Pentax 645 Digital Just Announced

[e_m3]

Pentax has just announced an 18.6MP (Kodak chip) 645 MF DSLR body.

It was just reported on the Luminous Landscape website under the

What's New section.

[michael_ferron1]

I'd like to see something like that retail at a somewhat affordable price.

[ben conover]

Ditto

[kevin_ing]

That's interesting. Unless they've developed it as an interchangable back camera, I guess it will be digital-only.

 

I'm going to PIE2005 tomorrow afternoon. I'll see if I can get some information and photos of this new camera, and post them here.

[rj]

I hope it has the same kind of control layout as the 645nII, if it does, what a keeper. The one thing I have noticed the last year or two is that the prices of used pentax gear has dropped dramatically. This new camera may well raise it quite a bit, so I would think that if you are in the market for some of this stuff, now is the time to buy it.

[dmanthree]

This will be interesting to see if it has any effect on the prices of used Pentax 645 gear. Also, I wonder if the sensor is full-frame?

[cliff_lesergent]

<p>The announcement was posted on Pentax's web site earlier today:<br>

 </p>

<p>

<a href="http://www.pentaximaging.com/footer/news_media_article?ArticleId=6458800">

http://www.pentaximaging.com/footer/news_media_article?ArticleId=6458800</a></p>

[thomas_diekwisch1]

That IS exciting. I have gambled on it about two years ago, but obviously it was always up in the air. I love everything about the current 645nII, especially its reliability and userfriendliness. I am so glad Pentax is staying on top of things!

[andrew robertson]

1. It's a mock-up. There's no functioning unit at this time.

 

2. They say 'extra large' sensor, but neglect to mention if it's 6x4.5 'extra large', so it's

probably not.

 

3. Specifications subject to change at any time.

 

With as reassuring an announcement as this, I think it's time to announce my own medium

format digital camera.

[kelly_hicks1]

Hope it will be a tad less then 20K :)

[andre_noble4]

Yes, I (in cooperation with Etch-a-Sketch, Inc.) am also developing a digital camera which will be coming out sometime in 2005.

 

MSRP will be $15,999 - a price point attainable for all but those on public assistance.

[derek_stanton2]

I'd like to know if it will accept Pentax 67 lenses via the adapter.....

[ilkka]

Sure it will accept 67 lenses. And with AF confirmation as well. Can't believe it would be worse than the film 645.

 

I don't care if they start shipping next year. I was about to dump Pentax and switch to Canon if they don't come up with something like this by end of this year. A solid announcement at this stage is enough to keep me waiting. Meanwhile I will happily continue to use my 67, and maybe buy another lens or two...

[peter_weimann1]

Thanks god they finally made the decision. Too many MF manufacturers abandoned their customers. Now there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Hope it is not the light of an incoming train.

Greetings

Peter

[derek_stanton2]

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0503/05031603kodakkaf18000.asp

 

Kodak's press release regarding the sensor. 1.3x crop factor.

[titrisol]

just 18.6 MP?

 

that it just a tad better quality than 35mm... why bother?

[william_yu]

Agreed. To set MF digital apart from 35 mm DSLR, it needs to be at least 24 mp at this time.

[photom]

"just 18.6 MP? that it just a tad better quality than 35mm... why bother?"

 

Yes, good point. It will have to be priced attractively. Very close or under the price of the 1DsMKII. In that case, it will appeal to existing 645nii owners wanting to go digital. Pentax has proven in the past their ability to offer a good value - you never know.

[wim_van_velzen]

There is more in digital image quality than MP alone.

[kevin_ing]

Here's a quick report on what Pentax had to show at Photo Imaging Expo 2005 at Tokyo Big Sight.

 

<P>They basically had three mock ups on display inside of a glass case and were asking people to fill out a questionaire about their impressions on the designs.

 

<P>A man at the booth told me that they are planning to launch it in 2006. He would not say what part of 2006... only "2006" is their target.

 

<P>The price point they are aiming for is "under 1,000,000 yen" which works out to under $10,000. Indeed, they almost have to come in at that mark to stay competitive with Mamiya and others.

 

<P>No interchangability of film backs, so this is a digital-only camera. But all existing 645 lenses will work with aperture automation -- unlike the Mamiya ZD which loses aperture control with older, non-AF Mamiya 645 lenses.

 

<P>And here are shots of the three mock ups they had on display:

 

<CENTER>

<P><B>Design "A"</B>

<BR><IMG SRC="http://kevinspages.com/images/Pentax645Digital_MockUpA.jpg" BORDER=1>

 

<P><B>Design "B"</B>

<BR><IMG SRC="http://kevinspages.com/images/Pentax645Digital_MockUpB.jpg" BORDER=1>

 

<P><B>Design "C"</B>

<BR><IMG SRC="http://kevinspages.com/images/Pentax645Digital_MockUpC.jpg" BORDER=1>

[kevin_ing]

Here are a few top view shots of the mock ups. (Sorry... a white envelope I had in my bag reflected in the glass.)

 

<CENTER>

<P>Mock up A:

<BR><IMG SRC="http://kevinspages.com/images/Pentax645Digital_MockUpA2.jpg" BORDER=1>

 

<P>Mock up B:

<BR><IMG SRC="http://kevinspages.com/images/Pentax645Digital_MockUpB2.jpg" BORDER=1>

 

<P>Mock up C:

<BR><IMG SRC="http://kevinspages.com/images/Pentax645Digital_MockUpC2.jpg" BORDER=1>

</CENTER>

[titrisol]

Me like "C"

 

I was reading that the sensor will be 45 x 34 mm, so quite larger than 35mm. I wonder if they could increase the size to 60x45 and get more resolution?

[kevin_ing]

</CENTER>

 

<P>Sorry. I'm just writing this message to close the open CENTER tag that I used in my earlier message.

[tijean]

Thanks Kevin!!!! My vote would have to be for choice C also, but I wouldn't turn my nose up at any of them.

[derek_stanton2]

I'm really glad they're getting into this race, but Pentax really needs to hire better

designers. Their cameras are, consistently, the ugliest in the marketplace....