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Pentax had better hurry up...

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Jim King

Jim King

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...to get the 645D on the market. Competition is heating up:
http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/03/18/mamiya.33mp.studio.camera/
--
Jim King - Retired Colormonger - Suburban Detroit, Michigan, USA; GMT -5h (EST)
Pentaxian for over 45 years.



* * * * *
A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
  • Sir Winston Churchill
* * * * *
The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.
  • Albert Einstein
 
Interesting camera (not for me obviously!) but 3.5 inch touchscreen LCD is kind of cool, as are the huge sensor and 33MP's :) $20K! :) I could buy a car! 67MB RAW files! Wow. The margin on these must be quite good, if they can sell FF 24x36 22MP sensor cameras for $3-5K surely a $20K 36x48 MF has a good margin for the company.

A 645D could be cool for those who can afford and want one. I wonder how many they would sell? How many in this forum whom I have seen clamoring publicly for the 645D will actually be able to afford and buy one though?

PS. How are you liking your SP17-50 Jim?

Have a good one!
Cheers,
--
Sinan
http://sinantarlan.zenfolio.com/

 
Sinan Tarlan wrote:
(snip)
SFT007 said:
PS. How are you liking your SP17-50 Jim?
Click to expand...
I like it a lot! When the weather outside is not wet I use in in preference to my DA*16-50 because of the size and weight advantage. We visited the Grand Canyon between Christmas and the New Year, and it was my lens of choice. Sharp, sharp, sharp - all the detail one could ask for.

Thanks for your tireless advocacy of this lens. It was your recommendation and sample images which persuaded me to buy it.
--
Jim King - Retired Colormonger - Suburban Detroit, Michigan, USA; GMT -5h (EST)
Pentaxian for over 45 years.



* * * * *
A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
  • Sir Winston Churchill
* * * * *
The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.
  • Albert Einstein
 
I would like to see them at least come clean with what they are going to do.

I would much prefer a MF digtial system saying pentax of pure emotional reasons.
But the leaf DB's are not looking bad at all.

Would probably pair it with a Leaf AFi II system rather than the mamiya, but that is a different story.
Jim King said:
...to get the 645D on the market. Competition is heating up:
http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/03/18/mamiya.33mp.studio.camera/
--
Jim King - Retired Colormonger - Suburban Detroit, Michigan, USA; GMT
-5h (EST)
Pentaxian for over 45 years.



* * * * *
A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
  • Sir Winston Churchill
* * * * *
The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its
limits.
  • Albert Einstein
Click to expand...
--
Thomas

Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool
http://main.duplophotography.com/
 
Very happy to hear it Jim. I always try to avoid bias and aim to say it as I see it so I am glad that you agree with me regarding the lens. It really is a performer.

Cheers,
--
Sinan
http://sinantarlan.zenfolio.com/

 
What the price of the Pentax is likely to be.
Jim King said:
...to get the 645D on the market. Competition is heating up:
http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/03/18/mamiya.33mp.studio.camera/
--
Jim King - Retired Colormonger - Suburban Detroit, Michigan, USA; GMT
-5h (EST)
Pentaxian for over 45 years.



* * * * *
A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
  • Sir Winston Churchill
* * * * *
The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its
limits.
  • Albert Einstein
Click to expand...
--
Steve

Any fool can take a picture OF something. Its much harder to take a picture ABOUT something.
 
Thanks for the link.

Wow, that MFormat camera actually looks GOOD. I really didn't like the look of the Pentax 645D. But on the flip side, I don't have any experience with medium format cameras. Also, no one (as far as I can remember) mentioned the looks of the EVIL Samsung (which I thought was purely hideous).

Anyway, no I won't every be buying one of those, but I do agree, Pentax has competition!

If they put seals in their MF they'll have something others don't! :)
Jim King said:
...to get the 645D on the market. Competition is heating up:
http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/03/18/mamiya.33mp.studio.camera/
--
Jim King - Retired Colormonger - Suburban Detroit, Michigan, USA; GMT
-5h (EST)
Pentaxian for over 45 years.



* * * * *
A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
  • Sir Winston Churchill
* * * * *
The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its
limits.
  • Albert Einstein
Click to expand...
--
benjamin - bjmano
 
I think this is a good example of how "pro" and "amateur" gear is actually different, not just better or worse and how Pentax hopefully will be aiming for a different customer:

this is a studio camera. A touchscreen LCD, for instance, is most likely useless when the camera is handheld. Professionals mostly use the camera on a tripod, at base ISO, with studio lights, and likely tethered to a computer whenever possible. Amateurs do not.

The cost of the Mamiya - $20000 - is not at all out of reach for an amateur. But the camera itself is not very useful for people who'll mostly use it handheld, in available light and without assistants to fetch and carry equipment.

That's the area, rather than price, is where Pentax has a traditional stronghold, and that's where they've indicated that they'll aim.

--
Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jannem/
Blog: http://janneinosaka.blogspot.com
 
If you guys are really serious about the larger format digital cameras and truly have that kind of money, there is much better discussion on the subject at:

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/

Many published world class pro photographers hang out there, are generally very friendly, and will give you the straight scoop.Also if you think you need that kind of quality, have the resources to make quality prints that big, and the resources to deal with the enormous file sizes, but don't have the money for the high end digital medium format cameras, you might give large format film a try.You can get a nice 4x5 or 8x10 rig for a fraction of the cost.For those lifetime keeper shots or shots you plan to sell you have a drum scan done by folks like West Coast Imagaing.For smaller prints a consumer scanner like the Epson V series, or a used 4990 will give you mind blowing results.Its a slow, methodical way to work.You don't chimp.But once you get the hang of it you just might find the majority of your shots keepers compared to the hundres of shots you do with your DSLR.I use both DSLR's and large format cameras, but the large format keeper rate is always much higher.Just a thought :)
--
A few of my shots:
http://www.pbase.com/cloudswimmer/image/77798595/original
http://www.pbase.com/cloudswimmer/image/80091221/original
http://www.pbase.com/cloudswimmer/image/53748575/original
 
Personally, I'd like to see Pentax ditch the 645D project all together and focus their limited R&D resources on other "niche" markets.

The medium format digital market is very small and already kind of crowded. Pentax would be spending a lot of money trying to get a footing in there, especially with dominant brands like Phase One.

I think Pentax would be way ahead of the game to spend R&D money developing lenses like the DA 15mm f4 Limited. No other brand has shown commitment to developing small digital dedicated prime lenses, and this is THE area where Pentax can get users of "other" brands to pay attention. Read some of the comments about the Limited lenses in other brands fora, and you'll see what I mean.
--
Chris
Denver, CO
 
CopCarSS said:
Personally, I'd like to see Pentax ditch the 645D project all
together and focus their limited R&D resources on other "niche"
markets.
Click to expand...
Pentax have already spent R&D on it years ago so its too late for that.
CopCarSS said:
The medium format digital market is very small and already kind of
crowded. Pentax would be spending a lot of money trying to get a
footing in there, especially with dominant brands like Phase One.
Click to expand...
All other digital camera markets are far more crowded. With Pentax unique lenses line for MF, the largest in business, together with the fact that the 645D will be the worlds only digital MF camera that is specially designed for outdoor use, willl set Pentax apart in a market that hasn't really happened yet. In the MF market, Pentax will be a giant amongst midgets.
CopCarSS said:
I think Pentax would be way ahead of the game to spend R&D money
developing lenses like the DA 15mm f4 Limited. No other brand has
shown commitment to developing small digital dedicated prime lenses,
and this is THE area where Pentax can get users of "other" brands to
pay attention. Read some of the comments about the Limited lenses in
other brands fora, and you'll see what I mean.
Click to expand...
That is indeed a niche albeit a very small one. 97% of lenses sold are zooms.....
 
Voff said:
Pentax have already spent R&D on it years ago so its too late for that.
Click to expand...
And they've given it up a bunch of times because they realize it's a bottomless pit. It's going to take a HUGE amount of R&D money to get up to the level of players like Phase One.
Voff said:
All other digital camera markets are far more crowded. With Pentax
unique lenses line for MF, the largest in business, together with the
fact that the 645D will be the worlds only digital MF camera that is
specially designed for outdoor use, willl set Pentax apart in a
market that hasn't really happened yet. In the MF market, Pentax will
be a giant amongst midgets.
Click to expand...
Other markets are crowded, but they're also MUCH bigger. I personally know two people with MF digital systems. Given the option of playing in a crowded MF Digital market with a tiny user base or a more crowded entry DSLR market with a huge user base, I'd take the latter every time.

And I disagree that the MF market has yet to have an outdoor player. Michael Reichmann just used his Phase One system extensively on his Antarctica expedition. That's about as outdoorsy as it gets.
Voff said:
That is indeed a niche albeit a very small one. 97% of lenses sold
are zooms.....
Click to expand...
I bet Pentax could sell 100 or more prime lenses for every 645D, though. Especially given the fact that Pentax doesn't seem interested in marketing the 645D in the US....

--
Chris
Denver, CO
 
Jim King said:
...to get the 645D on the market. Competition is heating up:
http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/03/18/mamiya.33mp.studio.camera/
--
Jim King - Retired Colormonger - Suburban Detroit, Michigan, USA; GMT
-5h (EST)
Pentaxian for over 45 years.
Click to expand...
Pentax can't and wouldn't compete with Mamiya and his monster. It'd be pointless.

Pentax aims another MF segment: the cheap one - that ranged between 5000 and 10000 USD and not so much pixel density (cheaper sensors).
--
~ errant ~
 
NT

--

Shooting in JPEG is like taking your roll of film to the store to be processed, and when
you get your prints, throwing away the negatives...
 
Roentarre30 said:
Yes, Jim. I am waiting for this camera for ages...

Sure you are waiting for this gem as well :)
Click to expand...
Actually, no. I'm perfectly happy with my Pentax APC DSLRs in regards to IQ, and see no need for mme personally to go to a larger format. In fact, I'd like to see a high-end smaller offering from Pentax. As they currently don't offer a high-end compact I have a Panasonic LX3 coming to me soon...
--
Jim King - Retired Colormonger - Suburban Detroit, Michigan, USA; GMT -5h (EST)
Pentaxian for over 45 years.



* * * * *
A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
  • Sir Winston Churchill
* * * * *
The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.
  • Albert Einstein
 
Voff said:
Voff said:
I think Pentax would be way ahead of the game to spend R&D money
developing lenses like the DA 15mm f4 Limited. No other brand has
shown commitment to developing small digital dedicated prime lenses,
and this is THE area where Pentax can get users of "other" brands to
pay attention. Read some of the comments about the Limited lenses in
other brands fora, and you'll see what I mean.
Click to expand...
That is indeed a niche albeit a very small one. 97% of lenses sold
are zooms.....
Click to expand...
reason why the low end primes are lacking so far.... I think
--




Voff said:
The difference between genius and LBA is that genius has its
limits.
  • Janneman ( adaptation of the Kings quote from Albert Einstein)
Click to expand...
 
Jim King said:
Roentarre30 said:
Yes, Jim. I am waiting for this camera for ages...

Sure you are waiting for this gem as well :)
Click to expand...
Actually, no. I'm perfectly happy with my Pentax APC DSLRs in
regards to IQ, and see no need for mme personally to go to a larger
format. In fact, I'd like to see a high-end smaller offering from
Pentax. As they currently don't offer a high-end compact I have a
Panasonic LX3 coming to me soon...
--
Click to expand...
I plane on getting a LX3 also. I think of all the times I could have that camera with me. I have been dragging my feet because I am having a hard time spending $400 on a p&s. Where did you order yours? I don't see them for $399 anymore and everyone is out of stock. I also won't be spending 10K on a MF camera either.
Mike
 
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