Topic: Debating Pentax 645z for landscapes (Read 7402 times)

msoomro · « **on:** February 23, 2016, 10:16:45 pm »

I have been a Nikon FF shooter since i started photographing about 5 years ago. D700 -> D3X -> D800 and now D810. My main genre is landscapes and I prefer going wide and sometime ultrawide so most used lens is 14-24 and 16-35. Next most used is between 65 - 100mm focal range. Here is my portfolio http:/irfansoomro.com

I am fighting a serious urge to get into Medium Format specifically Pentax 645z and 28-45mm AW Lens. I have few questions hoping to get answered.

In maintream use, do folks mainly use 645z for Studio / Portrait / Wedding purposes or equally for landscapes?

Q1. For Landscapes what do I get with 645Z that a D810 can not accomplish?

Q2. Is there a resolution advantage going from D810 to 645z,
a. given that even with D8190 i can stack and stick to get very high res files.
b. D810 files also give excellent shadow recovery and high ISO.

Q3. Lack of UW lenses in Pentax lineup. The widest currently available is 19.8mm (35mm equivalent) or I am missing something

Thanks
msoomro

Ken R · « **Reply #1 on:** February 23, 2016, 10:22:05 pm »

Quote from: msoomro on February 23, 2016, 10:16:45 pm

I have been a Nikon FF shooter since i started photographing about 5 years ago. D700 -> D3X -> D800 and now D810. My main genre is landscapes and I prefer going wide and sometime ultrawide so most used lens is 14-24 and 16-35. Next most used is between 65 - 100mm focal range. Here is my portfolio http:/irfansoomro.com

I am fighting a serious urge to get into Medium Format specifically Pentax 645z and 28-45mm AW Lens. I have few questions hoping to get answered.

In maintream use, do folks mainly use 645z for Studio / Portrait / Wedding purposes or equally for landscapes?

Q1. For Landscapes what do I get with 645Z that a D810 can not accomplish?

A bit more Resolution and DR

Q2. Is there a resolution advantage going from D810 to 645z,
a. given that even with D8190 i can stack and stick to get very high res files.
b. D810 files also give excellent shadow recovery and high ISO.

DR difference is maybe 1/2 stop
Resolution difference depends on the lens / setting / Technique.

Q3. Lack of UW lenses in Pentax lineup. The widest currently available is 19.8mm (35mm equivalent) or I am missing something

That is correct. Also de flange focal distance of the Pentax 645 mount is huge. Mostly lenses for larger formats (6x6 and up) can be adapted so basically no extreme wide angles are available or possible.

Thanks
msoomro

msoomro · « **Reply #2 on:** February 24, 2016, 12:17:50 am »

Thanks Ken

Joe Towner · « **Reply #3 on:** February 24, 2016, 03:34:05 pm »

I'd add in better weather seals, larger photosites on the chip, 50mp resolution and the 4:3 ratio. Plus the second tripod mount allows for turning 90 much cleaner. Plus the articulating screen for low/overhead shooting.

TonyW · « **Reply #4 on:** February 24, 2016, 07:02:41 pm »

All this and I would also say that if you compare the Pentax 645Z 4:3 ratio against Nikon using the 5:4 setting you actually end up with a Nikon 26MP vs Pentax 51.4MP

If you need more MP or want to go wider you can do the same as you would with any DSLR and shoot a couple of overlapping frames and use your editing app to stitch

I think there is a lot more to it than just MP and I would suggest for such a relatively large outlay hiring for a couple of days as I did

Some comments here may be of interest
http://forum.luminous-landscape.com/index.php?topic=108107.msg892928#msg892928

BernardLanguillier · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2016, 02:19:29 am »

Or, if you like more panoramic views you end up with 42mp on the Pentax vs 36 on the Nikon.

Cheers,
Bernard

gavincato · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2016, 04:58:49 am »

as much as i love my 645z setup, if you are into ultra wide stuff - this isn't the system for you.

siddhaarta · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2016, 10:42:29 am »

Anybody knows what happened with the Pentax 25mm? In Germany it is not listed anymore. discontinued?

Joe Towner · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2016, 11:14:54 am »

The 25mm was discontinued, and there are 2 different versions regarding coverage. There is no real WA in medium format until you get into technical cameras. Stitching with the 645z is amazingly easy and I do it all the time in Lightroom - a nodal setup will make it better.

Rent one and give it a try - the files are much better than the 35mm stuff, and will cause you to look at the Nikon differently.

-Joe

alatreille · « **Reply #9 on:** February 25, 2016, 11:41:29 am »

I'll second that.
Love my 645z, but I still carry the Canon and 17/24TSE's for the wide stuff.

Quote from: gavincato on February 25, 2016, 04:58:49 am

as much as i love my 645z setup, if you are into ultra wide stuff - this isn't the system for you.

ErikKaffehr · « **Reply #10 on:** February 27, 2016, 11:57:52 am »

Hi,

My impression, without reading the thread, is that there are circumstances where the larger format is beneficial.

On the other side, the difference between 36 MP and 50 MP is not that great. In best of cases you get a 17% improvement.

I wouldn't rule out Nikon coming up with 42-54 MP within a year…

A large sensor is a good thing but a large sensor does not make for a great system.

Best regards
Erik

Quote from: msoomro on February 23, 2016, 10:16:45 pm

I have been a Nikon FF shooter since i started photographing about 5 years ago. D700 -> D3X -> D800 and now D810. My main genre is landscapes and I prefer going wide and sometime ultrawide so most used lens is 14-24 and 16-35. Next most used is between 65 - 100mm focal range. Here is my portfolio http:/irfansoomro.com

I am fighting a serious urge to get into Medium Format specifically Pentax 645z and 28-45mm AW Lens. I have few questions hoping to get answered.

In maintream use, do folks mainly use 645z for Studio / Portrait / Wedding purposes or equally for landscapes?

Q1. For Landscapes what do I get with 645Z that a D810 can not accomplish?

Q2. Is there a resolution advantage going from D810 to 645z,
a. given that even with D8190 i can stack and stick to get very high res files.
b. D810 files also give excellent shadow recovery and high ISO.

Q3. Lack of UW lenses in Pentax lineup. The widest currently available is 19.8mm (35mm equivalent) or I am missing something

Thanks
msoomro

cyron123 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 28, 2016, 05:03:14 am »

Hello, there is a new 35mm released last year I have read . I am not a Pentax shooter but if this is a new lens I guess it will fit to the 645z?!?? No?!?

BernardLanguillier · « **Reply #12 on:** February 28, 2016, 07:17:36 am »

Quote from: ErikKaffehr on February 27, 2016, 11:57:52 am

I wouldn't rule out Nikon coming up with 42-54 MP within a year…

By Photokina I would expect Nikon and Sony to have 60+ mp offerings and Pentax will be at 100mp. Probably all at 16 bits.

Cheers,
Bernard

BernardLanguillier · « **Reply #13 on:** February 28, 2016, 07:21:54 am »

Quote from: cyron123 on February 28, 2016, 05:03:14 am

Hello, there is a new 35mm released last year I have read . I am not a Pentax shooter but if this is a new lens I guess it will fit to the 645z?!?? No?!?

Yes, of course. The new 35mm is also compatible with larger sensors such as the new 100mp CMOS by Sony.

Cheers,
Bernard

ErikKaffehr · « **Reply #14 on:** February 28, 2016, 07:28:14 am »

Hi Bernard,

16 bits is a possibility. The new IQ3-100MP seems to have more than 14 EV DR, so it needs > 14 bits.

I guess Sony is a bit burned about all complaints on raw compression so I guess they will go for 16 bits with linear coding.

I wouldn't bet on 60+ MP, but I wouldn't mind being wrong.

Best regards
Erik

Quote from: BernardLanguillier on February 28, 2016, 07:17:36 am

By Photokina I would expect Nikon and Sony to have 60+ mp offerings and Pentax will be at 100mp. Probably all at 16 bits.

Cheers,
Bernard

BernardLanguillier · « **Reply #15 on:** February 28, 2016, 07:33:30 am »

Quote from: ErikKaffehr on February 28, 2016, 07:28:14 am

I wouldn't bet on 60+ MP, but I wouldn't mind being wrong.

Why would they align themselves with Canon at 50mp when they clearly have the technology to go higher?

Sony clearly decided to keep the a7rII at 42mp to keep room for their pro-spec A9. Double memory slot and weather sealing won't be enough to justify the 5,000 US$ price tag, they will go for significant differentiation. 72mp may be a better bet than 60 in fact.

cyron123 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 29, 2016, 07:21:45 am »

Nikon Sony and 60 mpix? Why? There current lenses have problems with 36mpix. This don't make sense. If I see the new 24-70mm. It is worse than the older one in some situations. More mpix is not the solution on 35mm cameras. They have not the optics..

eronald · « **Reply #17 on:** February 29, 2016, 10:36:47 am »

Quote from: BernardLanguillier on February 28, 2016, 07:33:30 am

Why would they align themselves with Canon at 50mp when they clearly have the technology to go higher?

Sony clearly decided to keep the a7rII at 42mp to keep room for their pro-spec A9. Double memory slot and weather sealing won't be enough to justify the 5,000 US$ price tag, they will go for significant differentiation. 72mp may be a better bet than 60 in fact.

The flagship cams need to be good at a lot of things.

Expected in the near future for Sony's flagship:
- Improved action-tracking focus, especially with Canon lenses
- Handheld sensor shift multishot
- Handheld sensor-shift focus stacking
- Hi-rez frame-by-frame video for still extraction
- High bit depth Raw video output

tonyhowell · « **Reply #18 on:** March 01, 2016, 08:22:07 am »

Personally I wouldn't bother. They're too close in spec. I used a Phase One P45 for years, then changed to a D800 and although I noticed a difference (medium format being better) the ease of use/less weight of the Nikon made photography a nicer experience. I now use a Sony A7R so that I can use my Canon T/S wide lenses. Wait for the next Sony or Nikon!

ErikKaffehr · « **Reply #19 on:** March 01, 2016, 01:11:40 pm »

Hi,

Same here. I have also used a P45+, but it was not my main camera. With the A7rII I feel the advantage goes to Sony and I have a lot of options, with both Canon lenses and some T&S capability with all my old MFD lenses. That said, the Hasselblad/P45+ combo is fun to shoot.

Best regards
Erik

Quote from: tony@tonyhowell.co.uk on March 01, 2016, 08:22:07 am

Personally I wouldn't bother. They're too close in spec. I used a Phase One P45 for years, then changed to a D800 and although I noticed a difference (medium format being better) the ease of use/less weight of the Nikon made photography a nicer experience. I now use a Sony A7R so that I can use my Canon T/S wide lenses. Wait for the next Sony or Nikon!

Author Topic: Debating Pentax 645z for landscapes (Read 7402 times)