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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
02-05-2015, 06:17 PM
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I have read with great interest many posts regrading the virtues of the 645Z vs the 645D. I have been a D owner over the last 2 years and have shot some spectacular images with this camera. I was also well aware of its limitations well before some of them were talked about on the net. Principally the relatively low dynamic range is an issue compared to some of its competition, rendering some images liable to highlight blowout. I was fully aware of the limited low light capabilities of the D prior to purchase. I have made detailed comparison bewteen full sized jpegs downloadable and adjusted in LR 5 for both cameras. I adjusted each jpeg to the best compromise of sharperning, without oversharpening artefacts and microcontrast using the clarity slider. I down sized the resolution of the jepg taken with the 645Z to that of the 645D.
My observations were these:
There was little difference in resolution between the Z and the D, In some parts of the image the Z won out, in others the D won out.
There were subtle differences in colour rendering between the cameras. The darks of the CCD 645 D were darker giving the images more punch. The colours seemed a little richer from the CCD sensor but both cameras gave excellent colour rendition and I felt this was a matter of personal taste. What was noticeable was that the D required more sharpening than the Z. The Z also showed white haloes around very dark areas which is a sharpening artetact even when I applied no sharpening to the image.
There are limitations of a test like this:
Both images were jpegs straight from the cameras (set at default). Although the 645D can be shot at ISO, the test image was shot ar 200, and the Z at 100. This is not an even playing field. I would much rather see both compared in RAW format and shot at ISO 100.
Below is a link to the comparison. It is essential to download the full files and then compare them in LR.
If I were buying again I would probably opt for the Z mainly due to its spectacular dynamic range.
But as is always is these discussions the issue of the purpose of any given camera purchase needs to be accounted.
For a professional who requires good shots quickly with live view and superb low light capability the 645 Z is clearly by far the winner.
For me and the likes of me, I only use a MF camera for landscape work and using a tripod, at ISO 100 and sometimes graduated ND filters. the latter are a work around that comepnsated for the 645D's lower DR and produces an IQ of comparable quality to the 645Z.
I also use and OM-D5 which has all the other features that the 645D lacks - live view, , excellent low light shooting and is lightweight. And HD video to boot and near full frame IQ.
If I had unlimited funds I might have the 645 Z as well, but the little Olympus is SO gOod this is hotly debatable.
In many ways this discussion could be about cost effectiveness, application requirements and getting away from the consumerist obsession with always wanting the very best at all costs, with diminishing returns as upgrading goes on and on.
The absolute difference in IQ between the cameras is not great enough for an upgrade for most people, unless their professional needs demand the huge flexibility of the 645 Z. For most shooters the 645D offers an image quality with the flexibility of the digitial medium that would have seemed impossible a mere 10 years ago.
Image Caomparison 645 Z vs D vs other cameras:
Pentax 645Z Review - Image Quality |
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Forum: Sold Items
08-17-2013, 12:50 PM
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PentaxForums.com Marketplace Listing
Item for Sale
Arsat 30mm Fisheye lens Pentax 645 D or 645N
Asking Price
280 USD
Item Location
Auckland (New Zealand)
Item Description
This Arsat lens has been converted with an adapter bought from the Ukraine specifically made for the 645 and works beautifully (as an entirely manual lens). The lens is in VGC with no optical issues.
KNOWN ISSUES - The stop down clicks only every stop but is easily left in the half stop positions. There is one small dust behind the rear element.
The original front cap has been replaced with a more classy and robust Mamiya cap.
The lens is very sharp and is fully multicoated. I have owned it for 4 months but for Fisheye work I prefer the Zenitar on my Sony a850 as it is more "fishy". As such the Arsat, although a beautiful optic, is excess to my needs.
Price 280 USD
Are you the original owner of the item being sold?
Yes
Are you selling or trading this item?
Selling
Item Condition (Key)
Used
Shipping Destinations
Worldwide
Shipping Charge
TBA
Shipping Services
NZ postal services
Accepted Payment Types
PayPal
Return Policy & Additional Details
Returns accepted
Please send me a private message if interested in the item!
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Forum: Sold Items
08-15-2013, 10:10 AM
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Forum: Sold Items
08-14-2013, 09:38 PM
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PentaxForums.com Marketplace Listing
Item for Sale
SMC Pentax-A 645 150mm F3.5
Asking Price
150mm $180 /
Item Location
Auckland (New Zealand)
Item Description
These lenses are in superb condition all round. Cosmetically the lenses are very nearly as new.
Mechanically they are perfect as well as optically with no dust, fungus scratches or cleaning marks. When I first bough my 645D I bought too many lenses and I am selling off these lenses as excess.
300mm NOW WITHDRAWN FROM SALE
150mm USD 180
Shipping TBA but I estimate that the 300mm will ship at about 40.00 USD and the 150mm at about 20 USD.
Are you the original owner of the item being sold?
Yes
Are you selling or trading this item?
Selling
Item Condition (Key)
Used
Like New
Shipping Destinations
Worldwide
Shipping Charge
TBA
Shipping Services
NZ Postal Service
Accepted Payment Types
PayPal
Return Policy & Additional Details
Returns accepted
Please send me a private message if interested in the item!
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Forum: Sold Items
05-10-2013, 11:10 AM
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Forum: Sold Items
05-08-2013, 04:37 PM
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
03-04-2013, 01:21 PM
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On a near weekly basis there are ads appearing on Ebay for used or mint Pentax 645D cameras. I reported one such ad to Ebay which had bid up to over USD 4000. The photographs of the item were cleraly taken in a shop window (from the inside) amonsgt other Pentax gear. The trader had 0% feedback and this was the first item he had attempted to sell. The ad has subsequently been withdrawn from Ebay.
A new ad has now appeared based in the Ruissian Federation for a body or body + lens (it is not clear which). The ad is for a BMN price of 5000 USD and again this is the first item that this "trader" has placed on Ebay. It is possibly genuine but that is extremely unlikely.
Buyer beware.
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Forum: Sold Items
08-21-2012, 09:18 AM
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How much to ship the Soligor 80-200 to New Zealand - Economy air mail - please ?
malcolm
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Forum: Lens Sample Photo Archive
12-02-2011, 10:03 AM
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Thsese are good sharp photos. I bought one yesterday too - seemed sharp enough as I tried it out on a local legacy gear shop in Auckland. And yes it is really quite a sharp and good lens - I was similarly impressed ::
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
12-01-2011, 11:44 AM
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Pleasure ! You have a great site full of useful info. that can safe photographers a fortune. Kind regards.
Malcolm
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
11-23-2011, 01:33 PM
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No I do not own a Pentax camera but given unlimited resources the 645D would be my dream ticket. I do love old M42 legacy lenses and will be reviewing gems that I discover over the years.
My images can be seen at ::
Flickr: Photovisionzs' Photostream
Malcolm from Aotearoa
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