Pentax also goes "full frame"

[rosuna]

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Pentax stopped the 645D project, and now they are reconsidering their strategy. Samsung is developping a 35mm CMOS full frame sensor for them:

 

Samsung hints at full-frame sensor for professional digital SLR camera news - Amateur Photographer - news, camera reviews, lens reviews, camera equipment guides, photography courses, competitions, photography forums

 

Sony, Nikon, Canon and now Pentax.

 

The medium format market is experiencing a concentration (only three systems: Hasselblad, Mamiya and Rollei), and the 35mm FF will expand (pro and rich amateur markets).

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[sdai]

Pentax has built a 35mm full frame DSLR using the 6MP Philips CCD many years ago. I think it's even before the Contax N digital.

 

The 645D is nearly done actually, they have 30 megapixel working cameras for some Japanese photographers to play with. One of my friend had a chat with their top brass when the launched the K20D in Beijing, apparently, the medium format DSLR market only has a sub-10k capacity all makes combined worldwide and it's not worth the effort to bring it to the market.

 

They haven't completely killed the 645D project, and said it may be resurrected at any time depending on market conditions but, Japanese companies never say .. ok, we are done with it.

[rosuna]

It was based on the MZ-S film camera:

 

Pentax cancel 6mp digital SLR: Digital Photography Review

 

NEWS! - Pentax EI-3000 and unnamed digital SLR - exclusive pics!

 

It was, to some extent, a joint project with Philips, Contax and Pentax. The prototypes used the same sensor (made by Philips Electronics, now Dalsa). The development was parallel. The Contax N went to market, the Pentax didn't.

 

Contax N Digital, 6mp Digital SLR: Digital Photography Review

 

Production costs explain the demise:

 

NEWS! - Pentax cancels 6mpix SLR plans!

 

But the performance of the Contax N wasn't brilliant either.

 

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[stunsworth]

Do people think that given the low sales figures, MF digital has any kind of future at all, or will it be squeezed out of existance by the Canon/Nikon high end offerings?

[rosuna]

I think MF will survive, but the concentration is inevitable. They need to find ways for reducing current prices. Mamiya is offering digital solutions for less than 9.000 euros, VAT included:

 

Mamiya ZD

 

Kit Mamiya 645AFDII+ Respaldo ZD + Objetivo Mamiya AF 80mm f/2.8

 

I think Hasselblad and Mamiya will survive... I have doubts about the Rollei/Sinar/Leaf team...

[stunsworth]

You may be right. The reason for asking the question was that I have at the back of my mind a review comparing the output from a Mamiya and a high end Canon that showed the Canon to have the better image from a resolution point of view. It may have been one of the French magazines, not sure. Then again I could just be imagining it.

[rosuna]

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Maybe. The 1Ds Mark III is very versatile, fast, water proof, has a huge catalogue of fast lenses... And the same goes (or will go) for Nikon and Sony. I suppose the 20-30 MP range will be 35FF territory very soon. I remember this comparison:

 

Canon 5D vs. Hasselblad H3Dii - A Real World Test | NEWS | LINCOLN BARBOUR | PHOTOGRAPHER

 

MIchael Reichmann promised a comparative test of the 1DsMIII and medium format cameras...

[cirke]

I am having an Hasselblad H1 & P45 and a Canon 1Ds Mark III (and a 5D) and yes Canon IQ is really near with much more flexibility and 4 to 5 time less money

if you need 39MP for the moment you have not much choice, but in the next 2 years MF must really awake for price /pixel/quality to make a difference

[jaapv]

Well, 22 Mp is already pushing the limit of what lenses can do on 35 mm. I think that for higher pixel counts there is no way of getting around larger sensors i.e. medium format cameras.

[rosuna]

Well, 22 Mp is already pushing the limit of what lenses can do on 35 mm. I think that for higher pixel counts there is no way of getting around larger sensors i.e. medium format cameras.

 

That is particularly true for aperture values equal or inferior to f/8, when diffraction limits resolution.

 

Only for diffraction-limited lenses at f/5.6 or f/4 makes sense more resolution than 25-30 MP. Erwin Puts claims that the APO-Telyt-R 280mm f/4 is a diffraction-limited lens. It is a big, very expensive lens. Normal mass-produced lenses, wide-angle lenses, zooms... you won't find aberration-free lenses...

 

As you have explained, only medium format can handle more resolution. But 25MP or 30MP is a lot.

 

http://www.uned.es/personal/rosuna/resources/photography/Diffraction/Do%20sensors%20outresolve.pdf

 

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[Angora]

Thanks for the links, Rosuna ; didn't know Pentax had a FF prototype back in the 2000s.