Pentax 645Z ( Image from Ricoh / Pentax ) 

The Pentax 645Z digital medium format camera will be available for purchase at the end of June 2014. It’s predecessor, the Pentax 645D, went on sale in June 2010  for 848,000 yen. You can pre-order the  645Z at B&H for $8,496.95  or from Amazon Japan for ￥777,110.

The 645Z uses a 51.4MP Sony CMOS sensor unlike the 40MP Kodak CCD sensor in the 645D. The sensor remains the same size at 43.8mm x 32.8mm, this means it is a crop 645 sensor.

The sensor is the same one used in the 50 megapixel Hasselblad H5D-50C camera ($29,000) and Phase One IQ250 digital back ($37,000). At around $8,500 dollars, the 645Z is a third the price of it’s MF digital competitors.

The use of a CMOS sensor allows the 645Z to offer live view, a video mode, and a higher ISO range.

The PRIME III image processor is significantly faster than in the 645D. The camera can now shoot at 3 fs rather than 1 fs in the 645D and instant reviews will be quicker.

The autofocus system and metering systems have also been improved.

The body remains rugged and weather-sealed. The main change is the introduction of a high resolution tiltable LCD monitor.

The body can use any of Pentax’s 645 mount lenses including the new 25, 55, and 90mm lenses, along with all their legacy lenses ranging from 35 through to 400mm. You can also use lenses from the Pentax 67 system with a 67 to 645 adapter.