Pentax USA has finally made it official. The 40-megapixel Pentax 645D medium format camera will arrive in the US in December 2010. The camera will be priced at $9999.95 initially. A 55mm f/2.8 lens will also be available for $1199.95.
Both B&H Photo and Adorama are expected to carry the camera. However, tt is not listed on either site at the time of this post.
More details in the press release below.
Pentax Press Release
GOLDEN, CO. (October 12, 2010)…PENTAX Imaging Company confirmed today that the long-anticipated PENTAX 645D medium-format digital SLR camera will ship to select U.S. dealers and pre-order customers by December 2010 in limited quantities. PENTAX also announced that the camera has received an AMERICAN PHOTO MAGAZINE EDITOR’S CHOICE 2010 award in the November/December issue.
In the current issue, AMERICAN PHOTO magazine states that “PENTAX’s first medium-format digital camera is a bombshell, delivering 40-megapixel image quality for radically less money than comparable medium-format systems. How does it do this? By borrowing core technologies from the APS-C-format PENTAX K-7 DSLR. In fact, it will seem instantly familiar to any PENTAX DSLR owner.”
The article goes on, “The 645D’s gigantic 44×33-millimeter Kodak CCD boasts two-thirds more pixels than a full-frame 24-megapixel DSLR and produces 23×30-inch native image size at 240dpi, ideal for big prints. The body itself offers superb balance and ergonomics, a light but tough magnesium-steel alloy frame with extensive weather sealing, and automatic sensor-dust cleaning, a first in a medium-format digital camera. It also features built-in automatic correction for a given PENTAX 645 lens’s optical characteristic.”
The PENTAX 645D medium-format digital SLR is among “12 TOOLS THAT CHANGE THE RULES” and
that “of all the hundreds of cameras, lenses and accessories released over the past year…these are the ones that matter most – the true innovations in the field.”
Along with the 645D, PENTAX Imaging Company also will ship the smc PENTAX-D FA 645 55mm F2.8 lens, the first model of the smc PENTAX-D FA 645 Series.
Previously announced camera and lens features and specifications are available here: http://www.pentaximaging.com/about-us.aspx?p=press
The PENTAX 645D (body only) will ship in December 2010 for the price of $9,995.95 USD. The smc PENTAX-D FA 645 55mm F2.8 lens will ship at the same time for $1,199.95 USD.
Along with the purchase of the PENTAX 645D, each new owner will have prioritized access to:
- A dedicated team of US-based PENTAX 645D specialists to answer 645D customer service and product questions (Monday – Friday 7:30am-4:30pm Mountain Time – holidays excepted)
- Automatic enrollment in the PENTAX PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Program offering access to various medium format lenses and accessories. More details: http://www.pentaximaging.com/about-us.aspx?p=press&pid=News713200935616109155
There are limited ways to experience or test drive the PENTAX 645D prior to purchase:
- The camera will be displayed in PENTAX Booth 612 during PDN PHOTOPLUS EXPO from October 28-30 at the Jacob Javitz Center in New York City. Show details and registration information is available here: www.photoplusexpo.com
It’s nice to know that Pentax is launching a new medium format digital camera named 645D, which is similar to Pentax 645 film cameras of the yore. I still use old Pentax film cameras and they are real workhorses on which professional photographers can rely upon.Unfortunately, Pentax lost the digital camera race and I hope with this new camera, it can capture the professional market to some extent. All the best!
It’s about time. Pentax is now awake from its long hibernation. How about a 6×7 to complete the original line up?