Originally posted by BruceBanner Maybe this is the wrong place to post this question, but I figure it's semi somewhat relevant here seeing as we're talking about back up bodies. What about picking up a 645D? These can be had for 'fairly cheap' can they not? I'm thinking 2021 might see me ditch the K-1 and go for a K-new + 645 combo, however I know my wallets and funds are tight so thought I would start off with a 645D and work my way towards a Z.
How do you fine chaps find the 645D vs Z? Is there a good place to find comparisons with these two cams?
I bring this up because a 645D can take all the same glass as a 645Z yeah? Thus I understand the cost of owning two 645Z's is overkill, is it unreasonable to get a D as a back up? Also the CCD sensor of the D might prove an interesting alternative to some situations/shots?
Hi Bruce,
In many ways, the 645D is a good option. I had one before getting my Z, and still have that body - albeit it's the other side of the world, sitting largely disused in my mother's house in England; the body developed some issues (most of the buttons stopped working properly - I suspect it needed a new keypad or something - probably repairable at relatively minor cost). For my landscape stuff, it's a good alternative - resolution that's nearly as high, nice colours, compatibility with all the same lenses. It's rudimentary in operation - no live view, slower write/review speeds, etc. - but perfectly fine when used at low ISO. Dynamic range is much lower than in the Z, so expect to make greater use of bracketing, grads, processing, etc. to balance exposures. But its main limitation for me is its utter unsuitability for astro photography. Performance at high ISOs is much worse than the Z, to the point of my not considering it viable for any Milky Way or wide sky shot. And for star trails, it's use is almost impossible in most cases - partly due to the same high ISO issue, because of the slower write speed and - most crucially - because of its dark frame behaviour. One cannot turn dark frames off (despite the menu suggesting that you can), and they kick in based on some algorithm that considers exposure length, ISO and temperature. A dark frame is lethal for star trails, as it produces gaps in the trails. Given that astro is a critical part of my shooting, the D is simply a non-option - so when it required repairs, I didn't bother getting them done, even though it was a good back-up body for my other landscape work. I probably should get it sent to me and fixed up; at least I could keep shooting landscapes if the Z needs repairs again. I am already acting on this plan, having asked my mother to pack it up and send it to me.
If your main work is low ISO landscapes and you can get a 645D for a good price (in good condition), then it's a very good back-up option to the Z. If you do astro, or other high ISO (or rapid-fire) work, I wouldn't bother with it. Don't forget that the D is a relatively old model these days, and the shutter is rated for fewer actuations, so you need to be sure any you buy is in good shape. Oh, and if you care about live view or quick preview/write speeds, you will find the D problematic. But those issues can usually be tolerated for landscape work, in a back-up body.
Hope this helps,
Ed