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In the interview made in 2008, Pentax said that they would launch a 645D for professional use first and that, if it is successful, then one more affordable version for amateurs might be also launched.
In the interview made in Dec. last year, it seems the priority has been reversed. That is, the first 645D is developed with amateurs in mind.
Here is the excerpts from the interview. The words in parenthesis are my additions. Source: dcwatch
yoshi
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# 645D at affordable price for amateurs
I (interviewer): You did not launch 645D this year (2009) which is a long-time pending issue. Can we expect it next year?
A: It's in the process of intensive development at the moment. I can not give you a definite time schedule but we plant to launch it next year.
As I told you before, the MF dSLR camera has higher priority at Pentax than 135 type of FF cameras.
Other brands have already introduced various models of 135 type of FF cameras, so even if we do it right now, it will be hard to add something unique to Penax.
Then, we are of the opinion that we should proceed MF instead.
Of course, it is necessary to develope exclusive lenses for 645D as we do not have those at the moment.
It is same for us (as the case of 135 type FF) therefore we do need to newly develope lenses that are exclusively developed (for the sensor size).
We want to bring a revolution in IQ in MF segment rather than to be a follower (in so-called FF segment).
I: We have Photokina next year. Can we expect to have a look at the real model at that moment?
Also, doesn't the R&D of 645D affect the other R&D of the current two-model lineup ( of APS-C modles)?
A: We will be able to show it at Photokina, yes. We do R&D of (the successors to ) the two main stream models (of APS-C) as have been planned, while developing 645D in pararell.
The R&D of 645D does not affect the schedule of R&D of the successors.
I: You say you will revolutionize IQ in MF market. Until now, the existing MF digital models all have flaws as far as sensor performances or NR (noise reduction) are concerned.
There are leapfrog progress in technology trends before and after the moment you freezed the R&D (of 645D two years ago).
Have you just resumed developing what you already had before you freezed it, or have you started it from scratch?
A: The sensor and the body design have been started from scratch. I would rather say that (R&D of ) almost all componet parts have been newly started from scratch.
Of course, if there are component parts that can be diverted into the new R&D, we do it. However, the external appearance of the body design as well as the sensor are being newly developed.
At a glance, it might not give you an impression that it is quite different from the previous prototype of 645D but the designs have been more refined
and the materials to be used for the new one are selected carefully to create a feeling of high build-quality.
I: What 's the positioning (of the 645D)?
A: In principle, the target clients are amateurs. We have in mind that the 645D, which has the specs that satisfy the quality/needs of studio uses, is brought out to the outdoors and used in the field.
At the moment, it is not sure if the 645D will be used at studios but we believe that there will be more users among field photographers who want to use a MF camera, if the MF camera has this sort of specs and features.
The basic development concept is same as that of K-7 and those people are the target users.
I: About the price. Will it be affordable to those amateur photographers?
A: We cannot disclose the detailed features, but as far as the price is concerned, it won't be a price level that amateurs can not afford.
We are also developing a few lenses exclusive for the digital MF and those lenses can be purchased by them together with the body at the (estimated) price level.
I: There are expectations that the MF sensor might have the SR (shake reduction) feature when we take into account those features of K-7 such as approx. 100% sight of view finder or subtle adjutment of composition.
If the MF can be used without using a tripod, then it must be a very unique MF, I suppose...?
A: No comment about it. I can not tell you about specifications. I can only say that as far as the IQ is concerned, we are developing it with the strong conviction that IQ must be better than 135 type FF cameras.
As you pointed out, it is true that MF digital cameras with a larger sensor have some problems in some aspects fo IQ. But I would also liket to say that a larger sensor has a wider dynamic range.
This can not be realized by a small sensor. We will utilize those potentialities of a larger sensor and 645D will be a MF camera that take full advantage of them.
*********
In the interview made in Dec. last year, it seems the priority has been reversed. That is, the first 645D is developed with amateurs in mind.
Here is the excerpts from the interview. The words in parenthesis are my additions. Source: dcwatch
yoshi
********
# 645D at affordable price for amateurs
I (interviewer): You did not launch 645D this year (2009) which is a long-time pending issue. Can we expect it next year?
A: It's in the process of intensive development at the moment. I can not give you a definite time schedule but we plant to launch it next year.
As I told you before, the MF dSLR camera has higher priority at Pentax than 135 type of FF cameras.
Other brands have already introduced various models of 135 type of FF cameras, so even if we do it right now, it will be hard to add something unique to Penax.
Then, we are of the opinion that we should proceed MF instead.
Of course, it is necessary to develope exclusive lenses for 645D as we do not have those at the moment.
It is same for us (as the case of 135 type FF) therefore we do need to newly develope lenses that are exclusively developed (for the sensor size).
We want to bring a revolution in IQ in MF segment rather than to be a follower (in so-called FF segment).
I: We have Photokina next year. Can we expect to have a look at the real model at that moment?
Also, doesn't the R&D of 645D affect the other R&D of the current two-model lineup ( of APS-C modles)?
A: We will be able to show it at Photokina, yes. We do R&D of (the successors to ) the two main stream models (of APS-C) as have been planned, while developing 645D in pararell.
The R&D of 645D does not affect the schedule of R&D of the successors.
I: You say you will revolutionize IQ in MF market. Until now, the existing MF digital models all have flaws as far as sensor performances or NR (noise reduction) are concerned.
There are leapfrog progress in technology trends before and after the moment you freezed the R&D (of 645D two years ago).
Have you just resumed developing what you already had before you freezed it, or have you started it from scratch?
A: The sensor and the body design have been started from scratch. I would rather say that (R&D of ) almost all componet parts have been newly started from scratch.
Of course, if there are component parts that can be diverted into the new R&D, we do it. However, the external appearance of the body design as well as the sensor are being newly developed.
At a glance, it might not give you an impression that it is quite different from the previous prototype of 645D but the designs have been more refined
and the materials to be used for the new one are selected carefully to create a feeling of high build-quality.
I: What 's the positioning (of the 645D)?
A: In principle, the target clients are amateurs. We have in mind that the 645D, which has the specs that satisfy the quality/needs of studio uses, is brought out to the outdoors and used in the field.
At the moment, it is not sure if the 645D will be used at studios but we believe that there will be more users among field photographers who want to use a MF camera, if the MF camera has this sort of specs and features.
The basic development concept is same as that of K-7 and those people are the target users.
I: About the price. Will it be affordable to those amateur photographers?
A: We cannot disclose the detailed features, but as far as the price is concerned, it won't be a price level that amateurs can not afford.
We are also developing a few lenses exclusive for the digital MF and those lenses can be purchased by them together with the body at the (estimated) price level.
I: There are expectations that the MF sensor might have the SR (shake reduction) feature when we take into account those features of K-7 such as approx. 100% sight of view finder or subtle adjutment of composition.
If the MF can be used without using a tripod, then it must be a very unique MF, I suppose...?
A: No comment about it. I can not tell you about specifications. I can only say that as far as the IQ is concerned, we are developing it with the strong conviction that IQ must be better than 135 type FF cameras.
As you pointed out, it is true that MF digital cameras with a larger sensor have some problems in some aspects fo IQ. But I would also liket to say that a larger sensor has a wider dynamic range.
This can not be realized by a small sensor. We will utilize those potentialities of a larger sensor and 645D will be a MF camera that take full advantage of them.
*********
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