Why I bought the Pentax 645D in 2024

[@SummersSnaps]

I picked up a 645D in 2021 I think. I loved it for the couple of years I had it (sold it last year). I'll never forget the first time I pulled a RAW file into LR, I was stunned at how vibrant and rich the colours and tonality presented. I thought I must be looking at a rendered Jpg, but nope this was the 'flat dull' RAW! At the time I shot the K-1 and KP so I really was very used to Pentax RAW files, but this 645D CCD was a different beast entirely! Great camera, I'm sure you'll love it. I have made a few posts about the camera in my blog on my site, and a highlight last year when one of my 645D images chosen for readframes. It's a good time to pick up Pentax stuff for sure, there's a dip currently, many struggling to get rid of Pentax gear.

[@ColtonMatocha]

Yes, my thought exactly when I pulled one into Lightroom for the first time! Such an amazing image to start with and very enjoyable to work with so far! It gives me a familiar feeling to the Olympus cameras that also have Kodak sensors. Maybe Kodak did a good job guiding manufacturers color science when they opted to include a Kodak sensor. What was the reason you sold yours?

[@SummersSnaps]

@@ColtonMatocha Mainly to raise funds for other kit needs. I'm a working orchestra tog, I shoot with the Fuji XH2S for the affordable stacked sensor as its really important for that kind of work. When I shot with the Pentax it was more for 'me', a bit of a hobby camera, but I knew my schedule for the next few years would see me shoot less for myself and more for others. Such is life!

[@ColtonMatocha]

@@SummersSnaps absolutely. It's definitely a camera for very specific slower work, so I can totally understand!

[@thissidetowardscreen4553]

I been a Pentaxian since I picked up a K10D! Never dove into medium format, but see the appeal! Those Kodak sensors are beautiful, Congratulations and look forward to seeing more, Thanks Colton for sharing!

[@ColtonMatocha]

This is my very first Pentax camera and so far I'm in love! I've heard they might do another Pentax medium format camera on this same mount in the next year or two. Will be interesting to see!

[@xmeda]

@@ColtonMatocha No, whole Pentax 645 line is dead. Recently almost all remaining lenses were discontinued, rest is being sold from stock. Last product was introduced in 2016. Ricoh has serious issues with even keeping some APS-C development running thanks to completely failed FF project that sucked R&D resources for long years. All they achieved is dead Q system, dead 645 system, laughable FF DSLR system with very limited lens support and severely neglected APS-C line, where they lost most customers and of course all third party lens support. It will be interesting to see if they even survive and be able to at least prepare some replacement for K3III and K70/KF cameras. They are talking about possible K1 replacement, but that will be final suicide.

[@andremunro8840]

The K10D is a gem as well for its age!

[@thedarkslide]

You could ditch your Mamiya setup and get the film Pentax 645n and share lenses with your digital Pentax 645.

[@ColtonMatocha]

This is actually not a bad idea at all. I haven't looked into it, but one thing I might miss is the ability to swap backs and shoot multiple types of film without having to complete the roll first. However, the benefit of a single system with shared lens is highly tempting! I can't rule it out just yet! 😄

[@thedarkslide]

@@ColtonMatochaIt's only 15 shots. ;)

[@ColtonMatocha]

@@thedarkslide hahaha. 15 expensive shots 🤣

[@danilomartinez8937]

Just did something similar. But I went with the mamiya645d and an older phase one back. I got an amazing deal on a mamiya lens a couple of years ago, and finally decided to get the full set up. I also picked up a Schneider 80mm. It’s a big investment especially given the price but I am beyond happy with the quality,the color, the detail, etc. even with the teething problems.

[@ColtonMatocha]

I always wished I could find a way to rig up a digital back on my Mamiya645 Pro but alas, it isn't possible. That PhaseOne equipment is good stuff! Do you also use a film back with it? Or strictly digital?

[@coloradocj243]

You're going to love it. My 645D is my favorite camera. Nothing beats a CCD sensor for color pop and that micro contrast.

[@ColtonMatocha]

I'm blown away each time I review photos! What do you tend to shoot most?

[@fthprodphoto-video5357]

For me the closest “digital film cameras” are the Nikons 10MP CCD DSLR cameras combined with excellent primes or the Sigma 18-35mm, shot at 100-400 iso max + the Sigma Quattro H combined with Sigma Art primes. I always dreamed of trying the Pentax 645D one day. I own a few 67 Pentax film lenses and I think there is an adapter that works with them !

[@ColtonMatocha]

Yeah I've heard there is an adapter to use the 67 lens on the 645D. I'd be so curious to try that configuration on a Cambo or some technical camera setup!

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

It's a big camera according to most 'stills' shooters, but from personal experience with SLR's, Camcorders, DSLRs and Cine Cameras, the 645D has great ergonomics, amazing balance, and enough heft to give it the inertia to help keep it stable when gripped properly. Colours are fantastic, and the CCD (just like it's baby brother the IstD) has something special about it that are really fantastic for doing Nature and Portrait work.

[@ColtonMatocha]

@@PiDsPagePrototypes I agree completely! The ergonomics are wonderful and the extra heft helps to stabilize the camera! This camera actually performed way better than an A7R 4 that I used for a shoot. Much cleaner images and better sharpness in the corners

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

@@ColtonMatocha Look closer at my icon,... yeah, I have two of those,.. and six other Pentax's. The model in my icon, is the only Pentax to ever have bad ergonomics, but it was "designed" by Marc Newson, and not by a Pentax engineer. And speaking of the engineers, thoughts on the new "17" model? There should be a range finder coming, as well as the new SLR, thanks to the old engineers coming back in and teaching the current ones how to build Film bodies.

[@845a]

Hot take: Pentax 645 series is by far the best digital medium format camera :)

[@ColtonMatocha]

@@845a This is the only digital medium format that I've tried, but I've certainly been very impressed!

[@Globetrotter-1]

​@@ColtonMatochaThe Nikon D800 actually produces almost identical quality images to the Pentax 645D. The same can be said about the D810 and D850.

[@Biosynchro]

@@Globetrotter-1At least partly true, as far as what I have seen (Pentax stupidly delayed the 645D, launching it not long before Nikon released the D800). The Leica S2 does even better.

[@rugglez]

It will be interesting to see in a couple of years if the Fuji digital MF cameras might be a better option when they start to get more common on the 2nd hand market.

[@ColtonMatocha]

Yeah to be honest, I'm very excited at the prospect of the GFX used market growing in the coming years. If the prices on the 50s and 50s II go down 500-1000 dollars then its going to be almost a no brainer. The only caveat being that the cost per lens is still significantly higher than most of the current options for Pentax.

[@xmeda]

Pentax 645 line is dead, so there is no question which system will be more common.

[@rugglez]

Can't wait to see your video on the pluses and minuses of using the 645d.

[@ColtonMatocha]

I'm looking forward to putting it out! I'll have one on my initial thoughts and then a more in-depth review sometime after!

[@irenedp4947]

In 2020 I bought a Leica M9P and in 21 an S2. Reasons, the Kodak CCD sensor.

[@ColtonMatocha]

Those are some great cameras! Hard to beat that Leica glass!

[@davidbookman4132]

Nicely done video and explanation regarding your choice of camera. Lots of discussions on the net regarding the 645D CCD sensor and the 645Z sensor. No question that when making poster size prints with the 645D the images are amazing. The one thing I learned the hard way...sometimes the sensor develops a defect...a very fine red vertical line (some explain it is due to a separation in the joining of the 2 sensor halves). It can be corrected in the camera settings by correcting the defective pixels, but this can only be done if your firmware has been updated to the newest one. Enjoy the camera and let me know when you get the itch for the 645Z!

[@ColtonMatocha]

Thank you for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Yeah it can also develop small lines when a pixel dies. The dead pixel causes a row of pixels to become unresponsive because of how this CCD sensor works. To your point though, pixel mapping will resolve the issue.

[@aphscully4780]

get the small imacon, they usually go for $2k - arguably better than a noritsu or whatever your lab is scanning with. just a suggestion!

[@ColtonMatocha]

Thank you for the suggestion! I always love when folks share good info!

[@alertsquirrel]

Welcome to the Pentax 645 world! Did you check out the 645Z at all while you were looking? I know it has a different sensor, so it may have been out right away, but I absolutely love mine. Also, the whole damn lineup is a bunchnof tanks. I fell with my 645 (original film one). I had about 30lbs on my back and fell straight forward onto a bunch of rocks. I was holding it by the grip and it smashed into the rock with the lens, all that happened was that my filter ring bent slightly. That lens still works perfectly today, sharp as ever.

[@ColtonMatocha]

Thank you! Yes I did look into the Z as well, but I found the D at a crazy low price and was also very curious about the Kodak sensor so ended up going that route. I think the Z has quite a few quality of life improvements over the D, but I still find the D enjoyable to use! One day I'll have to find a Z and do a comparison!

[@achaycock]

I will be very intereested in this as I am a Pentax user as well as Olympus. I did look at the 645D with interest, but ultimately chose the K-1. I adore that camera, but another user here describes the RAW files being much more colourful than their K-1. If that is the case, I am intrigued.

[@ColtonMatocha]

Oh yeah that is interesting! I do find them pleasing like my Olympus images are. There is a lot of punch in them! I bet he'd give you more detail if you ask him! But I'll also keep that in mind as I test out this camera further!

[@Localtraveler2376]

What lenses did you get?

[@ColtonMatocha]

I picked up the 45-85mm f/4.5 and the 120mm f/4 Macro. Both autofocus lens!

[@Localtraveler2376]

@@ColtonMatocha I have a regular Pentax 645. I’ve looked at getting the 645d but still a bit pricey for me. I’ll have to follow along to see how you like it. Funny I enjoy developing film at home instead of sending off, but the quality and f chemicals available just doesn’t seem as good lately.

[@silvernitratefilms]

What focal length were you on for those headshots? @@ColtonMatocha

[@ColtonMatocha]

@@silvernitratefilms Typically I opt for the 120mm! I also sometimes use 85mm depending on the circumstances. The 120mm doesn't have internal focusing though and that can sometimes be a little annoying. It's a beautiful image quality though!

[@Ivandotjpeg]

The Kodak KAF4000 sensor is pretty amazing but suprised you didn’t stick with a Mamiya 645AFd or phase one DF system where you could at least use your lenses… you can find 645df bodies for around $600 and phase one p30+ for around $900. Same sensor size but made by Dalsa. But the options! The upgradeability! Want full frame 645? You can find Phase One P65’s for around $2K (no crop factor)

[@ColtonMatocha]

Oh man I really wanted to stick with the Mamiya/PhaseOne setup. Or at the very least to grab a Hasselblad H4 or something along those lines. In the end though, it really came down to cost. If I had more money, I would have certainly gone that route. Especially since several of those cameras can shoot film and digital backs. That would have been the best. But the Pentax is still a great option, and certainly was the best price!

[@Ivandotjpeg]

It is! I used to use the 645n in a studio environment. The lenses at the time were limited to the FA system and older 645 lenses. I gotta say though, I bet you don’t have a dust problem. That has to be the biggest issue with digital backs. That, and external power if you need. I was in the same boat as you later in life and I went with an H2, P25,and HM1632 film back. Adorama gave me a killer deal. $350 body, $450 film back, $850 p25 (same price on the P30) and $450 80mm = totaled about $2100. The HC lenses are amazing, but the system uses the leaf shutters in the lenses so you have a max 1/800 top speed. The H1, H2, H4X, H5X all can support 3rd party backs. The 645D is a killer system. I e used all the recent mirrorless medium format cameras and can honestly Say shooting through a medium format SLR is a much more gratifying experience. Results will vary ;)

[@mambiproductions8960]

does Richo services this camera?

[@ColtonMatocha]

I'm not sure actually. I would be surprised if they did, but its possible.

[@mambiproductions8960]

@@ColtonMatocha So where you plan to fix it if something brake?s.

[@Jbzy3000]

I've seen a basic digital camera usedto scan/picture the negatives.

[@ColtonMatocha]

Yeah it could be cool to try it out with this one!

[@Pentagram666mar]

Sorry for disagreeing with you, but for same reasons like you i chose canon 5dsr this year, why it's even better than pentax? It has extreme 50 megapixel canceled antialiasing filter, it's so damn sharp and raws are so damn heavy that you can easily use film-like luts in lightroom for colours and still end up with even better quality image and lens choices are just vast. But yeah, i had this pentax in hand and it's lovely, but canon EF mount is just the best mount ever.

[@ColtonMatocha]

Disagreement is okay with me! That's part of the conversation! I agree the 5dsr is also a wonderful camera too! Those are nice because you can find them for a pretty decent price. That's a camera the professionals will use too! And a much more vast lens selection, although the lens are generally more expensive then the Pentax version. I'd say the 5dsr is a wonderful camera for the images I've seen!

[@Pentagram666mar]

@@ColtonMatocha but as always, the best camera is the one that makes you wanna shoot more :)

[@ColtonMatocha]

@@Pentagram666mar Yes I totally agree! Camera's these days are all so good, it's difficult to find a truly bad one haha. I guess it boils down to each person's interests and what works for them. What lens is your favorite on the 5dsr?

[@Pentagram666mar]

@@ColtonMatocha i do mostly landscapes with HDR in lightroom, panoramic etc, that's why sharpness is main reason why I buy the lens. So currently i shoot with Samyang 20mm f/1.8 and Sigma art 50mm f/1.4. But sometimes i go straight opposite- 58mm Helios 44-2 or old canon 70-210mm f/3.5-4.5 when I just want all these quirky optical effects :) basically this is my back pack

[@ColtonMatocha]

@@Pentagram666mar those are some good options! I shoot a lot of macro and tighter shots so I tend to go more telephoto on mine, but I always keep a good wide lens around just in case!

[@luzr6613]

This whole thing's a tease - you're introducing me to a whole new realm of 'Patience'. Even the T-shirt... is that a 'Kodak' T-shirt? Damn it. I'm impressed there was a thought process behind buying the Pentax - for me it would have been pure impulse. Notwithstanding the images, the whole 'user experience' thing will be really interesting - and i really hope i'll be seeing it outdoors and handheld at some stage. I wonder if you have a bit of this thing that i have with a 'new' camera - that thing where you just sit and stare at it and wonder 'Who are you and what can you do?" Enjoying this gradual unveiling, Colton - have a great day.

[@ColtonMatocha]

Don't worry! It will only be 145 Pentax videos before we get to the "good part" 🤣 and yes that is a Kodak shirt but tbh it fits like crap lol. I'm definitely planning to do some hand-held outdoor images, but the weather the last few weeks has been absolute garbage. In the meantime, loads and loads of new candy shots and I am getting one too many sugar highs 😄 I'm very curious about pushing the limit with this camera. We'll see where the cracks are! Hope you have an excellent day and are safe while you photograph that toxic gas!

[@luzr6613]

@@ColtonMatocha No toxic gas for a while - i only do that work for a few months a year. Raining here... don't know what i'll shoot today... maybe hope to get some breaks in the cloud so i can rush into the forest where you get amazing shafts of light just illuminating fragments and plenty of water droplets to brighten up the bokeh. Yum. Might spend some time online chasing down a Kodak T-shirt as well 🤔. And as for you making 145 Pentax vids... i'm good with that - i'll be watching them all before i buy one and should therefore have time to get my next planned camera purchase in before you're done. Appreciate your dedication! Cheers.

[@ColtonMatocha]

@@luzr6613 I believe I got the Kodak shirt, along with a Mamiya hat on etsy. Definitely not made or sold by the brand but some random seller on etsy. No idea if they have a license to sell that kind of merch and honestly don't care either way! Hahaha

[@ИмранАкболатов]

Love your videos ❤

[@ColtonMatocha]

Thank you! I try to put out good stuff so I always appreciate hearing that!

[@johna1475]

I love my 645 Nii i'd love to get the 645D over the Z as its ccd sensor which rocks i also shoot a lot of Mamiya cameras too great content Colten

[@ColtonMatocha]

Thank you John! It's been a nice little camera!

[@jessmale971]

Have you tried the Pentax 645NII or 645N compared to the Mamiya 645? I started with the Mamiya 645 until I found the Pentax 645N the brightness of the OVF and the ability to get one more film frame, plus the camera info imprint option won me over. I will never get rid of my Pentax 645N. The film size compared to the digital is still massive. Plus all of Pentax wonderful AF lenses. Thanks for making the video. Still gives me hope they might update the Pentax 645z. I would love to see an updated version.

[@ColtonMatocha]

I did consider the possibility that if I switched from the Mamiya 645 Pro to the Pentax 645N or NII I'd be able to share lens between the two cameras. However, the one thing that stopped me from doing that is the fact the the Mamiya can switch film backs which allows me to shoot multiple film stocks at the same time and that is a feature I use frequently. So I'm probably locked in on the Mamiya for film. Plus I already own it and any lens I would care to use with it anyway. But a great camera nonetheless!

[@gabesphoto]

Actually a great find...Congrats...!!!

[@ColtonMatocha]

Thank you! I've been so stoked about it and the image quality is amazing!

[@dan.allen.digital]

Slap a macro lens on that 645D and you have a 40mp film scanner.

[@ColtonMatocha]

Yeah it's funny because I didn't even think about that, but another viewer just mentioned it too! That could be a big game changer that could help "pay this off" in a way!

[@wildbill9919]

How is image quality at ISO 6400?

[@ColtonMatocha]

This bad boy tops out at 1600 actually. Image quality at 1600 is better than one would expect, but not something I would be eager to use if not needed.

[@PinebrookPictures]

You should scan your medium format film with your 645D!

[@ColtonMatocha]

That's actually something I would like to try! Do a scan from my favorite film lab, one from the 645D, and one from my Canoscan 9000f II. Would be a fun comparison if nothing else!

[@PinebrookPictures]

@@ColtonMatocha great idea! I think the ccd sensor might be interesting to scan film.

[@ColtonMatocha]

@@PinebrookPictures yeah, based on what I've seen so far the color science on this camera could be a strength here.

[@xmeda]

@@ColtonMatocha Canoscan 9000 is flatbed for reflective sources, not negative scanner. It can do that, but with horrible results. You need proper film scanner. Minolta, Plustek.. Shooting negatives with digital camera is also possible, but you need hi-res macro lens, proper holder, planar light source, shoot in raw, then reverse the tone curve to get positive image. 645D is not a good choice for this, because it has no live-view for fine manual focusing.

[@sklba632]

From the future: Film prices have not gone down. Lol. I totally feel buying this camera in 2024.

[@ColtonMatocha]

Hahaha thank you. It's been a great experience so far

[@PsychedelicChameleon]

Great Find!

[@ColtonMatocha]

Thank you! I was stoked!

[@dadautube]

there are certain drawbacks with the Pentax 645D camera; namely, its bulk and weight and lack of AF etc ... but, for me at least, the image quality of this beautiful camera's Kodak CCD sensor is unbeatable! i don't like any other MF DSLR/ML etc, not even that of the 645Z ... pity it's no longer made ...

[@ColtonMatocha]

The biggest drawback for me has been with the speed it takes to save a RAW file. Not a deal breaker at all, but certainly slows the workflow a bit. Well worth it for the IQ, especially out of the 120mm lens! What do you mostly shoot with your 645D?

[@dadautube]

@@ColtonMatocha some 'slow' digital cameras are well worth the wait for saving images because of the IQ, which you mentioned already ... (another example: Sigma cameras with their Foveon sensors ...) i don't own a 645D, yet, but have seen and examined its image samples closely by downloading and working on them in my computer since the day it came out ... 🙂

[@sigmundklaus]

whenever I look, getting a used Fujifilm GFX 50S is always cheaper on ebay than this 10+ years old camera. Hell, I bought my GFX 50Sii brand new on sale cheaper than these old Pentaxes go for.

[@ColtonMatocha]

That hasn't been my experience. I got this camera for $1050 whereas the cheapest gfx I've seen has been 1800. Where the price really differs is in lens cost. The Pentax lens are significantly cheaper than the GFX. I'm a fan of the GFX line, but I have to disagree about the price being cheaper than a 645D.

[@sigmundklaus]

@@ColtonMatocha you are right sir. I just looked into prices in the US and there the 645D is cheaper. Not so in Europe... Strange :) Maybe there were more Pnetax 645s sodd in the US....

[@erichstocker8358]

Actually lab scans are often pretty terrible. The exception would be if you were having a drum scan done. Then you the lab would definitely be superior. I have found that scans I do at home are superior to any that I have ever received from the labs that I use (scan vary a great deal by lab and the expertise of the person carrying out the scan). Again lab drum scans are the exception.

[@ColtonMatocha]

I guess the lab I use is one of the better ones then. I also live in an area with a number of local labs to choose from which is certainly not the case for everyone.

[@blisteringbooks2428]

Went off Kodak after I was screwed over to the tone of £25K in 1998!

[@ColtonMatocha]

Oof. I'm sorry to hear that man. That sucks!

[@jimpurcell]

I love mine!!!

[@ColtonMatocha]

Yes! 🤠

[@Michael-fw5ef]

More pictures please.

[@ColtonMatocha]

I have a photowalk video I did with this camera as well! Lots of good pictures there. Also, most my recent instagram stuff!

[@michaelharmon7162]

Should have gone with the 645 Z it’s a better buy.

[@63MacGuy]

It looks like the 645D is now $1500-$2000😢 for the body

[@ColtonMatocha]

It's always been about that price. I just kept checking on it literally all year until one popped up at a good price. I was dedicated 🤣 but mine also came from a sketchy seller rather than a more legit seller.

[@alanbell2156]

Save your pennies and buy a GFX100 II

[@ColtonMatocha]

They'll be saving pennies for a long time

[@alanbell2156]

@@ColtonMatocha that is true.

[@sammorganmoore]

man realises film is annoying. big news. next you will realise bad af is annoying and buy an r8

[@monty125874693]

Seethe

[@ColtonMatocha]

I don't find film to be annoying and I still shoot it frequently. It's nice to have other options alongside film though.

[@sammorganmoore]

@@ColtonMatocha at 0.48 you start a diatribe about the annoyances of film do you not? By 2.29 you are still moaning about film ? Maybe annoyance is the wrong word :)

[@Amphibax]

​@@sammorganmoorefilm is expensive didn't hear much about annoyence

[@sammorganmoore]

@@Amphibax maybe im jumping to conclusions.. when I have to pay a lot for stuff I usually find it annoying. the tuber spends 1/3 of the vid dissing his film experience. i shot film for 15 years. Digital was a breath of fresh air creatively and less fumes in the dark room. wonderful. Imagine doing sport with 36 clicks -(less cause we'd do a shirt number after a decent frame) it was hard.