[barondla]

Hello everyone,
I have a Pentax 645Z camera with less than 1,000 shutter activations. It is a wonderful camera and it compares very well with it's more expensive "brothers".
The only improvement I would like to see is a true electronic shutter. Apparently, this can not be accomplished via a firmware update.
The electronic shutter in the Pentax K-1 is very useful when I am doing macro photography image stacks of up to 400 shutter actuations.
This eliminates all vibrations.

Best,
Mike

400 stacked shots for 1 image! Between this and Ed Hurst's 4000 shots for a star trail image, my poor desk top computer just ran for cover and the Z said no way. What equipment are you using for such massive shots? I've done about 50 shots and it is slow, tedious, and tiring. Are you using an automated macro focus rail?

Thanks,
barondla

[rodagon]

Hello Barondla,

Yes, I use an automatic macro focus rail that is mounted on a 24 inch aluminum rail. I am a very patient person, but to get all of the macro details in focus at the optimum aperture, I now use a 105mm F2.8 A Printing Nikkor lens or a 90mm f4 Tochigi Nikkor Rayfact lens that features variable magnification from .50X to 3.0X. It is perfectly Apochromatic and sharpest when used wide open.
The Printing Nikkors were originally designed in the late 1960s for copying movie film. They were $12,000 and finally discontinued in October 2019. I can only imagine what they would cost today.
Most stacks are 200 or slightly less shots. It is very easy to do with automated step motor. Lots of fun now!
Best,
Mike

[barondla]

Hello Barondla,

Yes, I use an automatic macro focus rail that is mounted on a 24 inch aluminum rail. I am a very patient person, but to get all of the macro details in focus at the optimum aperture, I now use a 105mm F2.8 A Printing Nikkor lens or a 90mm f4 Tochigi Nikkor Rayfact lens that features variable magnification from .50X to 3.0X. It is perfectly Apochromatic and sharpest when used wide open.
The Printing Nikkors were originally designed in the late 1960s for copying movie film. They were $12,000 and finally discontinued in October 2019. I can only imagine what they would cost today.
Most stacks are 200 or slightly less shots. It is very easy to do with automated step motor. Lots of fun now!
Best,
Mike

Wow! Potent equipment. Are the Nikkors going on a K-1, 645Z, or something else? A 24" rail seems huge for macro work. Would love to see some of your photos and a pic of the equipment set up.

Thanks,
barondla

[Ken Edwards]

I would like to see the current k-1 functionality in the 645z body and sensor. How hard could it be? This would re-spark pentax as medium format takes hold again. There is something special about the image, I can't get it in all the FF camera's even the newest. Real like your eye see's, not flat. SR 50mpx and a full range lens. I loves this camera. I give us more please.

[grantsarichev]

I would like to see the current k-1 functionality in the 645z body and sensor. How hard could it be? This would re-spark pentax as medium format takes hold again. There is something special about the image, I can't get it in all the FF camera's even the newest. Real like your eye see's, not flat. SR 50mpx and a full range lens. I loves this camera. I give us more please.

I'm afraid Pentax has lost its medium format

[repaap]

OoKU did mention already that it is on the plan(new 645 by Pentax/ricoh) now if it’ll be in 1 or 3 yrs no one know. There is new tech already coming -K3 III- and usually this new tech means there will be new model tier. Ricoh is looking to how to update their models to make them competitive, and that does take time. IMO they have not lost anything yet. And obviously they are not afraid of taking their time. If one want to have newest of newest update then go with what you find now. But 645Z seems good still and for sure there will be more of where those came from. They just have had so much to catch up wit aps-c,FF and lenses for those.

[barondla]

I'm afraid Pentax has lost its medium format

Don't think Pentax has lost medium format. Their camera and system are still competitive all these years later. What does Fuji offer, besides a 100mp model and mirrorless construction, that Pentax doesn’t? The Pentax system has many more lens choices and used lenses at far less expensive prices. Pentax will update the Z when they are ready. I'm not a pro and probably don't need a camera better than the 645Z. I putting money back just in case .

---------- Post added 11-09-20 at 05:12 AM ----------

I would like to see the current k-1 functionality in the 645z body and sensor. How hard could it be? This would re-spark pentax as medium format takes hold again. There is something special about the image, I can't get it in all the FF camera's even the newest. Real like your eye see's, not flat. SR 50mpx and a full range lens. I loves this camera. I give us more please.

Welcome to the forums. I've only shot the ff K-1 and find the 645Z even better. Many have shot newer ff bodies agree that medium format looks more real. More 3 dimensional and less "brittle" looking. 645 images have a more relaxed look.

Thanks,
barondla

[fs999]

(...something is fishy...)

Smelling so...

[Ken Edwards]

Don't think Pentax has lost medium format. Their camera and system are still competitive all these years later. What does Fuji offer, besides a 100mp model and mirrorless construction, that Pentax doesn’t? The Pentax system has many more lens choices and used lenses at far less expensive prices. Pentax will update the Z when they are ready. I'm not a pro and probably don't need a camera better than the 645Z. I putting money back just in case .

---------- Post added 11-09-20 at 05:12 AM ----------



Welcome to the forums. I've only shot the ff K-1 and find the 645Z even better. Many have shot newer ff bodies agree that medium format looks more real. More 3 dimensional and less "brittle" looking. 645 images have a more relaxed look.

Thanks,
barondla

I agree, I loved having SR in my K-1 when everyone said lens stabilization was better, now you know they were all jealous since they all added it. But I want all the lenses to be SR in my 645z they should work the same. I don't mind the weight, it's the carrying and swapping that detract from MF. That's why I want a 45-300 f4.5-5.6. I like to hike with it. So if it had SR then lightweight glass would be welcome. If they do go short flange distance the they shouldn't loose the screw motor for auto focus on the adapter like Nikon did. I also want a focal reducer for 645 to pk. Why doesn't it exist? Then I could add two stops down to a 4/3rds camera too.

[luftfluss]

Don't think Pentax has lost medium format. Their camera and system are still competitive all these years later. What does Fuji offer, besides a 100mp model and mirrorless construction, that Pentax doesn’t? The Pentax system has many more lens choices and used lenses at far less expensive prices. Pentax will update the Z when they are ready. I'm not a pro and probably don't need a camera better than the 645Z. I putting money back just in case .

The Fuji models can, with an adapter, use the old Pentax glass, and there is also an adapter available that allows the Fujis to use Canon EF lenses, with autofocus. Reportedly, many of the Canon EF lenses work very well and cover the medium format sensor.

Fuji's own reps have recommended that folks transition to the GFX line by using their existing Canon lenses.


Techart Pro EF to GFX smart adapter – jonasrask | photography

[chessov]

Now that the rumour mills pitch the new Fuji GF 100s at 5,999$, which may mean the unit cost of the crop MF 100MP sensor has come down, is it time to start dreaming again about a successor to the 645Z?

[texandrews]

Now that the rumour mills pitch the new Fuji GF 100s at 5,999$, which may mean the unit cost of the crop MF 100MP sensor has come down, is it time to start dreaming again about a successor to the 645Z?

Well, I've been dreaming about one for a couple of years, but I am patient---unlike most people it seems. I'm patient because it's not just about the sensor, but other aspects of the body's capabilities.

It feels to me like Pentax did a lot with medium format, considering their small size, from pre 2010 and the release of the D, to 2014 and the release of the Z. Clearly they shifted focus over to the K1 and the K1mkII through 2018---and all the while the apsc folks complained Pentax had "abandoned" them. Now we are getting what appears to be a high spec K3-3 in apsc.

I'm seeing a pattern here: one thing gets priority, then the next, then the next. I'm OK with this, especially with medium format, because for me to go into debt or sell off possessions to get the next medium format camera, it would need to have multiple significant improvements over my Z, not just a new sensor. I'd faint with ecstatic happiness if Pentax pulled another K1 to K1mkII board upgrade type of thing----it was "easy" for me to upgrade my K1 for $550---- with the Z for around, say, $2Kusd, provided the upgrade included significant stuff, possibly including a new sensor, but certainly including PS/IBIS. Doubt that will happen, so that means a new, significantly improved Z north of $5K is my guess.


Digital medium format is niche, so w/o important and significant improvements there's little point in Pentax upgrading the Z. I believe, based on what they have publicly said, that they have been carefully considering this.

[barondla]

Well, I've been dreaming about one for a couple of years, but I am patient---unlike most people it seems. I'm patient because it's not just about the sensor, but other aspects of the body's capabilities.

It feels to me like Pentax did a lot with medium format, considering their small size, from pre 2010 and the release of the D, to 2014 and the release of the Z. Clearly they shifted focus over to the K1 and the K1mkII through 2018---and all the while the apsc folks complained Pentax had "abandoned" them. Now we are getting what appears to be a high spec K3-3 in apsc.

I'm seeing a pattern here: one thing gets priority, then the next, then the next. I'm OK with this, especially with medium format, because for me to go into debt or sell off possessions to get the next medium format camera, it would need to have multiple significant improvements over my Z, not just a new sensor. I'd faint with ecstatic happiness if Pentax pulled another K1 to K1mkII board upgrade type of thing----it was "easy" for me to upgrade my K1 for $550---- with the Z for around, say, $2Kusd, provided the upgrade included significant stuff, possibly including a new sensor, but certainly including PS/IBIS. Doubt that will happen, so that means a new, significantly improved Z north of $5K is my guess.


Digital medium format is niche, so w/o important and significant improvements there's little point in Pentax upgrading the Z. I believe, based on what they have publicly said, that they have been carefully considering this.

I agree with a lot of what you said. I think Pentax has done a good job with medium format. The comparison to APS-c is good, but there is a major difference. People never thought Pentax would leave the APS-c crop market because they kept introducing lenses.

People worry that Pentax is turning their back on mf. It probably doesn't help that Ricoh also said they were studying the Q system, then deleted it. The new Z may not be ready...fine, but Pentax should release something to show the system is staying around. It could be something that wouldn't tip their future plans, like a lens or perhaps something else. They need to send a signal that they're staying in the game.

Thanks,
barondla

[texandrews]

I agree with a lot of what you said. I think Pentax has done a good job with medium format. The comparison to APS-c is good, but there is a major difference. People never thought Pentax would leave the APS-c crop market because they kept introducing lenses.

People worry that Pentax is turning their back on mf. It probably doesn't help that Ricoh also said they were studying the Q system, then deleted it. The new Z may not be ready...fine, but Pentax should release something to show the system is staying around. It could be something that wouldn't tip their future plans, like a lens or perhaps something else. They need to send a signal that they're staying in the game.

Thanks,
barondla

So, picking up on the idea you proposed of releasing something to keep the nay-sayers tamped down, I'd vote for a native shift or TS/E lens for the 645 system, using a 6x7 lens recipe---even if it wasn't fully awesome for 645 "FF", it would probably work just fine with the crop sensor. The 67 45 f4 would be the obvious candidate, it gets good user reviews. And the image circle would still be big enough for a possible future FF 645---and on top of that, Fuji doesn't have one.

[barondla]

So, picking up on the idea you proposed of releasing something to keep the nay-sayers tamped down, I'd vote for a native shift or TS/E lens for the 645 system, using a 6x7 lens recipe---even if it wasn't fully awesome for 645 "FF", it would probably work just fine with the crop sensor. The 67 45 f4 would be the obvious candidate, it gets good user reviews. And the image circle would still be big enough for a possible future FF 645---and on top of that, Fuji doesn't have one.

My ideas for lenses was a ~150 F2.8 weatherproof image stabilized lens. It would complete the 28-45 and 90 stabilized lenses. It's kind of dumb to have stabilized wide angles and no tele, where it is really needed. Problem is, this would tip their hand on the next Z having sensor stabilization or not. My other idea was to have a fast 80mm. Mamiya has a F1.8! So build a F1.7. Unfortunately, Fuji has this very lens on their road map for 2021. The other problem with both lenses is it takes time to design something like this. Fuji came on so quickly, there might not be enough time to bring these lenses to market.

Your idea is genius. Tilt/shift lenses don't need af, image stabilization, or electrical contacts. Take a 67 45 lens, remove the mount, and replace it with a Tilt/shift mechanism wearing a 645 lens mount. That can't require that much research and development. But Fuji doesn’t have it, and it screams specialist. Consumer sees this and has no doubt Pentax is staying in medium format.

Thanks,
barondla