Awhile back, I wrote in another thread that CMOS sensor technology with other associated things like Live View were finally coming to the medium format camera segment of the market:
http://www.naturescapes.net/forums/view ... 7&t=241679
Earlier this year, Phase One, followed by Hasselblad, both introduced new MF digital back & camera systems based on a new Sony ~50MP CMOS sensor. Around the same time, Ricoh also "pre-announced" an upgrade to the original CCD-based Pentax 645D camera, but hardly any specifics about it were known. It almost certainly uses the same Sony sensor adopted by Phase and Hasselblad.
Late yesterday, Ricoh finally made it official.
http://www.us.ricoh-imaging.com/dslr/645Z
I'm an unabashed fan of the original Pentax 645D, so I admit that I'm biased.
But I have to say the new camera appears to have kept everything I liked about the original model, and makes it substantively better with some important new changes. This is a big step beyond simply going from ~40MP to ~50MP of resolution. Just on paper I don't really see anything that looks like a fumble with the new design... but as always, the reality of the camera in the hand, and the images on-screen and in print still needs to be checked out.
Some key points of the new camera:
- I'm calling it now -- "Z" is the new "X". Look for the Pentax 645Z to blaze a trail of a slew of new cameras with "Z" in the name.
- ~51 MP at 8256 x 6192 pixels (up from 40 MP)
- CMOS sensor with Live View and focus peaking (replaces the CCD sensor with no Live View)
- ISO range of 100 - 204,800 (up from 100 - 1600); quality as yet unknown but this is an all-time high for any medium format system including the new Phase & Hassy on the same sensor
- Redesigned shutter rated at 100K actuations (up from 50K) and 3 FPS (up from 1.1 FPS)
- 1.037 M dot pop-out tilt LCD (replaces previous 921 K dot fixed LCD); another medium format first
- Full HD video, and pseudo 4K with an interval shooting mode; another medium format first
- Upgraded AF mechanism with 27 points including 25 cross-type and 3 points optimized for low light (up from 11 points); possibly the best spec'ed AF of any MF system, and the 645D already was a solid performer in this area
- Some new remote operation capabilities via USB 3.0 tethering and WiFi Flucard tethering (improved from the weak tethering support on the 645D, but still to be determined whether it will satisfy hard-core studio tethered shooters)
- Full weather sealing (minor improvements over excellent weather sealing on the 645D)
- $8500 USD price at launch in the USA (down from $10K launch price of the 645D)
Some info is posted at DPReview and various other sites around the net:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/2014/04/15 ... entax-645z
http://www.dpreview.com/news/2014/04/15 ... entax-645z
It's worth noting that the full line of previous Pentax FA 645 lenses which remained in production elsewhere in the world but were not imported to the North American market, now will be officially available to us here. They're up at B&H for pre-order now and should start coming available through the Pentax dealer market. These will complement the small (but increasing) number of new digital-specific DA and DFA 645 lens designs that have been available in North America since the launch of the 645D here in 2010.
http://www.pentaxforums.com/news/fa-ser ... he-us.html
I've loved every day of using the 645D since I got it in late 2010, and love using it today equally as much as I did when it so convincingly supplanted my trusty Canon 5D Mk II. In my estimation, more than ever the Pentax 645D and now 645Z are the Canon 5D and 5D Mk II of the medium format world. We'll see how the 645Z does in reality but based on what I know of its predecessor it should deliver phenomenal image-making of a solid medium format system with the vast majority of the feature set and all-around shootability of a modern general purpose DSLR. And do so at a price that's a tiny fraction of all the other MF options, and dropping down closer to the high end of the 35mm DSLR range.
That said, like every other camera, the new 645Z will not appeal to everyone. It's still not a fast action system. It's large and heavy, so not for those who want something compact and lightweight. It will have a limited range of glass, not covering specialized needs like fast supertele primes or tilt-shift. The standard lens flash-sync speed of 1/125s means a limited range for those who need to shoot with flash. Etc.
Still, I'm betting it will prove to be an incredible tool for the kind of image-making done by photographers who are in its core target -- like me. To say that I'm interested in this new camera would be an understatement...