Originally posted by ghelary My understanding is that the Pentax 645D will around twice as cheap as the cheapest of the competition (body + back) Can you please which Mamiya solution you are refering to ?
Example:
AC-Foto GmbH
That's 9000 Euros for the complete kit, including standard lens AND including 19% German VAT.
So, Pentax, is not really that much cheaper! Yes, I know, it is the 22 MP back and not the 40 MP, Pentax claims, but it is a cheap start and with Mamiya you can exchange backs and upgrade them as required, wheras with Pentax you are bound to what you bought initially.
Originally posted by ghelary Since Pentax is going the full DNG route, the best software to buddle the 645D with would be Lightroom like Leica. A very good second choice would be also DXO provided DXO push support for every 645 lens available. I have both softwares and I find DXO a superior raw converter but overall inferior because of its interface.
Now IMO, those softwares shouldn't be bundled with the 645D as it is very likely that the photographer owns already a licence for Photoshop CS, Lightroom and/or DXO. A rebate coupon would be smarter. Nikon don't provide a licence for Capture NX with their similarly priced D3X.
Pentax choose to go medium format to set its product apart from the high-end FF DSLRs. So, they need to go the full route and not stop short just to save a cent. They need professional software to go with the camera. I agree, that LR would be a good choice and I have seen it bundled with other brands. Mamiya includes their Photo Studio, Hasselblad comes with Phocus etc. Pentax comes with?
I would want a software, that does allow me to remote control the camera and I would be happy to have wireless remote control via WiFi etc., like Canon and Nikon provide.
Originally posted by ghelary But I do agree that Pentax needs to have a very strong professional support available. But again, I'm not sure it is necessary to include it, maybe as an option to keep an attractive price for wealthy enthousiasts.
Professional services are not necessary inclusive. Hasselblad or Mamiya do not give away their wedding seminars or studio lighting seminars for free (at least not all of these seminars). But Pentax has not even released yet any visible sign of commitement to pro services.
Then there is the question of professional repair services. In the long and distant past I got a turnaround time of 10 days from Pentax as a working pro, including postage times. Now I have to send my faulty Pentax equipment to a third party repair center and it took me nearly 6 weeks, and several phone calls and faxes to get a lens repaired. That is wholly unacceptable.
I for once am in the lucky position to already have a good stock of Mamiya 645 equipment, so my preferred choice for a medium format digicam is the ZD - despite using Pentax for nearly 30 years now. But I cannot see the pro service, which is a necessity for such a camera. – That may be different in Japan or Singapore or wherever, but I am based in Germany.
Ben