Pentax intended the 645 to be an affordable way to start professional, medium format photography. The Pentax 645 is still doing that today.
There likely isn’t a better camera to start one’s journey into medium format film than the Pentax 645. It has a familiar feel and form factor to those coming from DSLR/SLR cameras. It’s packed with features for the price, and that price is typically lower than the competition. This makes it a very welcoming option.
The good:
- Affordable for medium format
- Built in power winder
- Built in light meter (Accurate, too!)
- Great lens selection
- Built in prism finder
- 1/1000 max shutter speed
The less good:
- Battery holders aren’t holding up well
- Not the nicest viewfinder
- Can’t hot swap film mid-roll
- Controls reminiscent of a 1980s Buick dashboard
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Pentax 645 — Too long, didn’t read
If you’re wanting to get into medium format film, get a Pentax 645. Long story short, it offers almost everything you could want and you can get it for very little. I paid about $400 for mine with both the 45-85mm and 80-160mm lenses, a bag, and a strap. It’s really hard to get more camera than that for the money. It’s got a built in light meter, a big lens selection, a motor winder (can shoot 1.5 frames per second!), and shutter speeds from 15 seconds to 1/1000.
There aren’t a lot of downsides, but there are some. The viewfinder is pretty mediocre. It’s clear and large, but not super bright. The battery holders in them are often broken these days. However, that’s not a deal breaker anymore. I bought a new one that uses 9v batteries from Hippietheman on Ebay. He even has a USB-C rechargeable version, now! Aside from that, it takes a bit to get used to the outdated controls. Lastly, you can’t swap film out mid-roll like some other cameras with interchangeable film backs.
In the end, the pros far outweigh the cons for me. For under $500, the Pentax 645 gave me a medium format camera that can tackle about anything I’d like it to. It’s a joy to use and has already given me some of my favorite photos in the year and a half that I’ve owned it. I highly recommend it!
Pentax 645 — Does it photo?
The Pentax 645 is an incredibly capable camera. I’ve taken it on several local trips and a vacation to Colorado now. I’m quite happy with my decision to take it with me. It takes up less space than my RB67 and its 6×4.5cm negatives are still nearly three times as large as 35mm. Medium format film is just something everyone should experience in person, and the Pentax keeps that experience pleasant.
Useful features
In operation, the Pentax 645 has several modern-feeling features. It has a center-weighted light meter, which I have found to be quite accurate. The 645 also provides shutter and aperture priority, a program exposure mode, and a regular manual mode. Getting used to the dated controls may take some time, but I found them to be pretty intuitive once I got used to their locations.
In use, it isn’t too dissimilar from using a modern Fujifilm X-T camera. Program mode is typical automatic exposure with compensation. In aperture priority mode, you can either select the aperture on the lens or set it to “A” and use the buttons on the camera. Shutter priority just uses the camera buttons with the lens in “A”. Finally, in full manual, the buttons control shutter speed and the lens controls aperture.
The Pentax 645 also has exposure compensation. However, it only is adjustable in full-stop increments. As a way around that, you can adjust the ISO setting in 1/3 stops, if you want to. The Pentax can be set for anything from 6-6400 ISO in said 1/3-stop increments. Pair all of that with the power winder, and you’ve got a camera that can really work for you and not against you.
Pentax 645 — In use
All of those features culminate in a camera that is very versatile and fun to use. The Pentax 645 can be a giant, manual focus point and shoot just as easily as it can be a serious landscape photography tool on a tripod. Heck, if you’re good at manual focusing, it can even handle a bit of sports photography with that 1/1000 max shutter speed.
As for actually using the Pentax 645, there is a bit of a learning curve to get used to the buttons. There is only one dial like our modern cameras, and it swaps between single and continuous shooting modes. If you get used to adjusting the settings with buttons rather than dials, it’s a breeze.
There is a red LED readout on the bottom right corner of the viewfinder. It gives you the shutter speed, aperture, and an indicator for exposure. it can read over or under-exposure to three stops in one stop increments. When your exposure is right on, you get a reassuring “OK” displayed. It’s nice having a camera that lets you know you’re doing OK! This is a camera that’s easy to use without taking your eye off the viewfinder.
Pentax 645 — Touch Test
Normally, I’m quick to praise Pentax for ergonomics. The Pentax 645 is a bit of a weird one, though. It’s a fairly heavy camera. Holding the camera by the grip alone is an awkward sensation. However, support it from under the body with the left hand, and the grip feels pretty good for operating the camera. The strange, rearward slant to the grip makes it hard for me to decide if I dislike it or not.
Beyond the grip, the control structure is also a little weird. Holding the camera and operating the buttons on the left side with a thumb is strange, but tolerable for me. People with smaller hands may feel differently. Using the arrow buttons near the on/off switch to adjust shutter speed and/or aperture is the same. Even with fairly large hands, I still have to move my hand to the switches and back. It isn’t just a simple finger stretch.
Aside from those awkward bits, the camera isn’t bad to operate. It’s not in the same league as the later 645N or current digital cameras Pentax make. However, it’s good enough that you can get used to it without too much annoyance. The grip texture is effective and unoffensive. The depth-of-field preview on the right front of the body is easy to reach and use. Lens swapping is the same as most other cameras.
In the end, the Pentax 645 is a bit of a mixed bag in the ergonomics department. Some awkwardness is to be expected, but it’s still familiar enough to the average DSLR/SLR user to adjust to it quickly. Once I got used to it, I kind of just quit thinking about it. I think that is a good endorsement when you can use a camera without thinking about it too much.
Build quality
The Pentax 645 is a hefty camera. While it is a product of its time, it is solidly built. The camera is constructed of metal and plastic. Seeing how many are still around and kicking should be testimony of its build quality. The only major flaw I’m aware of in these cameras is the battery grip insert. They are built with thinner plastic and I’ve seen many broken. This is often compounded by people leaving batteries in them to corrode and dissolve the plastic.
Luckily, 3d printing exists. People are now manufacturing new battery holders for the cameras. Hippietheman on Ebay sells both a battery holder that uses two 9v batteries, and one that contains its own USB-C rechargeable battery. I purchased the 9v option and it works splendidly.
Pentax 645 — Still a great entry to medium format film
Pentax set out to create a camera to give people an entry to medium format film all of those years ago. The fact that the Pentax 645 is still a great camera to begin your medium format journey with all these years later is impressive.
This camera will feel familiar enough to most people to make starting easier. It has plenty of features to ensure you get good photos, a tough build, and all the lens options you could need. If you’ve been considering this camera, it’s time to stop considering and start photographing with one!
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