Pentax Medium Format Digital

Posted by Philip Northeast Jun 30, 2008

The original film Pentax 645 series earned a place in the camera bags of professional photographers with the normal Pentax attributes of providing quality images at a reasonable price. They were the obvious choice for professionals seeking to enter market segments where image quality is critical.

Browsing Michael Reichmann’s experiences with the new Phase One 645 medium format digital camera focused my attention on the state of that camera market. With a rush of new medium format cameras is the market overheated or, is it a sign of professionals once again seeking the extra quality of larger format cameras. This extra quality could be the deal clincher when pitching for assignments against photographers using 35mm based DSLRs.

Of course Pentax had plans to enter this market some time ago, and even paraded a prototype 645D around the trade shows, but it never reached the market. Some say the Kodak sensor in the prototype may have been partly to blame for the 645D’s demise.

With new management from Hoya and a better long term arrangement with Samsung for sensors may breathe new life into the 645D project. Samsung proved their capabilities with the class leading sensor for the Pentax K20D. If they wanted to Samsung could produce an equally stunning medium format sized sensor. Dust off the old prototypes; fit a new sensor and Samsung electronics and Pentax are back in the serious professional market.

The original design for the Pentax 645D continued the Pentax digital philosophy of backward lens compatibility. This is marketing common sense as there are plenty of professionals with Pentax medium format cameras and lenses gathering dust. If Pentax produces a new medium format digital body this is an easy upgrade path for those professionals who moved to 35mm based DSLRs when they went digital.