Pentax 645D now £4249 !!!!!!!

Seems as though the existing 645D body price has now dropped to £4249 (SRS, WEX, Clifton) - Anybody tempted ?

I wonder what the new Z will cost? I can't afford either, but if money were no object, it would be spent on the Z.

£4249 is an amazing price for what it is. Sadly, it's currently out of reach even at that price.

I am going to look under the settee......

Yes, very tempted! Especially with 2 years 0% finance.

Part of me wants to sell off most of my kit to fund a 645D which would leave me with:-

K-3 & F*250-600mm for wildlife

645D & 55mm for landscapes etc.

Just not sure if I've got the balls to sell off my entire lens collection though! It makes a lot of sense from a quality / selling prints perspective and it really would help me focus as I'd never have to wonder what lens to take with me etc. It's definately doable, just don't know if it's something I might regret!

Would any of you in my position take the plunge? Would be interested in any thoughts!

We often hear the argument that full frame doesn't give you much over the K3. Fair argument I think. By the same token does the 645D give you that much over the Nikon D800 (sorry would like to quote a Pentax model, obviously can't)? Does the later generation sensor narrow the gap significantly or is the substantial cost difference still justified?

I don't know whether the 645D gives much over the D800 in terms of resolution - just a bit probably - but the essential thing for us is does it give something more than the APS-C format. That it does seem to do, keeping the Pentax style and modus operandi but at a cost of size and weight.

If we like Pentax images, then the 645D is the clear choice.

Is it a good choice for Unlocker? That's not really for anyone else to say, it's a very personal decision. It wouldn't make sense for me to end up with the proposed kit, but it might or might not for Unlocker.

I have the same feelings as you, but with the added advantage/disadvantage of having a good set of 645 lenses. I'm currently trying to justify it to myself (then the wife ) but parting with most of my FA* lenses would be a wrench - especially with second hand prices being so low at present

The "other" Pentax forum did a comparison of the D800E against the 645D and came out generally in favour of the Nikon, but since then I have read several posts on various forums from people who have used both and most of them prefer the images produced by the Pentax 645D.

It's not really ideal for sports or low light photography (high ISO), but landscapes, studio, portraits, weddings, etc. I think it will hold its head high for a good few years to come.

The new sensor in the Z will no doubt have a significant improvement from the current 645D. Moreover, just like the APS-C v FF differences, it would not be surprising if the Nikon D800 becomes overshadowed by the Z? I guess only time and tests will show, but the look of medium format is very, very nice and is different from FF.

If i had the funds I would buy medium format tomorrow, certainly would be of more use and interest to me than FF.

I view technology change as the problem.

Back in film days there was a real quality advantage for MF over 35mm offsetting (for some) the weight and cost of MF. As film technology improved that advantage continued as the MF camera could, in principle, share the same film types as 35mm.

But in digital technology marches on and it is only a question of time until the quality benefit from that MF sensor is overtaken by improved FF sensors, and then by improved APSC sensors and you need to reinvest. So if you want MF for quality reasons I conclude you need very deep pockets to not only buy it in the first place to to keep updating it to maintain that quality advantage over FF/APSC.

If you are a professional and the motive is increased sales from the higher quality then I guess the equation is different i.e. can you earn sufficient extra money from the higher quality MF investment before it ceases to offer higher sales.

The 645D may be a "bargain" in relative terms. But...er no.

I'm enjoying going down the smaller mirrorless, rather than bigger full frame/mf route. All depends how you shoot though.

P.S. If anyone does get one I will be jealous.

I could sell my Canon kit and buy one along with a few decent lenses but tbh it doesn't interest me one bit. It's just too bulky for my use and for the type of photography I prefer, next to useless.

I would also have to say that if I were looking at that sort of resolution I would buy the Nikon D800E or the new Sony.