Last Updated on 04/15/2014 by Chris Gampat
Going the same route as Phase One and Hasselblad in their latest medium format camera models, Pentax today announces the new 645Z medium format SLR camera featuring a large 33x44mm CMOS sensor. As a successor to the 645D, the 645Z continues the company’s medium format tradition, while at the same time bringing it up to par with the competition. Thanks to the new sensor, the 645Z now boasts a wopping 51.4 megapixels, ISO as high as 204,800, Full-HD video as well as a live-view mode. It seems that medium format cameras have finally arrived in the 21st century.
It’s been four years that Pentax has announced its first digital medium format camera, the 645D, and with the way that technology has changed, one might argue that it was about time the digital 645 see a major overhaul. Though from the outside not much has changed, it’s the inside where all the buzz is happening. The Pentax 645Z manages to pack specs that have been unthinkable for medium format cameras before, due to their previously exclusive use of CCD sensors. With its new CMOS sensor, the 645Z can finally do all the fancy things that were reserved to (35mm) DSLRs before.
Besides the boosted ISO range, addition of a Full-HD movie mode and new live-view feature via the large, tiltable, 1.037k dot 3″ display, the Pentax 645Z features the SAFOX 11 autofocus module with 27 focus points, 25 of which are cross-type sensors, as well as a new 86,000 pixel metering sensor to determine correct exposure. Just like the 645D, the 645Z records all data onto SD(HC/XC) cards, two of which can be used simultaneously. There’s a full breakdown of the 645Z’s specs below.
Pentax 645Z Specs
- 51.4 megapixel, 33x44mm CMOS sensor
- ISO 100-204,800
- No anti-aliasing filter
- SAFOX 11 AF module with 27 focusing points, 25 cross-type sensors
- 3.2″, 1.037k dot tiltable LCD screen
- Viewfinder magnification: 0.85x (with 75mm lens); coverage: 98%
- Full-HD 1080/30p, 25p and 24p video recording
- Max. shutter speed: 1/4000 sec.
- Size (W x H x D): 6.14 x 4.6 x 4.84 in (15.6 x 11.7 x 12.3 cm)
- Weight: 3.42 lb (1.55 kg)
The Pentax 645Z digital medium format camera will be available in June at a very competitive price of US-$ 8,499.95 for the body only.
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