Last month, we reported that DxOMark had reviewed the Pentax 645Z back in 2015 and given it a highest-ever score of 101 before pausing its medium format camera reviews prior to publishing any. That Pentax 645Z review is finally out, and DxOMark still has glowing things to say about the camera.
The Nikon D850 isn't actually the first DSLR to be assigned a DxOMark score of 100+. The medium format Pentax 645Z was actually awarded a ridiculously high score of 101 back in 2015, but it's unofficial because that review has never been published.
Almost one year ago, my Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS) started flaring up. I started getting interested in medium format photography, and the Pentax 645Z caught my attention.
We all know mirrorless cameras are smaller and more portable, but when it comes to medium format, what does "portable" really mean? This photo of the mirrorless Fuji GFX 50s next to Pentax's 645z gives you an idea.
Here's a photo of a Pentax 645Z medium format DSLR that was sliced cleanly down the middle. Pentax was displaying this half camera at the CP+ show in Japan back in early 2015. It's an interesting look at the guts of a camera that currently costs about $7,000.
The Pentax 645D has received yet another major drop in price. Originally retailing for $10,000 when it was introduced five years ago, this 40 MP medium format monster is now selling for $4,000, less than half the price. We may not all be ready to whip out our wallets, but at less than $4,000 the 645D boasts one of the best digital medium format values on the market.
I’m an experienced wedding photographer who has wanted digital medium format for a long time. I use a pair of 1D Xs with the typical lenses that you would expect a wedding shooter to use. I never was intending on replacing my Canon gear, but rather supplementing it. My idea was use the medium format for location shooting, and use my Canon’s for everything else.
The video-capable medium format Pentax 645z boasts 76 weather seals that make it cold-resistant, dustproof and weather-resistant... but just how "dustproof" and "weather-resistant" are we talking here?
When the medium-format Pentax 645Z was announced, we were given a price point of $8,500 and a release date of "June 2014." Of course, there are 30 days in June, so if you've pre-ordered yours and you'd like a more specific date to anticipate, you'll be happy to note that Ricoh Imaging Japan has provided one.
It's here. The Pentax 645Z Medium Format camera has arrived just as the rumor sites said it would, and the camera's release date was far from the only rumor that has proven to be 100% true. In fact, we'll have to look hard to find anything they got wrong.
The rumor sites are hard at work when it comes to Pentax's soon-to-be-released medium format shooter, the 645z, and it looks like it paid off. In addition to the leaked photos and details from yesterday, we now have a comprehensive spec list that contains some very interesting tidbits indeed.
If you're just now considering getting into digital medium format photography, then you've picked a great time. CMOS sensors are making their way into just about every brand, 4K video is too, and now, it looks like the entry-level price bar might be dropping as well.