Kolor-Pikker
Member
While I love mine, there are certainly a lot of things that could have been improved.Paul 2660
Sounds like a 645Z to me.
1. Size - The 645Z is still based on the size of a camera that had a film back, even though it's now a fully integrated camera, and could have been made much slimmer. Take a look at the following cutaway view of the 645Z: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/Pentax_645Z_cutaway_2015_CP+.jpg
There is so much space between the sensor and rear LCD, that those lazy Pentax engineers have freaking mezzanine connectors and risers linking the electronics together instead of ribbons... compared to the compact structure of modern electronics, this looks like something out of the early 2000's.
The distance from the ф symbol above the top LCD to the rear of the camera could have been sliced down by half or even to a third, with absolutely no practical negative points, except for some repositioned features and a smaller top LCD (who cares?).
In fact, it would even have been better as the rear LCD could have been nested deeper into the body to accommodate your nose or reduce the tunnel effect on the viewfinder, but instead the LCD actually protrudes out further than the back buttons!
2. Better paint job - I'm dead serious! My bought-since-release Canon 5D2 that I've been using for ages has less wear on it then the 645Z I've had since November!
3. Vertical grip - Man, how I miss these... but not before Pentax slims the 645 down as per point #1. If they can make a 645X with add-on grip that weigh together as much as the old Z did alone, that's what I'd want. At least the square chunky form-factor of the Z makes it more tolerable to use in portrait than smaller cameras.
4. Strap lugs - Make those darn strap lugs removable or recessed into the body... Does anyone even really use neck straps anymore?
5. Fix live view pls - I'm glad this isn't a mirrorless camera, as the exposure simulation on live view needs ironing out and it has way too much rolling shutter anyway.
6. No joystick - From 2015 onwards it should be made against the law to release any DSLR-style camera without touch controls to also lack a joystick, regardless of price.