>

<p>Please correct your otherwise good review and thank you for posting it. Be well.</p>

<p>Kind regards,</p>

<p>Derek Jecxz<br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/derek.jecxz.photographer">http://</a><a href="http://www.jecxz.com">www.jecxz.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/derek.jecxz.photographer">http://www.facebook.com/derek.jecxz.photographer</a></p>

 

<p>I have now read the second part of the review. It's a bit shorter than I would have liked (I love to read longer articles on days off!) but I enjoyed it anyway. It seems that everyone who uses this camera just loves it.</p>

<p>I disagree with you when you write that</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>the 645D produces prints that equal the quality of 4x5 LF film cameras</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I don't think so. Not from what I have seen. Per unit area, film (usually Portra 160 or Ektar 100) matches the 645D. And the 645D isn't even 'full frame'. Naturally I have also seen cases where film doesn't match the 645D. This is annoying - and possibly due to incorrect scanning method, but I wouldn't really know. And Luminous Landscape is not a totally trustworthy source for film vs digital comparisons.</p>

<p>A peripheral point which relates to my first comment above (just for the sake of continuing the discussion): the D3X is overpriced, let's face it. So in that context the 645D is an easy choice. But the A900, 5DmkII and A850 are up to 5x cheaper than the 645D - which is interesting only because the Pentax is not double their resolutions, but only 50% greater. You'd need 80Mpx to double the resolution of those DSLRs. Obviously there are other factors which you touch on (possibly nicer sensor, no AA filter etc.).</p>

<p>My friend Steve Kornreich sold his H3D-39 because it would not work below 20°F and <strong>Hasselblad service would not support for use at that temperature</strong>.</p>

<p>Perhaps you got lucky?</p>

<p>Contact steve@kuau.com for full details.</p>

<p>My 5Dmk2 is 21MP. The 645D is 40MP.</p>

<p>To me that is 90% greater not 50%.</p>

<p>Since I tend to shoot close to 4:3 aspect ratio rather than 3:2, it is effectively 2x the areal the resolution of my 5dmk2.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>The 645D should be compared to the Leica S2, which may be its closest competitor. Both are Digital MF aimed at outdoor, portrait and fashion photography. Both are supposed to be easy to operate, weather and dust proof. Both come with fixed 40M pixel sensors, without the possibility to change backs. What separates them however, is the glass. Leitz made a wise decision to release top of the line lenses for their camera (albeit at astronomical price) to maximize its potential and Pentax still has a way to go with their lenses.<br /> I would be very interested to read a good head to head comparison between the two, much more then with the Canon 5DII alike.</p>

<p>The 645D should be compared to the Leica S2, which may be its closest competitor. Both are Digital MF aimed at outdoor, portrait and fashion photography. Both are supposed to be easy to operate, weather and dust proof. Both come with fixed sensors, without the possibility to change backs. What separates them however, is the glass. Leitz made a wise decision to release top of the line lenses for their camera (albeit at astronomical price) to maximize its potential and Pentax still has a way to go with their lenses.<br>

I would be very interested to read a good head to head comparison between the two, much more then with the Canon 5DII alike.</p>

<p>I dont agree that you can compare a 5dMkII to 6x7 MF; maybe you mean scans from a consumer flatbed</p>

<blockquote>

<p>My 5Dmk2 is 21MP. The 645D is 40MP.<br>

To me that is 90% greater not 50%.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Incorrect. :-) To double resolution you need to quadruple pixel count (because an image has two dimensions).</p>

<p>Incorrect. :-) To double resolution you need to quadruple pixel count (because an image has two dimensions).</p>

<p>Man is that a gross error.<br>

area is area. Period.</p>

<p>Sorry Robert, you are mistaken. Pixel (or photosite) count is not resolving power.</p>

<p>The Pentax 645D may actually be better than its numbers suggest. I don't doubt that.</p>