PENTAX 645D “Camera of The Year” at Camera GP Japan 2011 Awards

[calsan]

HOYA CORPORATION PENTAX Imaging Systems Division is pleased to announce that the PENTAX 645D medium-format digital SLR camera, first launched in June 2010, was selected as Camera of The Year at Camera GP Japan 2011 Awards. The winning camera features exceptional reliability and superb operability, along with remarkable, super-fine image quality assured by approximately 40 effective megapixels.

The Camera Grand Prix Awards is held annually under the sponsorship of the Camera Journal Press Club (CJPC), a group of photography writers from the top 11 photo and camera magazines in Japan. This is one of the most prestigious camera awards in the country, representing the CJPC’s selection of the most distinguished still cameras introduced to the Japanese market during the year. In addition to Camera of The Year, the group also selected winners in three different categories: the Readers Award, with voting by magazine readers; the Editors Award, a selection by professional writers from all photographic and imaging products; and the Lens Award, a new award established this year.

The winners are decided by a 57-member selection panel consisting of the editors and publishers of club-member magazines, photographic experts, technical writers and professional photographers, as well as CJPC members. The PENTAX 645D was selected over 172 other new products introduced in Japan from April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011.

Reasons for PENTAX 645D Selection
The panel concluded that, as the first medium-format digital SLR camera launched by PENTAX, the 645D represented the harmonious combination of many advanced and photographer-friendly features, including an extra-large CCD image sensor, designed to deliver super-fine images and all housed within a highly dependable dust-proof, weather resistant body. It further gave praise to PENTAX for never abandoning the development of the 645D, bringing it through a series of trials and errors over many years to perfect it as a super-high-resolution, multi-featured medium-format digital camera — and one that is far more affordable than competitive models. The camera’s compatibility with conventional lenses also played a crucial role in the decision of this year’s Camera of The Year.

Founded in 1984, the Camera Grand Prix Awards this year celebrated the 28th Camera of The Year winner. PENTAX has had three winners in the past: the PENTAX Z-1 Quartz Date in 1992; the PENTAX 645N in 1998; and the PENTAX K10D in 2007. The 645D now joins them as PENTAX’s fourth winner of this prestigious award.

The PENTAX 645D has already been selected as the Best D-SLR Professional in Europe 2011 by the prestigious Technical Image Press Association (TIPA). By winning these two highly coveted awards in Japan and Europe, the 645D’s outstanding performance and technical excellence have been clearly demonstrated to the world.

Original Press Release

[calsan]

Camera GP 2011 (English)

[KhoKing]

Well deserve for sure.

[spyglass]

The 645D is a ride that I think most Pentaxians would love to take. Unfortunately the price of admission ($10K) is like a 48 inches height restriction bar to population of 46 inch tall people. For those that do manage to stand on their tippy toes and get past the bar, there is the price of the lenses. But perhaps there is another way of looking at it. And while it might not be a solution for long or for many, there is a reasonable supply of used glass for the 645 from the film days. I came upon this Craigslist  listing today. I have seen a few like it. Even Ebay seems to offer a few reasonable pieces. People selling off complete 645 systems (camera body and a collection of glass).

http://vancouver.en.craig...a/rch/pho/2489211253.html

I wonder if I could find a pair of platform shoes on Craigslist...... 


Spyglass

[blackcloudbrew]

Good points Spy. I have resolved to own the 645D some day. It's the reason that I bought an original 645 film camera last year and have about 7 A lenses for it. I'm hoping that some day, I can attach the digital body to them.