RiceHigh's Pentax Blog: IR Measurbation: 645D Vs D800

Thursday, March 15, 2012

IR Measurbation: 645D Vs D800

The new D800 measurbation samples have been out at the IR, now we can use their "comparometer" to measurbate and "compare" endlessly!

http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM

Choose 645D and the D800, the match begins, for a few examples (Click on the following to view samplein full size in new tab/window):-

645D, ISO 100, 75mm, f/8

D800, ISO 100, 70mm, f/8

645D, ISO 800, 75mm, f/8

D800, ISO 800, 70mm, f/8

Now, I can safely conclude that the 645D is endangered! At less than 1/3rd of the cost of a 645D, the D800 actually lives up quite well to the 645, despite that I think the 645D images are still slightly better in IQ at *low* ISOs. Needless to say more about the rich feature set, better portability and much higher system performance of the D800.

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Art · 682 weeks ago

When D800 files are reduced to the same resolution as 5D Mark III, even noise is not worse than Canon
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?fo...

And much higher DR at base ISO, magic of Sony sensors.

5D Mark III is dead

2 replies · active 682 weeks ago

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Spotmatic · 682 weeks ago

Pentax will just put a new sensor in the 645D soon so Nikon and Canon will be lagging behind.

3 replies · active 681 weeks ago

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RiceHigh 110p · 682 weeks ago

PE is a financial firm who bought the company and business as a transitional state. As such, it will not invest much into a company. The main goal of such a firm is to repackage the company, don't let it die in the meantime and tries to find a new buyer as soon as possible (and to earn money from that buy/sell transaction, hopefully).

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Ivan · 682 weeks ago

645D scaled down image to D800 image size will look better. But yes 645D is really expensive and D800 is not far away in image IQ

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bandymelis · 682 weeks ago

Not only resolution or noise is important. Professional photographers would have stopped buying Hasselblaads and other medium format stuff long ago if they cared about resolution more. They buy medium format cameras for their shallower depth of field. Though the sensor in the 645D is larger than FF not by a huge margin, it is still larger and the shallow effect is easier to achieve. Professionals also care about the large viewfinder view in medium format cameras. Today's FF cameras do not have as large a viewfinder view as the Pentax ME series used to have (if you have not seen that, you should). Oh, I love that view! And I would never pay $3000 for a camera that just has a 0.7 viefinder magnification. Recently I added a O-ME53 magnifier to my Pentax K5, making the view as large as the Nikon D4 and it justified my spending $1000 for the camera.

2 replies · active 681 weeks ago

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Mel · 682 weeks ago

At 1600 the 645d still is clearly superior to the d800, but I think the d800 is not far behind and slightly better than the d3x. Just as you would expect. I dont think the 645d is 7000 dollars better though. Maybe we will see a slight price drop on the 645d. Not!

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Leon · 681 weeks ago

For me the 645d is way better in terms of Res. and Color.
645d is a Pro studio tool. it is cleerly a better for enlarging ...

1 reply · active 681 weeks ago

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John T · 681 weeks ago

Yeah no pros are going to buy the D800 I mean it's just a toy right?
Come on folks we know the 645D was a good idea, but now the new kid on the block can you say there is a difference worth paying the 645D's asking price? I can't

1 reply · active 681 weeks ago

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Van · 681 weeks ago

I notice that the 645d sample is about 10% bigger, which may account for the slight more texture I see in the cloth for 645d. Just measure between two points. My feeling is both cameras are so close (especially if size of image taken into account) that the 645d is no longer competitive considering frame rate, size of camera, lens choices, price.

1 reply · active 681 weeks ago

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John T · 681 weeks ago

Better send a letter to Nikon warning them that the D800 is going to be a complete flop!
Seriously some dudes are so defensive of Pentax if they made a Holga with a Pentax badge on it someone would say it's a Canon pro DSLR killer.

645D is going "down" it's been shown for what it is..overpriced

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bandymelis · 681 weeks ago

Dont you think the Hasselblaad, being over 30k, is overpriced? Resolution wise, there is not much difference in comparison to the D800. But those who buy the Hasselblaad, would not buy Nikon. That would be going down in terms of depth of field (and at the same time the aestethics of the image) and viewfinder size. Is 645D going down? - silly statement.

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Richard · 681 weeks ago

I receive, out of interest, the Hasselblad newsletter. High price or not, it sure has a committed following.

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Rogan · 681 weeks ago

As a 645D owner since 2010 I cannot find any reason why medium format owners should switch back to a fullframe camera, which has noticeably inferiority image quality. Also if you consider the price you have to pay for a D800 with a couple of good lenses (which you will need for the best image quality), there isn't that much of a gap between these two systems. I bought half a dozen 645 lenses for less than 2000 Dollar. And every single of these lenses outperforms even the best D800+lens combination you can have.
So if I have to spend 10.000 Dollar for a D800 with a couple of lenses and compare this to my 645D system with a complete lens set for around 12.000 Dollar, I am going for the better image quality. It's as simple as that.

1 reply · active 680 weeks ago

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Van · 681 weeks ago

If you already have a 645....I agree don't switch. But for me, there better be a big difference in quality to give up the convenience the D800 offers ...far smaller and lighter, 4fps, longer lenses and larger choice, higher ISO performance, I would want at least 60mp plus to even consider medium format now that d800 is here, The d800 offers far more features.

The problem with the sample photos is shallow depth of field, and also the 645d is about 10% closer/bigger for subject (therefore see pattern texture better),. However, when I look at the neck of the beer bottle, and look at the orange cloth pattern around it, the texture is identically sharp for 645d and d800. Things are so close, it is not worth the bother of hanging a hog like a 645 around my neck and lose many other features that the d800 offers. Pentax needs at least a 60mp version soon, i was thibnking of getting the 645, but now lost total interest.

1 reply · active 681 weeks ago

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Van · 681 weeks ago

I agree megapixels have nothing to do with depth of field, but my point was the depth of field is shallow in the sample images, therefore it is hard to find a point where both cameras are dead on for focus. I found the cloth at the top sample not sharp for the D800, but one area where it was sharp for both cameras was around the neck of the beer bottle (the orange cloth). Lookiing at that area I see no difference between both cameras, and the image size is bigger (camera was closer) for the 645 giving it a slight advantage (you see more texture as you move in closer with camera). The differences are insignificant,, but what is significant is camera size, long tele lenses and weight of lenses, portability, fast lcd replay, video, price, fps, etc. The 645d is $10k for body, while only $3k for D800.....seems pretty obvious to me which is the all around better performer.
File size has nothing to do with this discussion, since both cameras have similar size files. This d800 and 645d are both aimed at the landscape market (which is why the 645d is also weatherproof)......and not for the wedding market.

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bandymelis · 681 weeks ago

I got tired of this discussion. But Pentax, please, if you ever consider a FF, put the 0.95 viewfinder magnification, as it was in the ME. Otherwise, do not count on me as a buyer.

1 reply · active 681 weeks ago

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bandymelis · 681 weeks ago

Buy the way. I just checked the noise performace tests of the Pentax K5 against the Nikon D4 on dpreview: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxk5/20
This reassured me about how well the potential of the APS-C sensor of my K5 is used. In lowest sensitivities no difference can be detected, as should be expected. In higher sensitivities, the D4, sure, performes better, but not by a huge margin. I would say, the difference is just about one exposure stop. Anyway, this does not matter to me. Taking in mind that for more serious shots I do not need higher sensitivities (I have six powerful 400 W/s studio strobes for that, assembled by myself) the K5 does an excellent job. For casual photos of my trips and stuff the K5 performes well enough.
For me to spend three times more on a FF camera, it must be PERFECT. A camera that has only 0.7 viewfinder magnification, is a woefully crippled invalid, including the D4 (crazy price for it).

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jon1 · 681 weeks ago

They don't need a 60mp version. They need a full size 645 sensor, not a crop sensor shortcut. 10k MSRP and you get a crop sensor?

Sound familiar? (Think APS-C versus 36x24).

1 reply · active 681 weeks ago

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Holotan Beachdude · 681 weeks ago

I am with John on this one 645D looked great "before" the D800 turned up. Pentax have nowhere near the following of Hasselblad it was a good start off for Pentax but now we know most could not care less about a few crop shots. The differences are minimal Nikon have again out smarted Pentax shame but that is life.

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Jorge · 680 weeks ago

I have a 645d and 3 lens and an a77 and two lens I have two cameras because the 645 is mainly used for landscapes. I'm new to MF
I like the idea of the d800, I would not need to carry two cameras

the only advantage I can see is that on a 40" x 53" print I would have 40mp on a 645 and 26mp on a d800?

I am a landscape photographer
Why is MF better then 35mm? Why should I not go to a 40 mp 35mm format?

Thanks
Jorge

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julsky · 680 weeks ago

theres got to be a good reason dave hobby quit nikkon and switched to MF...

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Van · 679 weeks ago

"the only advantage I can see is that on a 40" x 53" print I would have 40mp on a 645 and 26mp on a d800? "

Depends if you like horizontal formats with that ratio. For me I prefer 6x12 to 617 range...so the D800 gives 7360pixels vs 645d gives 7260pp horizontally. Now for portraiture I would prefer a more square format.

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Van · 679 weeks ago

Everything you knew about comparing D800 vs 5D3 you can now forget. It has leaked out that an unlock code exists for the d800 that opens it up to 108mp. Not a rumor, in fact see the photos (incredible detail on bumble bee). This unlock code was accidently found and went viral on the web. This was supposed to be an unlock option in 6-9mths according to nikon for $750. Boy, I'm so excited I need a drink to calm down. http://mansurovs.com/d800-to-cause-nikons-stock-p...

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Van · 679 weeks ago

It seems we can also toss a lot of those fairy tales out the window regarding lens performance being already at their limit. Apparently nikon knows more about lenses, and 108mp is not a problem.

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Van · 679 weeks ago

I considered the Mansurov site a serious place for info, but looks like I got suckered just like many others at that site for
an April fools joke. GOOD JOKE. But the joke may also be on him, I won't be taking him serious anymore. Well, I enjoyed the drink. LOL. Somehow 36mp doesn't seem like much anymore.

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