Pentax 645z Review Pt1 – The Journey
Pentax 645z Review Pt6 – Conclusion
Regardless what you shoot, you’ll always like what you get. 150mm @2.8
Appendix:
Part 1 – The Journey
Part 2 – Image Quality
Part 3 – Lens options and CCD vs CMOS
Part 4 – Ergonomics and weight
Part 5 – Flash System
Part 6 – Conclusion
Part 7 – 100+ Uncompressed DNG’s to download
Before I get on to my conclusion I’d like to touch on the Canon 5Ds and 5Dr cameras.
These are a welcome additions to the DSLR fold and keeps Nikon from the door to a certain extent. While I have no practical experience of them yet I have seen some of the files from both cameras. Personally I find the images have a small sensor ‘look’ to them. Regardless how many pixels you have on the sensor, the sensor size will give you a certain feel to an image. Be that an iphone, D810 or an 8×10 camera regardless of the pixel count or sensor manufacturer.
But aside from that, the pixel count is high and useful to many. I do have concerns about the quality of the higher ISO shots. How ugly (if at all) ISO3200 is will be important to me. I wasn’t impressed with the 7D2 sensor and the 5Dr shares the same pixel pitch. I can only hope that by limiting the usable ISO to 6400 means it’s great throughout the entire range otherwise the audience for these new high MP cams will be limited, which may be just what Canon wants anyway. I’m hopeful the dynamic range will improve because of the ISO limitations placed on it but until we see some raw files……
Update 28th July 2015 – It appears I should revise that opinion, I now own both the Canon 5DSr and the 645z, the 5DSr review is HERE
We certainly live in a great time for photography, long may new doors open for our creativity.
Back to the 645z:
I didn’t mean to fall in love with this camera. At least, I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did but once I had it in my hands I knew in a very short period of time the Z was a keeper. It set new standards and opened up doors for me both personally and professionally.
Many say that you don’t need 50mp for photography in most instances. This is true, I can’t see the point in using the 645z’s massive resolution for the table plan at a wedding.
However going from 18mp to 50mp…that’s a heck of a jump. Portraiture and Landscapes welcome this level of resolution.
150mm F4, ISO 500, 1/400 sec
Many of the raw files in this blog as well as others are available to download.
But it’s more than just pure resolution, it’s the lack of Anti Aliasing filter which increases the quality of this resolution further:
There is also the staggering dynamic range that beats down many sensors, particularly Canon ones. I can now do sunset shots and landscapes in a more flexible way.
I don’t need to use several graduated Lee filters anymore for landscaping, but just one or two and I can safely underexpose to preserve the highlights.
Stitching produces MASSIVE files
Perfect for portraits
The image quality and overall cost of the system makes this the most attractive Medium Format package out there.
The camera is fast enough for reportage and catching the moment.
Perfect skin tones with no noticeable noise at higher ISO’s
I like my skin tones and this was one of my biggest worries, but they are perfect!
Rain, Sleet and Snow proof
I consider the Pentax 645 the best high resolution camera out there today. It’s not a run and gun camera. That’s what the D4s and 1Dx are for.
But if image quality is what you’re after and if you need a highly versatile camera for personal or business use then this is the camera to get.
You’ll have no regrets with the purchase. It’s not perfect but no camera truly is.
The Pentax 645z gives me everything I need. And it’s a medium format solution that I’m not scared to use anymore.
Next: Part 7 – 100+ Uncompressed DNG’s to download
If there’s anything else you’d like to know, please use the comments and I’ll do my best to help!
Nice review. From every review seems like an awesome camera. I have the K3, and it is an amazing APS-C camera.
Hi Chris. Excellent review and personal take on the system. I have been drooling over this system since august last year, but have been hesitant to make the move with the Canon 5DSr and the new Sony 50mp(supposedly) coming out. (I should say that I am currently a Canon shooter, and so having the lenses is of course an advantage) I am mainly a studio portraiture photographer so I run in to some very different issues with this camera. My main problem is that I need to shoot tethered in studio, and this is still not out for the Pentax. Same as Pentax Raw support for Capture One. Really hoping they fix this soon 🙂 thank you for your great review, best regards Alf
Hi Chris,
Thank you so much for this wonderful review of the Z. I am a hobbyist and am hoping to one day get a z. You’ve answered a ton of questions for me.
Sincerely,
Susan
Mr. Giles,
I have been following your wonderful portrait and wedding work with your Pentax 645z. Evidently one is able to pull tremendous detail from the shadows.
My question relates more to highlight recovery. Currently I am using Sony A7R and while the resolution is more than enough for my usual 13″ x 19″ prints, I often have difficulty obtaining definition from portraits of light skinned individuals even when well exposed at ISO 100. This is especially true for children’s portraits – pushing sliders in Lightroom can only go so far in regaining definition from an apparently washed out ghostly image. (I understand that this may be in part due to Sony’s 7+11 lossy approach to RAW files.)
I wonder if you have experience in this regard and if you find that Pentax files are more robust that that of the full frame devices and if they can tolerate heavier manipulation.
Again I than you in advance for your reply.
Emil
Hi Emil,
Yeah, Sony’s compression format is a bit sour and backwards considering just how much they’re throwing at camera development. I’ve been trying out the a7ii and while the files are great they are weak when pulled. The 645z is much better, in the highlight area you’ve got about a stop of recovery then it’s game over. Generally I expose for the shadow then push from base ISO. Or I just put the client somewhere else.
Touching on the sensor in the A7ii for a moment. Despite sharing the same Exmor base you can push the files in the 645z a clear two stops further. Highlight recovery is about the same though. Whether this remains the case with the new A7rii and it’s BSI sensor that’s something else. I am at a bit of a crossroads now in that the lack of dual card slots and amateur build qaulity in the A7 series is making me hold out to see what the A9 is like. The 7 series could almost be called a red herring distracting us from the Sony pro kit that’ll be with us soon.
Great review! This is a really lovely camera, designed with actual photographers in mind, and you really captured the look and feel of why it is so special. Gorgeous portraits! Btw, it does do tethered now, both hardwired and with the FLU card.
Hello Chris,
thank you for a wonderful and in depth review.
I do a lot of studio photography, often needing short flash durations/fast shutter speeds, and shooting tethered to laptop/desktop via firewire 800 into Capture One.
Have you ever used a reliable workaround for the tethered issue, and have you ever come across any leaf shutter lenses for the pentax?
I currently shoot on a Leaf AFi with a aptus 7II back – but I was very impressed w the 645z’s handling, speed of autofocus and file quality which makes location shooting a completely different prospect to my current set up.
The main things that are holding me back from completely changing my system to the 645z are the issues above.
If you have any comments re these issues, then please do let me know.
All the best- Spiros
Hi Chris
Really lovely work and great in depth review of the Pentax 645z.
I have Canon 5DIIIs and hired a 5DsR for the last weekend and to be honest it didn’t blow me away like I thought it was going to do, I have seen some files from the Pentax 645z and I was very impressed.
One thing holding me back for the investment is the 1/125th flash sync, as you have written a great review, I just wondered if you know of any leaf shutter lenses that are compatible with the Pentax 645z to increase the flash sync.
I still have a very hold Pentax 67 with an 80mm leaf shutter and used to use it at 1/500th when shooting film.
Very best wishes
Tom
I’ve been doing quite a bit of research, also a Canon shooter, and turns out there are great solutions if you want to go with this system. Check out Alex Munoz’s solution for tethering to Capture One Pro via a hot folder. It’s a fairly quick tethering solution, I prefer it over using Lightroom. Also amazing are the new Priolite MBX series which offer high speed sync for the Pentax 645 system. You can sync up to the cameras maximum shutter speed, which is much more flexible than a leaf shutter. The lights are battery operated monolights, so no cables at cords, very convenient. Trickle charge for a long day in studio.
Great article. I’m a canon 5d mk3 commercial/editorial shooter wanting to move up to medium format. My only hesitation is the how easy it is to use multiple portable lighting with my Canon 600-rt’s. Does Pentax have something equivalent?
Also, can you have the sd slots record at different resolutions? One raw and the other jpeg low res?
Thanks again!
Hi Dan, I sold the 645z in favour of the 5DSr so I can’t check for you, sorry.
Any blog entry or comments already written on this decision? I saw the great 5DSr review, though. Looking good. But so does the 645z. You don’t miss the MF look or tilt screen?
Looking very much forward to hearing more thoughts on your 5D IV experiences compared to the 5DSr and other cameras you’ve worked with. Currently choosing my own upgrade (or supplement) path for 5D III, looking at 5DSr and 5D IV, and flirting with MF (have a Hasselblad V-series system at hand, and considering a 36x48mm back for big sensor MF look).
Apologies Henrik, I’ve been so busy with other things I’ve not done the write up yet. Maybe that’s a good thing because I’ll have a better long term review.
I’ve finally managed to get on top of my workload after 8 years. Personaly photos which have stacked up and so on. I decided to give those priority for once haha.
But I would expect a review coming soon. It’s funny. I love the 5D4 but I also miss the 5DSr images but that could very well be down to not having a summer season with the 5D4 yet. So the comparisons are unfair.