The Pentax 645NII is an autofocus SLR that shoots 6×4.5 frames on 120 or 220 film, 15 or 16 to a 120 roll. It handles more like a big 35mm SLR than most medium format cameras: the motor winds the film, and there’s a grip, a fixed prism and full auto exposure.
Pentax 645NII
Medium format film SLR (6×4.5), 2001–2009
Updated
Quick facts
- Brand
- Pentax
- Type
- Medium format film SLR (6×4.5)
- Made
- 2001–2009
- Preceded by
- Pentax 645N
Production
Pentax made three film 645s. The original 645 of 1984 was manual focus. The 645N of 1997 added autofocus, multi-segment metering and data printed between the frames.
The 645NII came out in 2001. It added mirror lock-up, which the 645N lacks, and ten custom settings Pentax calls Pentax Functions.
Sales in Europe ended in 2006 because of EU rules on lead solder. In March 2009 Pentax stopped making it everywhere else, along with the 67II, saying it couldn’t get the electronic parts.
Identification
The 645N and 645NII look almost the same. The NII has mirror lock-up, so check for it if a listing doesn’t say which model it is.
Gallery
With an smc Pentax-A 645 75mm f/2.8, a manual focus lens. The blue leather is a custom covering from Studio Jebi. Photo: David Lee 
The side has its own tripod socket for shooting vertically. Photo: David Lee 
The back, with the 120 film insert. The dials either side of the eyepiece set the focus mode and AF point. Photo: David Lee
Specs
- Format
- 6×4.5 (56 × 41.5 mm)
- Film
- 120 (15 or 16 frames) or 220 (32 or 33)
- Lens mount
- Pentax 645
- Lenses
- FA 645 with autofocus. A 645 in manual focus only.
- Autofocus
- Phase detection, 3-point or spot
- Exposure modes
- Program, shutter priority, aperture priority, metered manual and B
- Metering
- Six-segment, center-weighted or spot
- Shutter
- Electronic cloth focal plane, 30 s to 1/1000 s in auto, 6 s to 1/1000 s in manual
- Flash sync
- 1/60 s
- Film advance
- Built-in motor, up to about 2 frames per second
- Viewfinder
- Fixed prism, 92% vertical and 93% horizontal coverage, 0.76x
- Mirror lock-up
- Yes
- Multiple exposure
- Yes
- Data imprinting
- Up to 17 kinds of data, printed outside the frame
- Batteries
- Six AA, alkaline or lithium
- Dimensions
- 150 × 111 × 117 mm (5.9 × 4.4 × 4.6 in)
- Weight
- 1280 g (45.1 oz). Body only, without batteries.
- Hot shoe
- Hot shoe with dedicated flash contacts, plus a PC flash socket
- Flash compatibility
- TTL auto flash with Pentax’s dedicated flashes. The camera sets 1/60 s by itself once a dedicated flash has charged. Other flashes work in manual or their own auto mode.
- Dimensions and weight: 645NII specifications from Ricoh