It sure don't look to be MF in real film terms with a sensor that size...
Hi Paul,
We're in a new era. Cell phones are now the "point and shoot" cameras, fixed-lens cameras like the Ricoh GR and the Sony RX-1 are respected by serious Photographers more than ever and the DSLR in its present form is expensive and heavy for the real estate it offers. We get, in may uses, the matching or better function from mirrorless cameras. MF offers more real estate in the sensor plane but has been limited to well-healed professionals and jobs where low light work was nt needed. The new Pentax 645Z is poised to change all that.
To the term Medium format or MF: I think, just like the word,
"photography", writing with light, applied to recording on silica, the term,
"MF" applies to the
system of lenses, (giving certain focus plane characteristics) and a sensor, (approaching 60 X 64.5mm, 60x60 or 60 x 70mm), having more real estate to receive whatever lines/mm the lens system might project. An extra $2,000 over the already expensive Canon 1DX or Nikon D4 professional bodies gets one into a remarkably competent camera with more real estate in the image plane. So enthusiasts might go for the Pentax 645Z and many wedding professionals might join, as it gives an edge over DSLR equipped competitors.
Of course, the sensor plane of the MF lenses is incomplete in all but the most costly, so-called, "MF" digital cameras. That is likely to be a temporary limit. No doubt, Sony or Dalsa will produce a larger sensor at economical pricing and so these MF cameras will realize even greater real estate and therefore consequent potential to be printed with great detail and marvelous tonalities intact, even at large print sizes.
Still, this is an historical forward movement, a major change in the professional landscape. Right now, classical leaders in "MF" digital cameras have the advantage of higher shutter speed in leaf shutters for daylight outdoor strobe use in weddings and fashion shoots. The Pentax is limited to 1/160 sec, I believe.
Also there are major workflow advantages to the array of lenses for which Hasselblad has built in lens corrections for illumination, distortion and CA.
For a lens-equipped professional, their current 40-50 MP MF backs will serve them well for some time. Going to Pentax, will be for the few wanting, increased ISO sensitivity, more focus point selection, the screen at the back or some other personal preference. Where someone thinks s/he "needs" 65-80 MP, again the Phase one, Leaf and Hasselblad sales are not threatened. So, for a while, Phase One and Hasselblad will survive.
However, it's obvious, that sooner or later, (I think by 2017), we'll see 60mm x 645 mm MF, (well, Nicolas, not quite that just then, but at least 60 x45 mm), in Pentax bodies
What's also possible with the price of sensors for "MF" dropping, to allow "MF" cameras to be built economically by anyone like Olympus and Sony, (leveraging on the more advanced electronic systems for focus and/stabilization already used in their current line up of cameras) - not a lot of research/retooling needed! Or, perhaps, 3rd party lens MFRS may seek to penetrate this newly expanded market.
Thus begins a new era.........even if red blobs or leaks are discovered over the next few weeks!
Asher