Finally ... 645D

[yoshi]

- to be exibited for reference at PIE (Tokyo Camera Show)
- the outside appearance (design) is subject to change
- expected to be launched in 2010
- MP is said to be 30MP or more
- price is not yet announced
yoshi

[yoshi]

... and goodbye to Pentax 67 II and 645N II

************

Another announcement from Pentax says;

- Pentax 67 II and 645 N II (both are FILM MF cameras) are both to be discontinued in the coming September.

67II was introduced in 1998 and 645N II in 2001, replacing predecessors each.

- Procurements of electronics assembly parts are getting more difficult, Pentax says as a reason.

- Planned final production until September is about 250 units for 67II and about 450 units for 645N II.

- Lenses for 645 are continuously manufactured (i.e. not discontinued in Sept.)

(no reference at all about lenses for 67 series in this announcement.)

yoshi

p.s. 645 N II is a FILM MF dSLR and not 645D which is digital. Lenses can be used on both.

[Ian]

Originally Posted by yoshi

- to be exibited for reference at PIE (Tokyo Camera Show)
- the outside appearance (design) is subject to change
- expected to be launched in 2010
- MP is said to be 30MP or more
- price is not yet announced
yoshi

Hi Yoshi, thanks for this. Do you think Pentax can sell more cameras like this than Mamiya? How is Mamiya doing at the moment?

I have heard that the Pentax 645D may only be sold in Japan...

Ian

[kennykodak]

i had a Hasselblad H2D. yes the sensor size and the resolution was incredible. however, the average lens was $3000-$4000, one auto focus point (center), slow and heavy. unless one is a studio photographer, i wouldn't go there. this was not an event camera.

[yoshi]

Originally Posted by Ian

Hi Yoshi, thanks for this. Do you think Pentax can sell more cameras like this than Mamiya? How is Mamiya doing at the moment?

Hi, Ian,
Little information is available about Mamiya these days. Since its re-start some years ago, they seemingly do not make press release or whatever frequently. I believe they are continuously alive - just quietly.

I do believe that Pentax can outsell Mamiya very easily, as was the case during the film days.

My memory has already eroded but iirc Pentax has market share of more than 70% in (FILM) MF segment - I do not recall whether this was in Japan or global, either. And more MF camera sales also resulted in more 35mm camera sales in good old days for Pentax.

I have heard that the Pentax 645D may only be sold in Japan...

I searched for information on this with a little bit surprise but at our rumor sites, not hot discussion about this point, although there are lots of enthusiastic comments about 645D. I now learned that the rumor comes from an interview at PMA. I just could not find any additional information about that and sorry for that.

I personally think it can be both true and not true.

Mac introduced iPod or iPHONE in the US first and later in Japan. In that context, it could be possible especially when the production capacity is limited.

On top of it, it looks like that Pentax is somewhat lackling confidence in launching this expensive model.
Pentax might want to make a test/pilot marketing first here and when they can get some confidence, then go globally. Pentax can not take lots of risks these days as you know quite well.

On the other hand, Pentax cannot expect that they can sell sufficient volume in Japan only. For its success, they badly needs global success at earlier days. It is an extraordinarily expensive camera and only limited people can actually buy. When it's market is limited to Japan only, no room for success almost for sure. - this applies to all kinds of products, regardless 645D or cameras ...

If they can sell 645D at yen 800K (approx. 8000 US$), which is similar price range to Nikon D3X, then, some say, it would be a huge success. It therefore depends on whether Pentax can get the sensor at reasonably competitive price level from the sensor manufacturer, IMHO.

The annoucement says that the sensor would be 30MP or more. It might be interpreted that Pentax is in a big dilennma now in finally determining the spec.
When they choose 30MP, then price could be lower than otherwise but if they choose a larger MP sensor, then it could be painfully expensive, although it could be appealing to some people, especially in landscape pros as it offers more room of cropping.

It looks to me that what is more important thing is to eliminate one more zero from the price tag ...



yoshi

[yoshi]

Originally Posted by kennykodak

i had a Hasselblad H2D. yes the sensor size and the resolution was incredible. however, the average lens was $3000-$4000, one auto focus point (center), slow and heavy. unless one is a studio photographer, i wouldn't go there. this was not an event camera.

Hi kennykodak,
yes, it is an very important aspect when one determines to go MF or not.
It is however also true that Pentax MF cameras, especially 645 film cameras have been mostly used by outdoor photographers. You will find the lenses prices are not that expensive as Hasselbrad.
I want to point that the lenses prices are expensive simply because of Hasselbrad's pricing policy. Fuji's versions are not that expensive.
yoshi

[kennykodak]

i understand that everything marked "Hasselblad" is expense. but did you know that their lenses are made by Fuji?

[yoshi]

Originally Posted by kennykodak

i understand that everything marked "Hasselblad" is expense. but did you know that their lenses are made by Fuji?

Hi,
yes, the brandname changes the price tremendously. That is why keeping a good image about a brand is important in marketing world.

Another yes, to the second question. Since it was introduced first as a film camera, magazine articles I read those days said clearly, both the body and lenses were solely developed by Fujifilm. But the Fuji version is marketed only in Japan. That is the agreement between the two, I understand. Incidentally, the body H2D is sold by Hasselbrad only. Fuji did not choose to go to digital in MF segment but chose Nikon bodies instead.
yoshi

[kennykodak]

i got to be honest with you, those lenses were beauties. i got involved with Hasselblad digital while the backs were being made by Imacon in Denmark. back in those days processing images (3fff) to jpeg on a G4 was an overnight job. i upgraded camera and computers. i still shoot 39mp when needed, compliments of a friend.

[yoshi]

How nice to be involved in such an interesting and challenging project! Hope I can listen to more of your stories/experiences, if it is ok with you.

When I was a member of a photo group a decade ago, there were some rich members there. Since I'm enjoying and doing photography alone these days, I think I also need some good friends who can afford those gears...

I did not know that the processing took an overnight those days. As far as digital gears are concerned, I think I'm going to be a late adopter, as the technology changes and prices changes are so huge in shorter period of time.
I think I was one of early adopters in the late 90's but ...
yoshi