I Shot With Pentax 645D!

[photogdave]

Soooo...I bumped into the local Pentax rep who happened to have the 645D with him. He let me shoot a few frames and I was totally blown away!
The viewfinder is just stunning - maybe the brighest viewfinder I've ever looked at on medium format. The AF was incredibly fast with the SDM lens - much faster than any other MF system I would wager.
I only shot jpegs but they look really good at all ISOs. 1600 is the highest and the noise is very pleasing and film-like.
I've attached an image but of course it's highly compressed here.

 

[Kim Coxon]

As a 645N film user, I am looking forward to seeing one of them. It may be one of the few camera items I buy new.

Kim

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

Pretty exciting news to hear firsthand experience with the 645D.

 

[photogdave]

As a 645N film user, I am looking forward to seeing one of them. It may be one of the few camera items I buy new.

Kim

It sounds like supply is going to be EXTREMELY limited in the west. I'd contact my nearest dealer and get a deposit in!

 

[photogdave]

Pretty exciting news to hear firsthand experience with the 645D.

I got goose bumps just handling it. Very exciting!

 

[Krosya]

645D goes well with your signature - "Digital - I just dont care for it! " lol

 

[Kim Coxon]

My "favourite" Pentax retailer in the UK is asking for a £500 deposit! I would like to know the final cost before I take the plunge. I know the guy who owns the place reasonably well so I will wait just a little longer.

Looking at the Pentax site, it will mean my 45mm and 35mm lens wil make a nice 28/35/45 combination with some longer lengths if I need them 😀

Kim

It sounds like supply is going to be EXTREMELY limited in the west. I'd contact my nearest dealer and get a deposit in!

 

[photogdave]

645D goes well with your signature - "Digital - I just dont care for it! " lol

I really don't care for digital but I recognize a great product when I see it! 😀

 

[photogdave]

Wide open with the 55mm at ISO 200.

 

[Kim Coxon]

Stop it! It's not fair! I want a go!

Kim

 

[mervynyan]

Wide open with the 55mm at ISO 200.

a bit plastic feel, oh well, I can't have everything.

 

[Phantomas]

Where's the fire?

 

[photogdave]

Just for you Kim, maybe this one is less attractive!
Wide open at ISO 400:

 

[bwcolor]

Perhaps I have only seen this camera in small hands, but it looks huge. When handling it, does it feel any larger than the old film 645, or Bronica ETR-Si?

 

[photogdave]

Perhaps I have only seen this camera in small hands, but it looks huge. When handling it, does it feel any larger than the old film 645, or Bronica ETR-Si?

Yes it does feel larger, but it is surprisingly light.

 

[Matus]

What about sharing a few 100% crops such that we can start figuring out how large piece of a film it takes to overcame that 😉

The camera does look interesting, but I hope to see in the future a "full frame" 645D Pentax. If it handles anything close to 645N than it should be a fine machine. Fast AF - that is a good news.

 

[Doug]

Looks great to me! I have briefly used the Leica S2, and I like the form factor and ergonomics, as I also like the P67. But I also have a sizable P645 kit, and to be able to use most of my existing 645 lenses (plus P67 lenses) on the P645D is very attractive, and at less than half the cost of the Leica body too!