Hi, everyone,
After a long and hard consideration, I settled on 645D. I believe I bought the last one available in US from Ace photo a few days ago. I should be getting my hands on it soon. I also ordered a 55/2.8 SDM, so called a kit lens.
I just wanted to thank everyone who offered me awesome advice. There were almost too much to consider, and at the end of the process I actually began to feel paralyzed. Initially I thought about 645D, then I got really interested in 503 WC and Mamiya RZ. But then I came full circle at the end. I am convinced that the choice was the right one for me.
As suggested, I actually took time to get my hands several of the finalists. I was rather quite intimidated by Hasselblad. Handling it can become second nature, I suppose, but would I want to take the time for that? I wasn't convinced. Being a K-7 shooter, getting started with 645D would be as easy as slamming a battery in it and turn it on. This idea of detachable back seemed great at first, but when I actually put it in my hand, the unit as a whole felt a bit wobbly for me, and I wondered about the thing accidentally falling off (although not likely I know) just as I crossed to the other side of the stream, or something like that. Besides, the price of the unit, if I were to combine with P45+, even with a refurbished it still seemed costly to me. I also played a bit with Hassey back. I think that the Phocus software is very very funky.
I got also interested in mamiya RZ 33, but for similar reasons above, I couldn't justify purchasing that over 645D.
I do have some beef with 645D though. THe recording time on the card is pathetic. Worse than a bad joke. They need to do something about that. It is a good enough reason to upgrade if that aspect of it is improved. I realize that compared to developing a role of film, it is a far far quicker turn around time, but I am just not sure what they were thinking on that.
I want live view. I know that with CCD sensor it is not possible(?), but again, to me it would be very important.
645D probably does not feel like a true MF shooter's camera. There are too many bells and whistles on it. I wish it had less buttons. I bet you there will be many many functions that I will never use. But, at the end of the day, the cost performance ratio is hard to go against.
I worry about lenses. I did buy a 67 to 645 converter, and zeiss to 645D converter as well. I would like to explore non Pentax lenses until they beef up their line up with current model.
Please don't think that my negative comments regarding Hassey and Mamiya are cheap shots of any kind. I think they are fantastic camera in every way. It was just that they just were not it for me.
Once again, I want to thank everyone!!