Medium Format Camera — Picture Soup

Mamiya Announces $1,000 Trade-in Program for RZ33

July 8, 2010 By PictureSoup Leave a Comment

Mamiya (www.mamiya.com) today announced a new trade-in program designed to make its new Mamiya RZ33 digital camera kit more affordable. Owners of Mamiya RB67 and RZ67 film-based camera systems can trade-in their older camera body for the RZ33, and get a credit of $1,000 towards the purchase of the new digital camera kit. The trade-in program is running through September 30, 2010. Note, Mamiya says there is a limit of one trade-in per RZ33 purchased.

For more information about the Mamiya RZ33 digital camera kit, click here.

— D.B.

Filed Under Gear - New Product Announcements Tagged With Mamiya RB67, Mamiya RZ33, Mamiya RZ67, medium format camera

Pentax medium format digital camera is now a reality

March 11, 2010 By PictureSoup 3 Comments

The Pentax 645D, just announced, is a 40MP medium format digital camera. Pentax had long been in the medium format film business, but this is the first medium format digital for the company.

For years, photographers, journalists and rumor mills have been mulling over whether Pentax would be reentering the world of medium format cameras with their first digital model. Well, debate no longer, because Pentax has joined the digital medium format game. Yesterday, Hoya Corp. Pentax Imaging Systems announced the Pentax 645D, a 40MP medium format digital camera.

The camera will be utilizing a 40MP CCD sensor with a physical size of 44mm x 33mm, and no low-pass filter. The camera will be compatible with the majority of existing smc PENTAX 645 interchangeable lenses. Processing of images will be done by Pentax’s proprietary Prime (Pentax Real Image Engine) II.

The camera was designed to be durable, a feature seen in many of the Pentax 35mm DSLRs. The 645D is made with a main frame created out of magnesium-steel alloy with a diecast aluminum chassis; the two LCD panels, (one on the back panel, one on the camera’s top) are covered with tempered glass plates for extra protection. The camera’s 70 seals will keep dust and other nasties out. A newly designed shutter is said to withstand as many as 50,000 shutter releases. On the inside, the camera will utilize the Pentax DR (Dust Removal) II mechanism to keep dust off the image sensor.

Other features of the camera include the ability to shoot RAW (PEF/DNG), JPG, and RAW + JPG, (for a 40 megabyte 14-bit RAW file size); a newly designed 11 point Safox IX+ wide-frame AF sensor, 77-segment multi-pattern metering system, dual SD/SDHC memory card slots, ISO range of 200 – 1000 expandable to 100 – 1600, TTL, exposure compensation +/- 5 f/stops, shutter speeds from 1/4000 of a sec. to 30 seconds plus bulb, self timer, interval, multiple exposure and other modes, custom image function, HDR functionality, dynamic range expansion, digital level, automatic compensation of distortion and lateral chromatic aberration with the D FA 645- and FA 645- series lenses, copyright credit attachment on image files, compatabiltiy with the SDM (Supersonic Direct-drive Motor) autofocus mechanism inside SDM lenses, and much more.

The camera features a 3-inch LCD and HDMI terminal. PENTAX Digital Camera Utility 4 software package will come with the camera. To see the full press release, go to www.pentax.jp/english/news/2010/201008.html.

We can’t wait to get our hands on this baby, however at this time, there are no plans to bring the camera to the U.S.

—Diane Berkenfeld

Filed Under Gear - New Product Announcements Tagged With Diane Berkenfeld, Hoya Corporation, medium format camera, pentax 645 smc lenses, Pentax Imaging Company, Pentax PRIME II processing engine, professional photography

Fuji launches film-based medium format folding camera

February 3, 2010 By PictureSoup 1 Comment

Fujifilm announced yesterday that it will launch the GF670, a professional medium format folding camera in the U.S. at PMA 2010 later this month; with product expected to ship in Q2. For photographers who still love shooting film, this is good news. The GF670 will take 120 and 220 roll film, allowing photographers to shoot either 6×6 or 6×7.

The camera features a Fujinon EBC 80mm lens, coupled rangefinder, exposure compensator, and aperture-priority automatic and manual exposure modes. Other features include a hot shoe, PC sync connection socket, electronic Leaf shutter with shutter speeds ranging from 4 seconds to 1/500 of a second including Bulb. Because the camera uses a Leaf shutter, flash sync is available at all shutter speeds.

According to the website Camerapedia.org, the camera was produced through a partnership between Cosina/Voightlander and Fujifilm—the Fujifilm version is the GF670 and the Voightlander version is the Bessa III. The cameras were first shown as prototypes at various tradeshows during 2008.

Pictured above is the Voightlander Bessa III, an almost identical sibling to the Fujifilm GF670. Images of the Fuji model were not available as of press time.

“Even as we continue to see advances in pro digital cameras, many photographers still have a passion for the art of traditional film photography and Fujifilm is committed to providing solutions that foster that creativity,” said Kayce Baker, director of trade marketing, Imaging Division, Fujifilm North America Corp. She added: “There is a segment of studio, portrait, and landscape photographers who find that medium format film is the perfect solution for their businesses because of the unique look that film offers.”

For more information, go to www.fujifilmusa.com.

We can’t wait to try it out and will bring a full review of the GF670 to Picture-soup.com in the future.

— D.B.