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Pentax 645 [pdf]
- le-flaneur 4y agoOne of my favourite cameras. Used the 645 + 645NII for years. Autofocus really helps mitigate my poor vision.
- dale_glass 4y agoThey also make a digital version: Pentax 645Z, which is cheap as far as medium format digital cameras go. Unfortunately Pentax seems to be barely holding on these days, which is a pity. They make decent cameras.
- azalemeth 4y agoThey make excellent cameras and have committed to DSLRs, perhaps foolishly, but it is so wonderful to not have to worry about the battery. I've been blown away by mine. If I had a spare $lots burning a hole in my pocket, I'd definitely buy their newest APSC or full-frame DSLR. My understanding is that the 645Z is widely used in studio photography, but I might be totally wrong there.
- Zak 4y ago> have committed to DSLRs, perhaps foolishly I don't think it's foolish. There are countless examples of a successful niche player giving up their niche to go after a slice of the larger mainstream pie, predictably producing a middling product with little hope of attracting buyers from larger brands, and failing miserably.
- funstuff007 4y agoI agree. Once you have an SLR with a real pentaprism (not 5 mirrors), it's hard to go leave.
- radiowave 4y agoThere probably are some people using it in the studio, but among the notable features of the 645Z (and the 645D before it) are that it's weather sealed, and shoots in landscape format. So I'd say it's aimed more at field use than in the studio. Still very happy with my K3 (Mark 1) for its combination of ergonimics, durability and image quality. (Of course, you wouldn't want to use it for video. Picking horses for courses.)
- hcarvalhoalves 4y agoI have both film and digital Pentax, excellent cameras, unfortunately it seems after Ricoh bought the brand they are increasingly niche and don’t seem to care to sell outside their fanbase in Japan.
- ekianjo 4y agoits not really medium format size captor though. if you want true medium format digital camera you need to buy digital backs for twin lenses cameras
- masterbit 4y ago… is there such a thing? For a Rolleiflex?
- Tkuivamaki 4y agoPentax are actually working on brining some new film cameras on the market https://youtu.be/ilBbVpgLP_0 https://youtu.be/ilBbVpgLP_0
- hcarvalhoalves 4y agoThe 645z is at a discounted price lately, arguably because it’s older technology already w/ a CCD instead of CMOS sensor, although it still has enough resolution and colors to take excellent photos in adequate light. Not sure if Pentax will update it or discontinue medium format entirely and they haven’t announced anything lately.
- dd82 4y agohttps://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/products/645z/ https://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/products/645z/ says a 51MP CMOS sensor, and has been CMOS since 2015.
- hcarvalhoalves 4y agoYou’re right the 645z is already CMOS, the 645d is CCD. The z is almost the same camera w/ newer generation sensor, but kinda old already.
- vr46 4y agoNah, the sensor is gobsmackingly-good, even DXO think so: https://www.dxomark.com/pentax-645z-sensor-review/ https://www.dxomark.com/pentax-645z-sensor-review/ I have a Q2 and the Pentax compares favourably, even if not all the lenses are as modern. The 645Z is a crazy bargain second-hand.
- actionfromafar 4y agoWow, the prices on that shop (ianbfoto) are really quite decent! No point hunting for bargains on eBay.
- kataklasm 4y agoIan was very forthcoming and helpful when I had a few questions regarding shipping during the Brexit debacle. The prices are really awesome compared to the general market, too. Especially his GX680 stuff, which I ordered a few items of, was always top-notch in quality. Can't recommend ianbfoto enough!
- tmjwid 4y agoMy wallet has never been so happy (and sad at the same time)! My C220 is getting some new gear.
- smcl 4y agoI had one of these guys during my Medium Format days in addition to a Kiev 6C and a Holga (lol). Wonderful camera, but I really suggest anyone into photography give MF a shot, even a little Holga can be fun (I would say "cheap" but you'd probably spend more developing a few rolls of film than the actual camera)
- vr46 4y agoLovely format and lovely camera. The Bronica ETRSi is my personal preference but I do have a Pentax 645Z and it's absolutely fabulous, a ridiculous bargain. Even if it's not 6 x 4.5. Ah, memories.
- unxdfa 4y agoGood times indeed. I had a Bronica SQ-Ai in the 90s. Sold it all and went digital when the Nikon D100 came out. Now well in Nikon Z land. Sometimes I want to go back to film. Not necessarily large format as I would hate to lug the things around now. Perhaps some East German 35mm stuff :)
- vr46 4y agoI can tell you that the hassle these days is more trouble than it's worth for film, because all the convenience has vanished AND it costs a fortune. I'd buy ten rolls of Fuji 35mm slide film, came with pre-paid envelopes, so I just needed to put a stamp on them and put them in a postbox. Post on a Monday, back on Wednesday. Easy. Anything else? Pop a stack of films into a pre-paid little card box and send to Peak Imaging. Back came a giant envelope of contact sheets and negatives. In a hurry? Middle of the night? Bike to Soho, drop off films at Joe's Basement, go to pub or cafe for an hour, come back and pick up stunning results. The best now? Traipse to Khrome in Central Hamburg, drop off films, ask for scanning, results arrive by email several days or maybe a week later, but still have to head back to collect negatives, and all of this costs a bomb now. I basically keep my ancient Contax T2 loaded with crap film and shoot it casually all year long like we used to and then develop it so you end up with birthdays, christmas, easter all on one film like the good old days. It's so expensive to experiment now.
- xdennis 4y agoSome people actually enjoy developing and scanning/printing everything themselves. But it's true that colour photography is essentially dead for non billionaires. I stocked up with more than 100 rolls a few years ago. When I run out, I'll just continue with black and white. Bulk rolls of Fomapan 100 are still very cheap. For 4x5, a single 50 sheet pack lasts me more than a year. For 8x10, shooting X-Ray film is cheaper than Fomapan in 4x5 (but the film is very easy to scratch).
- cesaref 4y agoYeah, 645 is a great format. I prefer my Mamiya 645AF, but the Pentax is a very capable system, although a bit chunky by comparison to the mamiya/contax equivalents. These were all well thought out professional camera systems, and you really can't go wrong with any of them. If you are interest in photography, and have dabbled with film (say a 35mm camera) then you really should try a 645 camera. Or, jump straight to a hasselblad and be done ;)
- a012 4y agoI have respect to Pentax's system, i.e 6x7 and 6x4.5, but their camera's look is not my taste despite the lens offering is great. Especially the 105mm f/2.4 is the legend.
- mikae1 4y agoHOW does this make it to the front page of HN? Not complaining, but Pentax 67 FTW. :-D
- vr46 4y agoThe Pentax 67 is a weapon, gym equipment, a hammer, and occasionally a camera
- mikae1 4y agoI used it with the wooden handle[1] and can confirm that what you're saying is true. [1] https://www.flickr.com/photos/bellams/20644686374 https://www.flickr.com/photos/bellams/20644686374
- lb1lf 4y agoThe same holds true for the Texas Leica, the Fujica G690.
- anta40 4y agoPentax 67 for street photography? Been there, done that. Now try the Fuji GX680 :D
- vr46 4y agoI had a Fuji 680III and it was stupidly big, AND made from plastic everywhere, so it just didn't work as a camera to cart around, although I'm sure more gentle humans than I could make it happen. Was a bargain, though, came with the AE finder and all the gubbins, felt like trying to manhandle a reluctant cat and eventually I gave up, gave in, made a profit on the sale and never spoke of it again, until now. And then a couple of months ago I went back out with my Graflex and a Lomo back, thinking to myself as I was walking up the steepest slope ever back to my car, did I really cart this much crap out when I was younger? Why?
- TheMagicHorsey 4y agoPerhaps this is like talking about KitKats at a Chocolatiers meeting, but when it comes to "Medium Format" I do love the Fujifilm GFX100S. I know, I know, its digital, and its expensive ($6000) but I had a chance to use a rental, and, for an amateur photographer, it was quite nice (and convenient). Blasphemous to say so perhaps, but I also enjoyed its "film" emulation modes (which is something like filters in Instagram but a little more refined and realtime). As someone with a job and a family, I just couldn't find the time, budget, and space to do proper film photography. Digital has been much more forgiving for the kinds of documentary style family photography that I do.
- gswdh 4y ago[dead]
- todd8 4y agoThe Pentax 645 was one of my favorite cameras, but years ago I saw that the future was digital. My second consulting contract was for Kodak in late 1990. They were developing a software/hardware platform to support digital media. A few years after that I sold off my medium format cameras (Pentax 645 and RZ67). I like working with direct digital much better. I do wish I still had my beautiful view camera; it was stolen by contractors working on my house :(. Now, the majority of my photos are family and vacation photos taken on my iPhone.
- pathartl 4y agoWow, surprisingly these aren't too badly prices these days. I'm fortunate enough to be able to shoot with a Mamiya 6, but not paying an arm and a leg for lenses is mighty attractive.