P�l wrote: I strongly recommend staying away from the 645N and go for the 645NII instead. The new model will be compatible with new and coming accessories."
I think the digital issue P�l raised deserves more thorough examination. Perhaps you should consider the various options, whether with respect to a putative new digital back for the 645NII, a digital work flow via scanning and desktop printing, or conventional printing. A digital back might make the 645NII fairly future-proof--at least for a while ;^) Scanning is a more familiar option, and there are even fairly low-cost choices available now that were notably absent even a couple of years ago. You might also consider whether you can print 645 or 6x7 with the conventional equipment you have at hand. Regarding scanning: You can purchase an Epson 2450 flatbed scanner for about $375; it can produce nice results from medium format on a rather modest budget, and higher-resolution scans can be reserved for those occasions when you need a larger print. (I've had one for a few weeks, and it can produce good proofs, and the output looks pretty good--at least from 6x7--up to the largest size prints I'm likely to coax from my Epson 1270.) Finally, the Canoscan FS4000 SU can be beaten into submission, and forced to scan medium format at 4000dpi. (During the week that I had one, I found that slight modification of the negative holder should allow scanning of 645, and most of a 6x7 frame; e-mail if you'd like the gory details.) The Canoscan can't match the new crop of dedicated medium format scanners, but it's good value, and--even without the medium format option--a reasonable choice if you're shopping for a dedicated 35mm scanner. Another scanning issue: Digital wizardry can produce prints which can, IMHO, hold together very well at larger sizes. You may find that 645 can produce quality at large print sizes that might have required 6x7 a few years ago. Now, if you need to crop. . . . - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
