[The Madshutter]

Makes sense, Pentax wants to price it to sell.

[hsteeves]

with the $8500 body price and the re-introduction of many of the FA lenses, they are nosing into the high end DSLR market and seriously undercutting the MF back prices.

[managger]

1. My very first impressions about new 645D:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/16-pentax-news-rumors/256443-z-countdown-16.html#post2774020

2. My friend took a picture in the end of first day of Moscow PhotoForum-2014:
Gallery.ru /

I gave my 645D with FA 120/4 Macro - for the Pentax-guy in the center.
And in the other hand he hold new 645D with tilted LCD and FA 33-55/4.5

[revdocjim]

Here in Tokyo they are having a hands on testing of the "new products" and explanation event on April 19th. I tried to sign up a few minutes ago but both sessions have already reached their max of 200 attendees...

[hsteeves]

so that I can buy a Z. Then again, after what mine have gone through, they are probably only worth about $1.50.

[CDW]

If the new 645z does in fact shoot 4K video, it had better do a superb job of it, at least matching the IQ seen from the new Panasonic GH4, which shoots both 4K video and film formats in multiple codecs. I was able to get to NAB last week and after looking at the stunning 4K demos by Canon, SONY and Panasonic plus their arrays of accessories for film makers, Pentax/Ricoh will have a challenge to match. IQ alone won't cut it. Unless a professional interface option and professional codecs are offered with the 645z, a 4K feature alone won't be enough to make it of interest to professional/indie filmmakers.

I shoot with a 645D and a K3, and I've pre-ordered the GH4 simply for 4K video capabilities. A Panasonic rep told me 'unofficially' the DNR of the 4/3s sensor in the GH4 will be in excess of 12 EV with improved S/N that puts it squarely in the area of current APSc sensors. We shall see.

ADDITIONAL: I just read the 4K capability is nothing more than interval shooting as in the K3. If so, that makes it a non-story.

[TheDocAUS]

I do not think this has been posted, a quick hands on review at DP Review of the 645Z: Hands on with the Pentax 645Z: Digital Photography Review

[veraikon]

Prices in Germany: 645Z Body only: 8000€ , 645Z+2.8/55 SDM : 9000€ , available from June 2014

[RobZ]

Bwah need to start saving money, I still use my Pentax 67 and I would love to make to the move to digital medium format!
Question: Maybe some users of the 645D can already anser this, how good and acurate is the optical finder in these camera's? Is is realy a lot bigger and brighter than in a full fram DSLR? And can you actually use it for acurate manual focussing?
I ask this because with my Nikon D800 I find it impossible to manual focus and trust on the optical finder. The critical focus is always way off. Therefore I must use the live view function which is just a totally different shooting experience.
What I love on my Pentax 67 is the bright and big finder, I see what I want in focus, click and I know when I develop the film, the subject is in focus. Simple.
This I want with a digital MF camera. So.. am I still in film dreamland where all this was possible, or can you actually shoot like this with the 645D/645Z without having to depend on autofocus or live view?
Thanks!

[Thomas]

Bwah need to start saving money, I still use my Pentax 67 and I would love to make to the move to digital medium format!
Question: Maybe some users of the 645D can already anser this, how good and acurate is the optical finder in these camera's? Is is realy a lot bigger and brighter than in a full fram DSLR? And can you actually use it for acurate manual focussing?
I ask this because with my Nikon D800 I find it impossible to manual focus and trust on the optical finder. The critical focus is always way off. Therefore I must use the live view function which is just a totally different shooting experience.
What I love on my Pentax 67 is the bright and big finder, I see what I want in focus, click and I know when I develop the film, the subject is in focus. Simple.
This I want with a digital MF camera. So.. am I still in film dreamland where all this was possible, or can you actually shoot like this with the 645D/645Z without having to depend on autofocus or live view?
Thanks!

I use manual focus all the time; the finder is quite large and bright.

[Ryan Tischer]

Bwah need to start saving money, I still use my Pentax 67 and I would love to make to the move to digital medium format! Question: Maybe some users of the 645D can already anser this, how good and acurate is the optical finder in these camera's? Is is realy a lot bigger and brighter than in a full fram DSLR? And can you actually use it for acurate manual focussing? I ask this because with my Nikon D800 I find it impossible to manual focus and trust on the optical finder. The critical focus is always way off. Therefore I must use the live view function which is just a totally different shooting experience. What I love on my Pentax 67 is the bright and big finder, I see what I want in focus, click and I know when I develop the film, the subject is in focus. Simple. This I want with a digital MF camera. So.. am I still in film dreamland where all this was possible, or can you actually shoot like this with the 645D/645Z without having to depend on autofocus or live view? Thanks!

It's big and bright...I'm easily able to accurately manual focus (except if it's really dark out), but I do have 20/20 vision...I'd say it depends on your vision! With landscapes and prime lenses I'm often shooting at infinity anyway, so focus usually isn't a big issue.


The 645Z will have live view, so you can use that to focus, unlike the 645D

[RobZ]

It's big and bright...I'm easily able to accurately manual focus (except if it's really dark out), but I do have 20/20 vision...I'd say it depends on your vision! With landscapes and prime lenses I'm often shooting at infinity anyway, so focus usually isn't a big issue.


The 645Z will have live view, so you can use that to focus, unlike the 645D

Thank's for the input. My vision is good. The problem is not so much that I can't see where the focus is on my D800 (although the finder is way to small for my liking), but that
what you see in the finder does not match up with what appears on the sensor eventually. There is a discrepancy and with modern high resolution sensors, this leads to unforgiving unsharpness.
However, acording to your experiences, the finder on the 645D seems to match it's sensor perfectly.
I guess I will have to rent or loan one to experience it myself. Thanks again, and additional thoughts are most welcome

[derAngler]

There is also focus peaking available in live view. I guess this will be very usefull, like it already is with cameras like the Sony A7/r.

[Lokusart]

Sounds like a great camera indeed, willing to hear more about it on the following months



Ps. no 500 color combinations, bah! Pentax is Doomed!

[donesteban]

Well, the 645z is great news. First of all for those starving for higher ISO than the 645D was able to offer. And secondly, for those looking to buy an affordable 2nd hand 645D body, offered by the people mentioned first.