645D Shipping in Japan

[Kym]

http://kakaku.com/item/K0000095422/
(Japanese site, translate with Google)

¥763,200 == AU$9,250 (Body only)

[Kym]

Not a lot in stock, looks like you have to wait up to 30 days http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/1073299-post4.html

The 645D is not available outside Japan yet

[Kym]

Looks like eBay is selling http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NEW-BOXED-PEN...item255b4d3ba6

AU $12,162.00 with english Interface Languages, without english manual

[Tannin]

Wow! It finally arrives. Really, truly, no lie, cross my heart and hope to die, the 645 is fair dinkum in manufacturing now. Awesome! Given its incredible gestation period, is this the first ever genuine (non-fake, non-reproduction) new-build antique camera? Some AP members probably weren't born when the 645D was announced the first time.

[Analog6]

The old 645 was a terrific camera. It looks good.

DP review site http://www.dpreview.com/news/1003/10...pentax645d.asp
ephotozine: http://www.dpreview.com/news/1003/10...pentax645d.asp

[Kym]

Wow! It finally arrives. Really, truly, no lie, cross my heart and hope to die, the 645 is fair dinkum in manufacturing now. Awesome! Given its incredible gestation period, is this the first ever genuine (non-fake, non-reproduction) new-build antique camera? Some AP members probably weren't born when the 645D was announced the first time.

So where is the Canon MF camera? At least we have one!!!
(and affordable, well at least compared with a 'blad)

http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Pentax-645D-13785

[Analog6]

Have Canon ever done MF? I don't think they have. The price for the 645D is surprisingly reasonable, and I saw an 80-160 f4.5 lens on ebay , new, for $1,100.00. That's a good walk about range for the sensor size (44x33).

[Tannin]

The Canon MF camera, if they ever decide to make one, will probably be announced as an upcoming new product and then actually released for sale in the same century.

[Kym]

The Canon MF camera, if they ever decide to make one, will probably be announced as an upcoming new product and then actually released for sale in the same century.

Pffft. It was only 4 years.

Lens list...

http://www.pentax.jp/english/imaging...45n2_list.html

[Tannin]

PS: a little gentle stirring aside, I reckon it's a damn good thing. It will certainly keep Canikon honest with their high-end full frame models, and is a realistic attempt to carve out a new market. Yes, new market. The old MF market is dead, dead, dead. The new MF market has gone in two directions:

(a) Cost-no-object bodies with digital backs.
(b) Semi-affordable bodies with non-replacable sensors like this one.

Because you can't upgrade the sensor and because the sensor technology changes so fast, MF digital has always been a problematic thing. But these are almost cheap enough to be regarded as a throw-away. (If you are that sort of photographer, that is.) People will be able to invest in those lovely Pentax MF lenses and get long-term value out of them even though their new 645D will be very old and tired looking before too long. So, over time, this is going to be bigger news than it might look.

Should they announce the more modern 645D-ex now so as to maybe have it ready for a 2015 release? Or wait till October?

[JorgD]

This must be the only MF camera with a 14 bit DA converter. I guess they re-used existing technology as much as possible.

The more affordable MF camera's out there, the more likely it will take off and become semi main stream. Good on them.

[Kym]

Should they announce the more modern 645D-ex now so as to maybe have it ready for a 2015 release? Or wait till October?

Maybe when the 1DmkXXIIIbs is announced