Category: Film Camera > Medium Format

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645NII

Pentax

You asked for it. You got it.
The same award-winning design. The same technological excellence. But with more of the advanced features photographers were asking for. The 645NII incorporates all the outstanding features of its 645N predecessor while adding several new features designed to further improve performance, maneuverability, and user convenience. A mirror-up function eliminates vibrations caused by mirror movement during critical long exposures. Custom exposure compensation and bracketing increments enables minute exposure adjustments. And on-the-film imprinting information records and preserves an even wider range of valuable data. Durable and resistant to shock and wear, the 645NII is beautifully encased in a rigid aluminum body with an attractive, textured matte finish. An enduring favorite of uncompromising professionals and advanced amateurs, both in the studio and out in the field.

Quality Features

Mirror-up function eliminates vibrations caused by mirror movement during critical long exposures.
User selectable exposure compensation and bracketing increments of 1/2 EV or 1/3 EV within a +/-3 EV range allows the photographer to make minor exposure adjustments.
On-the-film imprinting information now includes the total number of film rolls used in the camera, focusing mode, ISO film speed setting, use of AE lock and/or auto bracketing functions, use of flash synchronization, as well as exposure frame number, exposure mode, shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation value, metering mode and lens focal length. This all appears at the bottom of the film just outside the image area.
10 user selectable PENTAX functions allow the camera to be customized to the photographer's needs.
Accepts the new generation of electronic accessories including the CS-105 and CS-130 Cable Switches and the TS-110 Release Timer Switch (as used with the MZ-S), as well as a standard cable release.
The 645NII incorporates the PENTAX-developed SAFOX IV phase-matching autofocus system to ensure accurate focusing not only on subjects with vertical orientation but also on those with horizontal orientation — even under such poor lighting conditions as EV-1.
The 645NII incorporates a Dual Six-segment multi-pattern metering system. Two sensors positioned at both sides of the viewfinder measure the subject's lighting condition in two different areas: the wide sensor covers the entire image field, while the narrow sensor monitors the light reaching the central area of the image field. As a result, the 645NII can measure the subject's lighting condition with exceptional accuracy and efficiency. In addition to the Dual Six-segment metering, the 645NII also offers the pinpoint Spot Metering and conventional Center-weighted Metering modes.
The 645NII's four distinctive exposure modes allow the user to react effortlessly and efficiently to every situation and create the desired visual effect with ease: Programmed AE for adjustment-free shooting; Aperture-priority AE to emphasize the depth of field; Shutter-priority AE for sports and action photography; and Metered Manual for maximum control over exposure settings.
A built-in motor drive advances the film at the speed of up to 2.0 frames per second. Thanks to the high-precision pulse-count film transport mechanism, the spacing between frames is identical and the number of frames which can be taken from one roll of film has been increased from the 645 (16 frames from 120 film and 33 frames from 220 film). This motor drive also offers two film advance modes: Single Advance to advance one frame for each shutter release and Consecutive Advance to successively advance the film as long as the shutter release button is depressed. In addition, the motor drive automatically loads the film and advances it to the first frame, and winds the film into the film holder to avoid accidental exposure during film changes.
Because of its large image size (2.7 times larger than the 35mm format), the 645NII's 6cm x 4.5cm format is far superior in image quality to 35mm, producing true-to-life pictures with finer details, higher resolution and better color fidelity.
The 645NII's body is made of rigid aluminum and protected with a glass-fiber-reinforced polycarbonate coating approximately 1.7 times thicker than a normal coating. As a result, the 645NII is extremely durable and resistant to shock and wear. In addition, special mechanisms are incorporated in the 645NII to ensure low-noise, low-shock operation — particularly important features in wildlife photography.
The 645NII has perfected the renowned optical system — originally developed for and made famous by the PENTAX 645 — by adding a high-performance viewfinder lupe. As a result, the camera assures comfortable, fatigue-free eye-level shooting over long periods in the field.
The choice of the wider 3-point AF frame and the pinpoint Spot AF frame allows the photographer to use the most suitable focus frame for each subject and in every situation.
The 645NII offers three focus modes to choose from: AF Single activates the shutter only when the subject comes into focus; AF Servo lets the user release the shutter at any time; and Manual Focus lets the user adjust the focus manually using the focus ring on the lens. In the Manual Focus mode the focus indicator in the viewfinder provides the focus status.
In the AF Servo mode, the 645NII's AF system detects the subject's movement (toward or away from the camera) and "predicts" the optimum focusing point at shutter release for pinpoint focus on the subject on the move.
With a single shutter release, the auto bracketing feature automatically takes three pictures of the same subject in the order of normal, under- and overexposure. The desired exposure level can be easily selected using the auto bracketing lever.
The exposure compensation feature allows the photographer to make minute exposure adjustments with ease in 1/3 steps within a range of +/-3 EV.
Memorize the subject's lighting condition for 10 seconds with a single push of the memory lock button, which allows photographers to re-compose the image freely without changing the exposure level on the most important element of the picture.
The 645NII incorporates an acclaimed Natural-Bright-Matte focusing screen to provide a sharp, bright viewfinder image. In addition to the standard Center Spot Matte screen, the photographer can also select the AF Split-image, AF Microprism or Cross-Lined Matte screen, depending on the purpose or application.
The 645NII uses exclusive film holders compatible with those of the 645. So, by carrying several film holders loaded with film, the photographer can save a considerable amount of time for film changes.
Two large dials located on both sides of the prism housing facilitate swift, mistake-free operation, while other levers and switches are ergonomically positioned for maximum ease of operation.
Located at the camera's right shoulder, the LCD data panel provides the photographer with useful operational data at a glance in easy-to-understand letters, digits and symbols.
An LCD data panel located at the bottom of the viewfinder indicates a full range of photographic data. Its bar-graph indicator is especially useful for checking exposure status in the Metered manual mode. The brightness of the indication is automatically adjusted according to the subjects' illumination level.
The depth-of-field preview function allows the photographer to check the depth of field before taking a picture, thus making it possible to create the desired visual effect without failure.
Multi-exposure enables the photographer to produce a unique, eye-catching image by making the desired number of exposures on a single frame.
The 645NII's viewfinder eyepiece comes equipped with a built-in diopter adjuster to adjust the viewfinder image for near- and far-sightedness within a range between -3.5 and +1 diopters.
The 645NII's battery holder takes six AA-size batteries. In addition to alkaline batteries, Lithium batteries, which offer a longer battery life and a stable power supply at low temperatures, can also be used. The Battery Pack 645 is available as an optional accessory to keep batteries warm at freezing temperatures.
The built-in self-timer delays shutter release by 12 seconds, allowing the photographer to become part of memorable pictures.
PENTAX has developed a wide assortment of SMC-PENTAX FA autofocus lenses to work with the 645NII to assure fast, stable autofocus operation.
All existing SMC PENTAX-A 645 lenses can be used with the new 645NII without any modifications (except for autofocus operation). When using A 645 lenses, the 645NII gives both audible and/or visual confirmation—as you manually turn the focusing ring. A wide variety of optional accessories are also available to satisfy the photographer's needs for special applications.

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For more information on this product, visit Pentax's website.