Medium Format 645D finally ready?

[chris-p]

It looks like Pentax might be set to finally release the much touted medium format 645D next month at the Japanese CP+ trade show.

There is a teaser on their Japanese website (link to Google badly translated site is here)

Rumours suggest it will be a 30MP version of the original 645.

Story here

[flake]

Styling by 'Housebricks R Us' ? I wonder how much it will cost, and who their target market is. The people currently using medium format and needing it for work are getting paid enough to afford the Hasselblad / Leaf end of the market, so who is this targetted at?

[OldBoy]

Originally Posted by flake

Styling by 'Housebricks R Us' ? I wonder how much it will cost, and who their target market is. The people currently using medium format and needing it for work are getting paid enough to afford the Hasselblad / Leaf end of the market, so who is this targetted at?

That's a little unfair!

Pentax has a range of lenses to fit a 645 format which exceeds those for the Leaf and Hasselblad, assuming it is the same fit, and they are a reasonable price second-hand. A lot of people who have a film 645 camera with a range of lenses might be happy to buy this camera if it lives up to it's hype.

[Amy Davies]

We had this story up on Wednesday 10th - along with a few of the rumoured specifications:

http://www.photoradar.com/news/story...camera-rumours

Anything else you'd like to see on the 645D?

[HinFrance]

The Pentax 645 was the professional photographer's workhorse back in the day. The excellence of the lenses is legendary. If these really are going to be pitched at a price level to rival the top 35mm Cankons AND if they work properly they'll be back with a bang for sure.

Obviously until the lottery funds come in (any day now I expect) I won't be giving one a home.

[GaryCatterick]

Originally Posted by OldBoy

That's a little unfair!

Pentax has a range of lenses to fit a 645 format which exceeds those for the Leaf and Hasselblad, assuming it is the same fit, and they are a reasonable price second-hand. A lot of people who have a film 645 camera with a range of lenses might be happy to buy this camera if it lives up to it's hype.

Yes unfair.

Its a digital medium format. Pentax were infamous for these models.

No different than introducing a new DSLR.

As a Pentax/Nikon/Minolta user, I never ceased to be baffled as to why Canon users can't accept other manufacturers products without giving negative opinions.

Regards

[chris-p]

Its because everything is inferior when compared to a Canon. Especially a "single digit" Canon...

[Marcus Hawkins]

Morning everyone

The Pentax 645D gets official – get the specs, price and release date here.

It's only going to be available in Japan to begin with...

Marcus

[PaulMontgomery]

Hmm cheaper than I was expecting (though still out of my price range), but what's the betting that by the time it comes to the UK its over £10,000?

[GeoffWessex]

Yes, but if Pentax ramp up production for world sales, perhaps the price might come down a little too..... well, it's a good theory. I'd LOVE one!

Couple of earlier remarks......

I thought it was the 6x7 Pentax (not the 645) that was the 'workhorse'.... even Bailey used one. I could be wrong.

"HouseBricks'R'Us"? what the heck was the Hasselblad 500 if not a very expensive cube? I don't think there's anything more stylish than this 645.