If you have a decent scanner and are happy with its output quality, go for the 645.

Others more informed than I about medium format will be along soon, I'm sure.

I used large format (10X8 sheet film in a Gandolfi Monorail) in college about a million years ago, other than that, 35mm is the largest I've used.

If you use a flash your shutter speed is limited to 1/180th unless you use High Speed Synch, in which case the flash power is attenuated and is therefore of minimal use. 1/180th is not fast enough to freeze that kind of motion.

Why do you think flash is necessary for birds in flight?

A fast shutter speed is needed so use Tv mode and adjust the other two exposure variables (aperture and ISO) to suit the scenario.

You can still have both if you can find a scanner at a reasonable price that takes the negs from a 645 or have them digitized at processing time.

You can have both in the form of a 645D.

That shouldn't mean things can't change if the majority of members wish for it (which I doubt they will).

It's unlikely.

AFAIK all Pentax cameras are shipped with the original firmware version. The exception is special models like the K10D Grand Prix which had the latest firmware of the time installed from new.

It's easy to check which firmware is installed. With power off, press and hold the menu button, then power on the camera. The firmware version will be displayed on the rear screen.

If you have a new firmware in the root directory of the SD card you will also get the option to update it.

Whelmed, what is your understanding of the acronym WTF ?

Every time I see this post I think I must read the topic title quite differently to you.

I think you'll get the best price you can by selling each item separately on ebay, where you can also research the value of them from the completed listings.

From what Pentax have decided to disclose the firmware is only an update for large capacity cards. It's not unheard of for them to slip in the odd bug fix that they decide to not disclose.

Upgrading firmware is always to be recommended unless doing so removes features that you use a lot of the time or potentially causes other issues, like the SDM issue when the K10D was first given the facility (I think).

I think the single biggest criticism of this lens is bad CA in extreme back lit scenarios. As long as you are aware of any lens's limitations you can usually avoid using it in such conditions.

The longest prime I have now is the DA*300mm, I sold my Sigma and SMCP-M 400's and the M-500 as they were all MF as far as I remember and I prefer AF for just about anything except macro.

I think if you'd shot #1 at f8 or f11 you'd have been more pleasantly surprised.