You can still shoot Velvia 50 in the dark, just take time.
Sorry I don't, nor will I ever, see a point for IBIS in film shooting. I think shooting sports on film is not something market is calling for, and that is probably the only area where it might help.
I'd rather they unearthed a parts hoard or a new crop of service technicians, but I will still keep watching for further new camera developments.
They have a nice enough looking digital medium format camera - the 645Z <https://us.ricoh-imaging.com/product/pentax-645-z/>.
The 645 lens lineup is small, one zoom and three primes. No idea if these lenses could also be used on a (new) 645 film camera, should one ever appear.
EDIT: Maybe I should have said Pentax had a digital medium format camera? After a brief search, I did not see any new cameras for sale, so the status of this camera is unclear to me.
645Z was a fixed in body sensor, film bodies would just need a digital insert to swap with film. This is what I always felt Pentax missed out on. Easy digital back upgrade as tech moved on.
I'd be interested if they brought something new to the table, like combining autofocus & weather sealing with sealed stabilized lenses, multi-spot metering and mirror lock-up and exposure data imprinting.
Or maybe an ability to natively take bulk 70mm film? And it should still be able to take 220 or else it definitely needs interchangeable backs.
I don't think those things will happen.
I'd be interested if they brought something new to the table, like combining autofocus & weather sealing with sealed stabilized lenses, multi-spot metering and mirror lock-up and exposure data imprinting.
Or maybe an ability to natively take bulk 70mm film? And it should still be able to take 220 or else it definitely needs interchangeable backs.
I don't think those things will happen.
Not a chance. That will be building a system. The end product may cost more than $6K
Maybe more like $20K.
Interestingly from article on digital camera publication : https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/...r-a-medium-format-film-camera-will-we-get-one
Watch the interview with Tanaka & Takaoka of Pentax Overseas Div @ 9:00 time stamp
If there is a new MF camera, what will be the price point you are willing to pay considering a Pentax 17 is around $500 ?
I've seen the interview just shortly after publication. And the reaction indicates that in the short and mid-term (4-5 years), it is unlikely that Pentax will introduce a new medium format camera.
And my assessment is that there are two main reasons for it:
1. At first Pentax must build a very solid basis / fundament with several 35mm cameras. They must re-establish themselves as a financially stable manufacturer of 35mm film cameras. And of course they must at the same time sucessfully continue their strategy of offering excellent DSLRs and digital compact cameras.
All that is not easy and a big challenge. Possible, but very hard work. Which takes time.
The market for 35mm cameras is essential, because it is by far the biggest market. Medium format is a tiny niche market in comparison to 35mm.
Already in the 60ies 35mm cameras had surpassed medium format cameras in sales. And from the 70ies on the sales volume of MF cameras had been less than 1% of the 35mm market, in many later years even less than 0.5%.
35mm has been, and by far still is also today the most popular and widespread film format.
Therefore:
First main step must be success in 35mm film camera production. And with that success the niche format 120 can follow later.
2. a) The used prices for the Pentax 645 models are still very reasonable and quite low compared to the excellent quality and possibilities these cameras offer. As long as that is the case, an new 4.5x6cm camera would suffer from a quite big price difference between the used models and a new model.
b) With the Pentax 67 the situation is different, the prices of used ones have increased significantly, and are meanwhile quite high. But 6x7 is overall a smaller market than 4.5x6 and 6x6. Production numbers for a new camera would therefore be lower, and production costs higher.
But nevertheless I would not be surprised at all to see new medium format cameras on the market in the short(er) term. Simply from a different company: Mint.
Because they are already producing several different 'medium format' cameras. Just not for 120 film, but for 4.5x6, 6x6 and 6.2x9.9cm instax instant film.
But cameras like the Mint Instantkon RF 70 ( https://mint-camera.com/rf70/ ) and SF 70 ( https://mint-camera.com/sf70/ ) could be relatively easy adapted to 120 film. A new film chamber and a new lens is needed. That's it, that could be the starting point. Depending on how refined it should be, such a modified camera could be offered in the 1,000 to 1,500€ price range. And would be cheaper than a used Voigtländer Bessa III / Fujifilm GF 670 or Plaubel Makina.
Best regards,
Henning
Wouldn't be a model which could do both, film and digital (if that's possible)...
Today, it seems to me to be cheaper and more reliable to just have a digital and film system side by side.
Hasselblad had models that would take both film and digital backs but I believe film options no longer exist new. The now pretty much defunct Rolleiflex Hy6 was superb system with both digital and film backs and an optical reflex viewfinder to boot. Either system cost beaucoup bucks when new, and are no longer supported for parts and service. Today, it seems to me to be cheaper and more reliable to just have a digital and film system side by side.
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