Pentax 645z Review

[Harry Muff]

Here's the first proper review (I've seen) of the "affordable" Medium Format camera.




They like it, and so do I...




http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/pentax_645z_review/

 

[tolusina]

Oh my, that is tempting.
I could budget that, not certain I'm worthy.

 

[Harry Muff]

I checked out a couple of the raw samples and they are very nice indeed. Me want.

 

[PavelR]

Speed Auto:1/4000 - 30 sec, Manual:1/4000 - 30 sec (1/3 EV steps or 1/2 EV steps), bulb
X-Synchronization 1/125 sec.
Exposure Compensation -2.0 to + 1.0 EV

It can not be used as easy as DSLR and as creative as other MF cameras.
(Price [+ price of lenses] of course makes me not to buy it.)

 

[Stu_bert]

Here's the first proper review (I've seen) of the "affordable" Medium Format camera.




They like it, and so do I...




http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/pentax_645z_review/

Luminous Landscape has also reviewed it and offer a different conclusion. You have to take into account that Michael Reichmann used to use medium format but based on his age (gear weight) and the increase in quality from high MP dslr and mirror less, then he questions whether medium format has the compelling advantage it used to enjoy.

That being said, Michael still uses a phase one I believe, but less than he used to.

Ultimately it depends on what you want to use it for and where. Certainly the Pentax makes the best bridge in functionality between dslr and MF, and if money were no object then a MF camera plus lenses would indeed be appealing. Alas I don't make money from my photography, so the £12k I figure it would cost for a body and lenses would be a large investment and for me I think a high MP dslr (Canon preferred) or as an interim maybe a Sony (still put off by lossy compression on their raw files but at least I can use Canon glass) will be a better and cheaper investment.


Either way, Pentax encroaching on 1D / D4s territory is good for us. Be interested to see if Sony are allowed to launch their own medium format into the market - I figure that would undercut Pentax by a couple of grand....

 

[AcutancePhotography]

Especially considering that the 645z is a medium format camera you can feel comfortable taking out in the dirty, dusty, damp world and not worry about it.

It wish it *were* affordable to me. But alas, more than a bit out of my hobbiest budget. But it does look like a sweet camera though. :-*

 

[Dylan777]

I've never hand-on mf body before. To me, this body looks :-\

 

[mackguyver]

Speed Auto:1/4000 - 30 sec, Manual:1/4000 - 30 sec (1/3 EV steps or 1/2 EV steps), bulb
X-Synchronization 1/125 sec.
Exposure Compensation -2.0 to + 1.0 EV

It can not be used as easy as DSLR and as creative as other MF cameras.
(Price [+ price of lenses] of course makes me not to buy it.)

For landscape or product work, I think it's a great bargain, but the low X-sync is really disappointing compared to the other MF backs. That takes away one of the most compelling features of MF and the fact that it's half the speed of the 1D-series is even more sad.

 

[AcutancePhotography]

I've never hand-on mf body before. To me, this body looks :-\

You don't buy it for how it looks, but buy it for how it makes other things look. ;D

 

[e17paul]

I'm just waiting for the first mirror medium format. If full frame mirror less can be two thirds the weight of a full frame, then the result could be excellent IQ from a body weighing only 1kg

 

[arcanej]

A question to the more scientifically competent than I:
So, DSLRs have bigger lenses than rangefinders or other mirrorless cameras because there is a bigger distance between the end of the lens' flange and the sensor. Would it be possible for Canon or Nikon to make a mirrorless medium format camera that could use their existing stock of 35mm equivalent DSLR lenses?

 

[9VIII]

I'm just waiting for the first mirror medium format. If full frame mirror less can be two thirds the weight of a full frame, then the result could be excellent IQ from a body weighing only 1kg

Yup, if Canon put out a 645 mirrorless at the same weight and cost as their regular pro-am lineup, all it would take is one good pancake and a decent macro lens (and hopefully a TS) for me to adopt it...
Assuming prices wouldn't be horribly inflated either.

Practically speaking, I assume we won't have an economical option larger than 35mm until they figure out how to make a digital 4x5.

 

[EdB]

A question to the more scientifically competent than I:
So, DSLRs have bigger lenses than rangefinders or other mirrorless cameras because there is a bigger distance between the end of the lens' flange and the sensor. Would it be possible for Canon or Nikon to make a mirrorless medium format camera that could use their existing stock of 35mm equivalent DSLR lenses?

They could but it wouldn't be worth it. 35mm lenses wouldn't have an image circle big enough to cover a MF sensor.

 

[9VIII]

A question to the more scientifically competent than I:
So, DSLRs have bigger lenses than rangefinders or other mirrorless cameras because there is a bigger distance between the end of the lens' flange and the sensor. Would it be possible for Canon or Nikon to make a mirrorless medium format camera that could use their existing stock of 35mm equivalent DSLR lenses?

Lens size really has nothing to do with the size of the sensor behind it, it's all about light gathering. Flange distance can make a difference in that if you need a focal length shorter than the flange distance you need a retrofocusing lens design, which adds a lot of elements, otherwise it makes no difference.

The EF mount has a 54mm internal diameter, the Nikon F mount has a 44mm external diameter (the whole thing fits inside the EF mount. I can't imagine sticking a supertelephoto lens on something that small).
Nikon is basically SOL, but Canon, in theory, could use their existing mount with a sensor the same size as the Leica S, and just 1mm short of the Pentax 645.
Those lenses would still work with 35mm bodies, and as long as you don't mind cropping I see no reason an EF lens wouldn't work on a 35mm+ mirrorless EF mount (I still hate calling these "medium format", they never would have been called that in the film days).
And from a 35mm point of view, that would give us well more than the space needed for a "square" sensor that never needs to be held in "portrait" orientation.

 

[Lawliet]

Especially considering that the 645z is a medium format camera you can feel comfortable taking out in the dirty, dusty, damp world and not worry about it.

I wouldn't worry to much about the others either - had them at Iguazu and in the Negev&dead sea, never a problem. OTOH the 1/125s sync would have been one.

 

[Aglet]

Here's another take on the 645Z

https://blog.mingthein.com/2014/06/27/review-the-pentax-645z-part-i/

 

[Aglet]

I've never hand-on mf body before. To me, this body looks :-\

It's a bit heavy but it's actually quite nice handling without a tripod

 

[lb]

Here's the first proper review (I've seen) of the "affordable" Medium Format camera.




The bad thing about this is that Hasselblad, Phase One, Pentax and now NIKON is using this 50MP sensor in their new medium format camera and will be unveiled at Photokina, puts a muffle on canon new products as it will be affordable to the camera enthusiast, the NIKON is said to be mirror less and the sensor has a new type of shutter
.




http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/pentax_645z_review/

 

[PavelR]

http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/pentax_645z_review/
=>
The only downside is that all of the points are clustered near the center of the frame, as the system was originally designed for APS-C.
:-(

 

[RLPhoto]

No LS lenses is what killed this system for me.