Digital back for the 645N?

slackercruster · 06-14-2012, 11:41 AM

Will Pentax make a digital back for the 645N?

RioRico · 06-14-2012, 11:42 AM

Nope.

slackercruster · 06-14-2012, 11:43 AM

Why don't you think so?

RioRico · 06-14-2012, 11:47 AM

I'll expand on the prior comment. Why the hell should they? To cannibalize 645D sales? Don't count on it. IFF the 645D hadn't been introduced THEN Pentax might have an incentive of a digiback ENDIFF. We're more likely to see a 67 digiback -- but that's still extremely unlikely. A greater possibility: a GXR (or GXR2) 645 mountor. But I'm not holding my breath.

slackercruster · 06-14-2012, 11:58 AM

They could come up with a 28mp 645 back for $2000- $2500. Would satisfy those that can't afford a 645D that are not going to buy one anyway.

645 mountor? What is that?

RioRico · 06-14-2012, 12:26 PM

Originally posted by slackercruster

645 mountor? What is that?

Ricoh GXR system is an ingenious platform with great possibilities. The GXR is a body with controls, and that's all. It originally shipped with a couple lensors, lens+sensor units. They have since shipped at least one mountor, a mount+sensor unit, with M-mount. That's a short-register Leica mount... that can take simple adapters for Konica, Minolta, Canon, Pentax, whatever, MF lenses. Their lensors and mountors have thus far been APS-C, and very good. We have great hopes that they'll release a PK FF mountor, and great fantasies for a 645 mountor.

A mountor is IMHO the next best thing to digital film. When a new sensor appears, don't replace your whole camera, just the mountor part. Own multiple mountors of various formats and types for different work. Some have dreams of mountors (M or PK) tailored for B&W or IR or 3D or ultrafast video or whatever. We shall see...

Here is the Wikipedia entry for Ricoh GXR.

eddie1960 · 06-14-2012, 12:41 PM

Originally posted by slackercruster

They could come up with a 28mp 645 back for $2000- $2500. Would satisfy those that can't afford a 645D that are not going to buy one anyway.

645 mountor? What is that?

I'm not sure they could hit that price

but the main issue is the Pentax (645 or 6x7) did not use a removable back (like mamiya,contax,bronica,hassy.....) so it is not an easy retrofit - or you could just get a plate for one of the backs already out there

The design made them great field cameras but they weren't hot swappable backs. one of the reasons i bought my bronica instead of a 645 (I could have assembled pretty much the same kit for the same $ at the time) was the back. I usually have 3 different films loded and ready to go. pop the dark slide in take off the back, put the other back on pull the dark slide out shoot.

If I was so inclined there is a plate for my body i could use to attache some of the back, reality is though it's not worth it, I could own a D800 for less with a few nice primes

Newmoon · 06-14-2012, 02:40 PM

Is there a need anyway?
I say this as a few days ago I went to see the International Garden Photographer of the Year exhibition, and was rather stunned that I thought the sharpest print (maybe around 24-30 inch x 16-20 inch at a guess) was shot on a Contax 645 on Velvia 100 and scanned with a Nikon Coolscan 8000. It was the first prize winner in the Beautiful Gardens section. Taken by Roger Foley. Beautiful shot and tack sharp.

stevebrot · 06-14-2012, 07:16 PM

If it were easy or straightforward, Pentax would have done it a decade ago.

Steve

eddie1960 · 06-15-2012, 05:08 AM

Originally posted by Newmoon

Is there a need anyway?
I say this as a few days ago I went to see the International Garden Photographer of the Year exhibition, and was rather stunned that I thought the sharpest print (maybe around 24-30 inch x 16-20 inch at a guess) was shot on a Contax 645 on Velvia 100 and scanned with a Nikon Coolscan 8000. It was the first prize winner in the Beautiful Gardens section. Taken by Roger Foley. Beautiful shot and tack sharp.

Well shot on the right film and scanned well (this is the hardest part) medium format film looks fantastic. There is a plate allowing use of Digital backs on the Contax (too bad Contax went under the 645 was a fantastic product)

RonHendriks1966 · 06-15-2012, 07:25 AM

Originally posted by eddie1960

I'm not sure they could hit that price

but the main issue is the Pentax (645 or 6x7) did not use a removable back (like mamiya,contax,bronica,hassy.....) so it is not an easy retrofit - or you could just get a plate for one of the backs already out there

Not coming and not possible for that price I think. Maybe some chinese firm could make that, but even they are quiet on this issue.

06-14-2012, 11:41 AM	#1
slackercruster Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: NE, USA Posts: 1,302	Digital back for the 645N? Will Pentax make a digital back for the 645N?

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06-14-2012, 11:42 AM	#2
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Nope.

06-14-2012, 11:43 AM	#3
slackercruster Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: NE, USA Posts: 1,302 Original Poster	Why don't you think so?

06-14-2012, 11:47 AM	#4
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	I'll expand on the prior comment. Why the hell should they? To cannibalize 645D sales? Don't count on it. IFF the 645D hadn't been introduced THEN Pentax might have an incentive of a digiback ENDIFF. We're more likely to see a 67 digiback -- but that's still extremely unlikely. A greater possibility: a GXR (or GXR2) 645 mountor. But I'm not holding my breath.

06-14-2012, 11:58 AM	#5
slackercruster Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: NE, USA Posts: 1,302 Original Poster	They could come up with a 28mp 645 back for $2000- $2500. Would satisfy those that can't afford a 645D that are not going to buy one anyway. 645 mountor? What is that?

06-14-2012, 12:26 PM	#6
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Originally posted by slackercruster 645 mountor? What is that? Ricoh GXR system is an ingenious platform with great possibilities. The GXR is a body with controls, and that's all. It originally shipped with a couple lensors, lens+sensor units. They have since shipped at least one mountor, a mount+sensor unit, with M-mount. That's a short-register Leica mount... that can take simple adapters for Konica, Minolta, Canon, Pentax, whatever, MF lenses. Their lensors and mountors have thus far been APS-C, and very good. We have great hopes that they'll release a PK FF mountor, and great fantasies for a 645 mountor. A mountor is IMHO the next best thing to digital film. When a new sensor appears, don't replace your whole camera, just the mountor part. Own multiple mountors of various formats and types for different work. Some have dreams of mountors (M or PK) tailored for B&W or IR or 3D or ultrafast video or whatever. We shall see... Here is the Wikipedia entry for Ricoh GXR.

06-14-2012, 12:41 PM	#7
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,666	Originally posted by slackercruster They could come up with a 28mp 645 back for $2000- $2500. Would satisfy those that can't afford a 645D that are not going to buy one anyway. 645 mountor? What is that? I'm not sure they could hit that price but the main issue is the Pentax (645 or 6x7) did not use a removable back (like mamiya,contax,bronica,hassy.....) so it is not an easy retrofit - or you could just get a plate for one of the backs already out there The design made them great field cameras but they weren't hot swappable backs. one of the reasons i bought my bronica instead of a 645 (I could have assembled pretty much the same kit for the same $ at the time) was the back. I usually have 3 different films loded and ready to go. pop the dark slide in take off the back, put the other back on pull the dark slide out shoot. If I was so inclined there is a plate for my body i could use to attache some of the back, reality is though it's not worth it, I could own a D800 for less with a few nice primes

06-14-2012, 02:40 PM	#8
Newmoon Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 84	Is there a need anyway? I say this as a few days ago I went to see the International Garden Photographer of the Year exhibition, and was rather stunned that I thought the sharpest print (maybe around 24-30 inch x 16-20 inch at a guess) was shot on a Contax 645 on Velvia 100 and scanned with a Nikon Coolscan 8000. It was the first prize winner in the Beautiful Gardens section. Taken by Roger Foley. Beautiful shot and tack sharp.

06-14-2012, 07:16 PM	#9
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	If it were easy or straightforward, Pentax would have done it a decade ago. Steve

06-15-2012, 05:08 AM	#10
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,666	Originally posted by Newmoon Is there a need anyway? I say this as a few days ago I went to see the International Garden Photographer of the Year exhibition, and was rather stunned that I thought the sharpest print (maybe around 24-30 inch x 16-20 inch at a guess) was shot on a Contax 645 on Velvia 100 and scanned with a Nikon Coolscan 8000. It was the first prize winner in the Beautiful Gardens section. Taken by Roger Foley. Beautiful shot and tack sharp. Well shot on the right film and scanned well (this is the hardest part) medium format film looks fantastic. There is a plate allowing use of Digital backs on the Contax (too bad Contax went under the 645 was a fantastic product)

06-15-2012, 07:25 AM	#11
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Originally posted by eddie1960 I'm not sure they could hit that price but the main issue is the Pentax (645 or 6x7) did not use a removable back (like mamiya,contax,bronica,hassy.....) so it is not an easy retrofit - or you could just get a plate for one of the backs already out there Not coming and not possible for that price I think. Maybe some chinese firm could make that, but even they are quiet on this issue.