Pentax 645D digital SLR Reviews

Pentax 645D is a lens-interchangeable, medium format digital SLR camera. Thanks to the incorporation of a large image sensor, equal in performance to professional-standard digital camera backs, the 645D delivers super-high-resolution images with approximately 40 effective megapixels.

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FEATURES:

Pentax 645D 40 megapixels
A 40 Megapixel medium format (44x33mm) CCD sensor provides a top resolution of 7264×5440 pixels, which is ideal for ultra-high resolution imaging, exceptionally large printing applications, and outstanding cropping flexibility.

Pentax 645D Magnesium alloy body
Magnesium alloy covers around a rigid aluminum diecast chassis adds durability and thermal stability while minimizing weight.

Fully weather sealed
Fully weather sealed and coldproof design resists rain, snow, dust, and other environmental hazards during field use, to keep the camera operating at peak performance levels.

Large 3 inch LCD
Large, 3 inch LCD screen, with anti-reflective coating and reinforced glass surface, features 921,000 dots of resolution, wide angle viewing, and 32X image review magnification for easy on-camera image proofing.

Lens Compatability
Compatibility with new D FA autofocus lenses as well as older 645 lenses ensures a wide selection of PENTAX glass for a wide range of photographic applications.

11 point SAFOX IX+ autofocus system
Highly responsive and accurate 11 point SAFOX IX+ autofocus system features a light wavelength sensor for improved focus speed and reliability, even within different lighting environments.

77 segment metering system
Highly accurate 77 segment metering system for perfectly exposed images even in difficult lighting.

14 Bit RAW files in PEF and Adobe DNG
Deep, 14 Bit RAW files in PEF and Adobe DNG formats retain great detail in highlight and shadow areas of an image, and offer a high level of flexibility when processing RAW files.

Dual slot SD/SDHC memory card
Dual slot SD/SDHC memory card support ensures fast and reliable storage for high resolution image files, simultaneously saving in multiple formats, assigning images to different cards based on their original format, or easily holding one memory card in reserve.

ISO 100-1600
ISO 100-1600 provides great existing-light photo capture with outstanding noise performance.

Highly flexible white balance
Highly flexible white balance options include several common presets, 3 Kelvin color temperature settings, and 3 manual saves, each with WB fine adjustment tuning.

All-glass, trapezoid pentaprism viewfinder
All-glass, trapezoid pentaprism viewfinder with interchangeable focusing screens offers a 98% field of view viewing angle for accurate framing applications.

Multiple JPG image processing modes
Multiple JPG image processing modes include Bright, Natural, Portrait, Landscape, Vibrant, Muted, Reversal Film, and Monochrome, for high quality JPG output without extensive computer enhancement and manipulation.

Lens Correction function
Lens Correction function automatically compensates for lateral chromatic aberration, as well as barrel and spool distortion common to wide angle lens photography, with select PENTAX 645 lenses.

1.1 frames per second at full 40 megapixel resolution
Consecutive shooting up to 1.1 frames per second at full 40 megapixel resolution, enables action photography in a medium format camera system.

In-camera HDR image capture
An in-camera HDR image capture function blends 3 consecutive frames of varying exposures into a single, perfectly blended image, maximizing detail within all tonal ranges.

Mirror dampening hardware
Mirror dampening hardware applies a braking action to the mirror swing, minimizing the effect of camera shake and noise levels to the image capture process.

Mirror Lockup function
Mirror Lockup function prevents blur caused by the movement of the mirror during the exposure, ensuring the sharpest possible image capture for professional-caliber applications.

HDMI output
HDMI output for high resolution image display on HDTVs.

Digital Level function
A Digital Level function displays the vertical and horizontal inclination of the camera, ensuring captured photos remain level to the horizon.

High capacity Li-Ion battery
High capacity Li-Ion battery provides up to 800 shots in typical shooting conditions.

Videos

Reviews

Photoradar writes:

“Very detailed pictures 40-million pixel pictures which offer an impressive colour gradation and tone. High ISO performance is outstanding. Processing speed could do with being much faster, as you have a five second wait before shots appear on screen.”
Rating: ★★★★☆

WDC writes:

“its handling is a winner and easy to pick up. For general use a pro-level DSLR still has more versatility but, so long as speed’s no issue, the Pentax 645D is a pleasure to use.“
Rating: ★★★★½

whatdigitalcamera.com writes:

“The 645D will no doubt attract a niche audience, though its almost-£10k price tag is firmly out of reach for the majority. The experience of using a medium format digital camera is very different from a DSLR and has many advantages, especially for landscape photographers. To be clear: the 645D is less of a studio camera than its competition, but its weather-sealed single body design firmly fixes it as one to use in the field or where large, resolute files are a must. However the vertical run shutter, non-customisable construction and no tethered shooting ability may pose issues for certain users.  However its handling is a winner and easy to pick up. For general use a pro-level DSLR still has more versatility but, so long as speed’s no issue, the Pentax 645D is a pleasure to use.”

ephotozine.com writes:

“If I had to judge the cameras on image quality alone then the Pentax would be a clear winner. Unfortunately life isn’t that straightforward, and as the Canon excels in some areas and the Pentax is superior in others I find it impossible to choose a clear winner in this comparison. Your choice will depend on what you shoot, at the end of the day.”

pentaxforums.com reviews writes:

“Some might say that for a medium-format camera, the 645D is relatively cheap and therefore must be second rate.  This isn’t the case, however.  Instead of cutting corners when it came to image quality and core design, Pentax decided to re-use many components from their K-7 (such as the LCD screen, firmware, and processor) in the 645D in order to keep costs down.”

 

Specifications: