Pentax Japan has added a product page for the all new medium format 645z complete with snazzy marketing graphics and a full overview of all the specifications. What was all the more interesting to see however were the sample images they included. These are the first official images released by Pentax and they feature not only the 645z but also the much talked about all new 90mm f2.8 Macro lens.
The images included in the samples for the 645z have been shot using a variety of lenses. The 55mm, 90mm, and 80-160mm have all been chosen to showcase the new cameras capabilities. All the images are straight out of the camera and were shot in Super Fine JPEG format so we can and should expect an even greater level of detail from the RAW files. Pentax has also chosen to showcase some of the included color filters available in this camera, such as Bleach Bypass.
You can view all the images here. What are your thoughts?
via [Pentax Japan]
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I think I want one. How can I get some tilt shifts on this thing?
http://www.hartblei.com/lenses/lens_45mm.htm
If I wasn't paying for a wedding this year, I'd be paying for one of these things. 2015 is going to be fun.
My thoughts exactly Mike. Apparently Hartblei makes them for the 645 mount.
Yes but.... the lenses one can use are generally too long for architecture.
Would like to see some shot wide open or stopped down just a stop or two first.
ooooooooh yeeeeeeeea 2015 looking good !
Where's the video samples???
Yep, they're photos alright
Smudgy details.
i cant see any superb details i see only megapixels
I think ex-pic-1 and ex-pic02 have amazing quality and detail even compressed into a jpeg, however, the rest are just kinda meh. I think Ricoh/Pentax need to release the RAW images so we can judge quality in a little more detail! Interested in buying a medium format but would be nice to compare against an H3D for example!
Does anyone know where I can get the « exact » same background as in the first image?
hm...i thought its just painted wall
You're right, here it's a wall.
But I saw a similar concrete background in a recent shoot for VF...
I hope someone knows where I could get this.
maybe somewhere here http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_nkw=grey+muslin+backdrop&am... (maybe brown not greay)
Thanks Igor, I will take a look
It looks like an oliphant backdrop to me.
Thanks! I never heard of this before
where is volume? not impressed...
There's also no audio out :(
It's nice to have physical buttons to operate the camera, but these are all over the place.
Design has an important place in the conception of a camera, If you take a Hasselblad H...D it fits nicely into the hand and it's easy to operate.
This camera looks more like a big old-school gadget, despite the fact that the produced images look "great".
I'm not sure if it will sell to Phase One and Hasselblad owners, but certainly to other consumers who want to go MF.
My thought is, if they want to sell this thing to a lot of people, they need to hire a Apple or Audi designer.
Sorry, but to a Pentax 645 user like me (I also use Mamiya and Fuji), the design is just perfect, it would feel like coming home.
If you want a camera designed by Audi or Apple, just have a look at the new Leica compact that's been leaked (which is actually designed by Audi -- so your wish fulfilled). If you have ever held Leica's D-Lux or C-Lux cameras you would know that the Apple aesthetic is a terrible, terrible idea for a thing that you want to hold in your hand. There's a reason why most iPhones I see are encased in sticky, rubbery, non-sleeky and aluminy stuff.
Sure if it suits you, then it's fine.
If I'd shoot Pentax, I would have had other thoughts about this new Pentax (probably).
I'm just telling my thoughts about this "big swiss army multifunction MF Pentax".
Leica's D-Lux or C-Lux are not comparable, because not MF..
But I got your point.
I don't know about Audi, but I have yet to see something designed by Apple that has any semblance of ergonomics or common sense.
I'm not thinking in buying a digital camera but looking at this images my Pentax 67II looks like an upgrade.
Nothing about these says medium format. I'd be equally excited about more thoughtfully planned images from an aging D80 or Rebel.
I share your sentiments. Yet anyone who really needs an expensive super-high resolution medium format camera knows why their clients demand it, and this is probably a great camera.
As for the shot of the musician, I'll take Jim Marshall's shots from the 60's and 70's shot with his Leica anyday! Regardless of format.
i've no prior experience with Pentax I can only base my assumptions off stats and the amazing work ive seen from international pro's who used the k5. It's most definitely no replacement for a Mamiya or other high end digital back but it sounds like a nice camera. Personally a Leica S is a camera I drool over but could never afford.
These scaled down, compressed JPEGS tell no one anything useful. Well, apart from that its a camera and it's probably from 2010+ ... looking at this: http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/products/645z/ex/img/ex-pic03.jpg - I'm not impressed, looks pretty soft/blurred to me.
+1, Tobias!
That woman has fascinating patterns in her iris. Can't say I like the effect they've given the overall image however.
Other than the high detail, there really isn't much here that says medium format. I suppose ultimately photographically that shouldn't matter. It's strange that the girl's portraits are shot with a small aperture and one scenic shot is taken with a relatively large aperture.
However I think this camera is a better investment than a 1D.
I'm curious to see its ISO performance. And the 1 series will crush it in speed, ease of focus, and lens selection.
In the studio speed is less critical. IMO the uses to which this camera would be applied it does beat the 1D. As for lenses, it really has a decent line except for LS and TS lenses which would boost its appeal dramatically. I scarcely think most commercial shooters need lenses longer than 200mm or wider than 45mm for most applications.
In a studio that's true. I'm thinking as a wedding and portrait camera, which at this price point could be a good seller compared to Phase and Hasselblad.
I like it.
Ewwww the Sony Sensor... The details are soooo fuzzy. Nothing close to medium format.
depending on what you view the image the results are very different : in my web browser it's all fuzzy. In photoshop or even picasa it's super sharp ! You can see any hair on the face of the model !
Weird. My web browsers show exactly the same as in photoshop. Maybe you have a zoom level set to something other than 100%? Here is an image I shot with a P65+ back. Not posting it because it's an awesome photo, but because of the detail that you can see. THIS is sharp and nothing I've seen come from the new Sony sensor comes close to it. Not saying it can't do it, I just haven't seen it yet and I've been sent RAW file after RAW file from Digital Transitions. Of course, I don't shoot the P65+ on anything other than 50iso so, a comparison of a 1600 iso image isn't really fair... maybe I just need to see a 1 to 1 comparison.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bertmclendon/13950576375/sizes/o/
As a p45+ user I have am having a really difficult time with understanding gimmicks like video and in camera filters. Also, the samples are not very thoughtful.
they're seriously using THESE pictures to sell this system?
On paper, the specs of this new camera look really impressive, especially the focusing engine... I mean this thing has 27 AF points with 25 cross-type focus points in the center. This is DSLR territory right there: that's more focus points than ANY medium format offering on the market. I believe the big boys (Hasselblad and Phase One) only have a maximum of 3 focus points. Furthermore It can also focus at -3EV which is even better than the Nikon D4S. The folks at Pentax are really going for it and they've priced it pretty aggressively. Personally I think $30 K is a ridiculous amount to spend on a camera, business investment or not (double that if you need to have a backup).
I will agree with previous commenters though, the pictures they released do not do this camera justice. They should totally invest their time and effort into producing some better quality photos.
On another note, I hope they've fixed the lag (slow image playback) from the previous 645D model cuz apparently it takes a bit over 5 seconds before you can review a picture after you've shot it on that camera (the 645D model before this one).
Finally does anybody know if there are any Leaf Shutter lenses that would work with this camera (Pentax or third party)? That 1/125 X Sync speed is just plain stupid otherwise.
Trying to download those full res files on my browser is like using Dial Up again.
Maaaaaaaaad
The photo's themselves and how they are presented do a bad job of contrasting how this camera sets itself apart from high end full frame cameras and the digital backs it claims to compete with. Also, it was originally mentioned on the manufacturers website that this was intended to be named the 645D II.
I used a Hasselblad H1D for years (over 10 year old digital back?) and the image quality is significantly better than these sample images. What is up with the awful shadow exposure? Not sure if bad processing or the camera, however looks much worse than lit portraits with my Leica M9 all around (love my Leica, but shadow is awful compared to most anything)
I can't see the minute details I've seen in the 645d but then again these are JPEGs at the "super fine" setting. Wake me up when there are some RAWs to download. Can't wait to see those!!!
i can't say im impressed. detail is only average to my eye considering it is a large sensor camera, and veiwed at 100% the photos look dreadful.