Pentax 645Z PDF User Manual
Did you lose or misplace the instruction manual that came with your Pentax 645Z? It happens all too easily, but fortunately Pentax makes a soft copy available that you can browse through online, print out, or download (see the pdf file below). It is certainly good practice to carefully familiarize oneself with the many different functionalities and options that the 645Z offers, and the official user manual is without doubt an authoritative and comprehensive source of respective information.
That said, the instruction booklet can be a dry read, so that a dedicated camera guide book from a professional photographer that illustrates the camera's core functions in a real life photography context can be a very helpful complement. Yes, getting one of these camera guides (see here at amazon) would involve an additional expense, but if that book helps to exploit the camera's potential to the full, the (small) additional investment may well be worth it.
Also, you might want to check out the video tutorial on the Pentax 645Z below.
In any case, the 645Z is an advanced imaging tool, whose many features merit serious attention. This DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera was revealed to the public on April 15th, 2014, which means that, as of today, the camera is 3816 days old (young?). The camera has meanwhile been discontinued, but there has not been a direct replacement model for the 645Z from Pentax.
Pentax's operating manual for the 645Z
The camera's operating manual is 112 pages long. The pdf version is embedded below. As you browse through, you will hopefully find the information you are looking for. You can also print out a hard copy by right clicking on the manual and then choosing the respective menu option. For convenience, a summary of the key specs of the 645Z is included towards the bottom of this webpage.
Don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference (Ctrl-Shift-D on a Windows PC; Cmd-Shift-D on a Mac). Happy browsing!
Click on the button below to download the pdf version of the Pentax 645Z manual to your computer. The file will open in a new browser window.
If you prefer to read the user guide in another language, please check the respective availability on Pentax's support site. That site also provides complementary online resources, such as information on the compatibility of various camera accessories or the availability of firmware updates that are not necessarily comprehensively covered in the instruction manual.
Printed, hardcopy versions of the Pentax 645Z manual can sometimes be found online. You can check the availability on amazon and ebay via the buttons below.
Video tutorial for the Pentax 645Z
Perhaps instead of reading through a manual or operations guide, you might prefer to better familiarize yourself with your 645Z by watching a video tutorial. It can notably help to quickly get to know the key functions and to set up your camera according to your particular preferences and needs.
Once again, the Pentax 645Z is a sophisticated imaging tool and not exploiting its capabilities to the full would be a pity. Hence, taking the time to study online information material or to read through a well-written camera guide book is highly recommended to make the most of your purchase.
Pentax 645Z FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the 645Z.
What technology is the imaging sensor in the Pentax 645Z based on?
The camera features a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.
Which image processing chip is used in the Pentax 645Z to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Pentax equipped the 645Z with the PRIME III image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Pentax 645Z?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 204800.
What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Pentax 645Z?
Pentax mentions a shutter rating of 100 000 actuations for the 645Z. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the 645Z over, say, three years, one would have to take about 100 pictures each and every day.
How do I find the shutter count on my Pentax 645Z?
Pentax embeds the number of shutter actuations in image metadata. You can check the number of shots that your 645Z has taken up to now by uploading a recent image to the free online shutter count finder app.
Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences with the Pentax 645Z?
No, the Pentax 645Z has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.
Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Pentax 645Z?
The 645Z offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Pentax 645Z for flash photography?
The 645Z's flash sync speed is 1/125 sec.
Does the Pentax 645Z support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?
Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-I cards (data transfer speed of up to 104 MB/s).
Which battery does the Pentax 645Z use?
The camera gets its power from the Pentax D-LI90 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Further reading
How does the 645Z stack up against available alternatives? In case you are interested in seeing how this camera compares to another one, just make your choice using the following search menu. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.
- Canon 800D vs Pentax 645Z
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Core camera specifications
Here is a list of the main features and technical characteristics of the Pentax 645Z.
Camera Model | Pentax 645Z | |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Digital single lens reflex | |
Camera Lens | Pentax 645 mount lenses | |
Launch Date | April 2014 | |
Launch Price | USD 8 499 | |
Sensor Specs | ||
Sensor Technology | CMOS | |
Sensor Format | Medium Format Sensor | |
Sensor Size | 43.8 x 32.8 mm | |
Sensor Area | 1 437 mm2 | |
Sensor Diagonal | 54.7 mm | |
Crop Factor | 0.79x | |
Sensor Resolution | 51.1 Megapixels | |
Image Resolution | 8 256 x 6 192 pixels | |
Pixel Pitch | 5.30 μm | |
Pixel Density | 3.56 MP/cm2 | |
Moiré control | no AA filter | |
Movie Capability | 1080/60i Video | |
ISO Setting | 100 - 204 800 ISO | |
Image Processor | PRIME III | |
DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 101 | |
DXO Color Depth (bits) | 26.0 | |
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 14.7 | |
DXO Low Light (ISO) | 4505 | |
Screen Specs | ||
Viewfinder Type | Optical viewfinder | |
Viewfinder Field of View | 98% | |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.78x | |
Top-Level Screen | Control Panel | |
LCD Framing | Live View | |
LCD Size | 3.2 inch | |
LCD Resolution | 1037k dots | |
LCD Attachment | Tilting screen | |
V-logging Friendliness | No front-flip | |
Touch Input | No touchscreen | |
Shooting Specs | ||
Focus System | Phase-detect AF | |
Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | |
Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/4000s | |
Continuous Shooting | 3 shutter flaps/s | |
Shutter Life Expectancy | 100 000 actuations | |
Silent Shooting | no E-Shutter | |
Time Lapse Photography | Intervalometer Built-in | |
Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | |
Storage Medium | SDXC cards | |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Dual card slots | |
UHS card support | UHS-I | |
Connectivity Specs | ||
External Flash | Hotshoe | |
Studio Flash | PC Sync socket | |
USB Connector | USB 3.0 | |
HDMI Port | mini HDMI | |
Microphone Port | External MIC port | |
Wifi Support | no Wifi | |
Body Specs | ||
Environmental Sealing | Weathersealed body | |
Battery Type | Pentax D-LI90 power pack | |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 650 shots per charge | |
Body Dimensions |
156 x 117 x 123 mm (6.1 x 4.6 x 4.8 in) |
|
Camera Weight | 1 550 g (54.7 oz) |
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