I'm trying to decide whether to make the 645NII or the *ist-D this year's main purchase, so I've got a couple of questions I'm sure the experts here can help me with.
I take pictures entirely for pleasure, and enter Camera Club competitions and a few magazine competitions (the latter without much success although I was in the last 6 for having an image on a Royal Mail postage stamp), as well as displaying prints in various local venues as part of the club. All of my print output is digital, generally A3 on an Epson 1290 inkjet, and the source is currently 35mm transparencies on (mostly) Velvia or Sensia scanned using a Niikon LS4000 film scanner. The slides are also projected in club evenings so I'll need to continue taking 35mm for that unless I can find an inexpensive way to convert digital images to transparencies. I also own an Epson 2450 Photo flatbed scanner with transparency hood. My favourite types of photography are close-ups of insects and plants, and landscapes/scenery particularly wide angle. I'm tempted by the 645NII but am not sure if it's a logical decision. So to the questions: 1) Does the 645NII work properly with the AF-360FGZ and AF-140C flash units in TTL mode? 2) I know the 645NII doesn't have interchangeable backs as such, but can they be changed mid-roll in the dark or in a changing bag? If yes how does the camera keep track of the exposures, and will this affect the printing of exposure info, or does the back handle this? 3) Can the 220 back take 120 film? 4) What's the chance of Pentax releasing a digital back for the 645 range in the near future? This will potentially solve my dilemma, although cost may be prohibitive. 5) Are the advantages of the 645NII over the 645N significant? 6) How do the 645NII and *ist-D compare for macro photography, particularly on location rather than studio? 7) How do they compare for landscape and wide angle photography? 8) Would the Epson 2450 be good enough for scanning 645 slides or will I need to upgrade and to what? Will the quality of a flatbed scanned 645 slide be as good or better than the *ist-D output? It's unlikely I can afford a MF film scanner. 9) What would you do? I'm interested in the responses to this question, but probably won't take it into account when deciding! Sorry for all the questions and thanks in advance for your replies. I may of course think of some more questions! Nick.
