Originally posted by mecrox It's quite hard to see what any 645D would be for. What is the point of this camera? What is its market? As the present camera stands, it must represent a tiny marginal business to Ricoh. New FF sensors are starting to impinge at the lower end, while there are noises of Canon and Nikon making moves at the higher end.
Have a look at the kind of words used to describe the D800 and it's 'system' (ie, it doesn't have one), and not the first time it's been said this way:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-medium-format-645-6x7-645d/238836-...what-deal.html Originally posted by mecrox So at the moment, the 645 project looks a bit of an awkward 'tweener between FF and the PhaseOne/Hasselblad crowd.
It's a different crowd all right; one that prefers to own it's cameras and shoot often, rather than rent or lease them for the occasional shoot. I don't yet charge $25k per sitting, so, yeah, different. Obviously I'm stretching it a bit here, I do know of one studio in town that I think owns 2 or 3 'Blads, but at $35-$55k I'd worry about my business model and not my manufacturers...
Originally posted by mecrox Maybe this is a great business to be in, with a rosy future. I just don't know which is why I am asking. I'm assuming Ricoh would like to concentrate their efforts in areas with a good return and a good future. I mean, no doubt the 645D is an excellent landscape camera, for example. But at so much more than a Nikon D800E which has a simply huge accessories catalogue and pro support network behind it? Hmmn.
So, full disclosure time, I just bought a 645 (film, not D), mainly for portraiture. The look of the larger sensor/film area is what grabbed me. It is an impossibility of physics to get that look any other way. And before anyone says 'Oh, you can shoot 30mm 1.4' .... HAH! If you want your subjects noses to look as big and distorted as a moose, maybe. I own a Sigma 30mm for my K5, and it's a great lens - if your have some distance between you and a human subject. Otherwise it's Bozo the Clown time. Or you're standing so far away you have to yell at your client. Classy.
I really think Pentax does ok on the digital bodies, heck, if they can offer a limited run of those red lacquered 645D's, I think the black bodied ones are a no-brainier. And they sold like hot cakes, enough to be released outside of Japan. Even my local store sells them!
As for support, I've always had 2-3 week turnaround; so I do have backup bodies, still, I'd love to see a pro/loaner program!