> From: "P. J. Alling" <webstertwenty...@gmail.com> > > DxOMark gives sensor in the D800E with an overall rating of 96 for > quality, and the Pentax 645D an 82. The Nikon has an effective EV range > of over 14 stops the Pentax about 12. The Nikon has a 36.3mp sensor > with linear values of 7360x4912, which gives a 300dpi print size without > undue manipulation of 24 1/2" x 16 1/3". The 645D has a 40mp sensor > with linear values of 7264x5440, which gives a 300dpi print size of > roughly 24 1/5" x 18 1/10". Now the actual sensor size of the Nikon is > 35.9mm x 24mm, and the Pentax is 44mm x 33mm so given that both > manufactures decided to give 100% viewfinder coverage with say 90% > magnification the Pentax would win out, but since neither manufacture > decided to do that and I haven't actually been able to look through > either finder, but only go by written specifications* I can't say which > finder is better, at the cost differential, if I needed the resolution, > I'd have to buy the Nikon. Especially as I'm starting from zero with > both systems. > > Based on this it's evident that Pentax must upgrade the 645D to stay > competitive, but that said the same is true of any maker of medium > format backs for existing systems. The only advantage Pentax has here > is that the whole 645D camera body usually costs less than a back for > another system. Pentax's other disadvantages are it's lack of lenses, > only two currently in production, and the fact that it was designed to > medium format requirements, where as the Nikon is a general purpose > camera, designed to near sports photography requirements, that delivers > medium format image quality. > > *Based on those specifications of 100% coverage with 70% magnification > for the Nikon and 95% coverage and 65% magnification for the Pentax, I'd > say it's a wash anyway, once again given that I've never actually been > able to look through either.
The price difference is roughly $5700 ($6000 if the non-E D800). One could have 2 D800's and almost $2800 left over for lenses or 1 D800 and $5800 left over for lenses, or a new computer to process the images, or photography vehicle, or X months mortgage payments. Not, to beat 'a dead horse until it's nothing but a smoking crater where a greasy spot used to be', as Larry so eloquently put it. By the time the 645D was released many medium format shooters were already moving from film to high-end Canon 24x36 DSLR's. It just wasn't/isn't Pentax medium format that's feeling the pressure, it's medium format in general. Tom C. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
