Pentax 645D Review

Main Features

40MP - Medium format CCD Sensor

No Optical low-pass (anti-aliasing) filter

ISO 200 - 1600( expands to 100)

3″ Fixed Type Screen

Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder

1 fps continuous shooting

No Video Mode

1480g. 156 x 117 x 119 mm

Weather Sealed Body

Replaced by Pentax 645Z

$3,999.95

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Pentax 645D Overview

First introduced in March 2010 , Pentax 645D is a 40.0MP Pro DSLR camera with a Medium format (44 x 33 mm ) sized CCD sensor. Pentax later replaced 645D with 645Z. Follow the link to read our in-depth comparison of these cameras:
Compare Pentax 645D vs Pentax 645Z

Pentax 645D has an Overall Score of 66/100 and ranked #95 out of 200 in DSLR cameras (Top 10 DSLR), and ranked #232 out of 1157 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

Pentax 645D Type Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras

Pentax 645D Compared to other DSLR Cameras

Now let's get in to more details of our Pentax 645D review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

PROs

Optical Built-in Viewfinder

40.0MP - High Resolution Sensor

11 Focus Points

921k dots LCD Resolution

Long Battery Life (800 shots)

Environmental Sealing

Timelapse Recording

Good Low Light ISO - 1262

2 Storage Slots

Top LCD Display

Flash Sync Port

AF Micro Adjustment (Fine Tune)

Dual-axis Electronic Level

Buy Pentax 645D from or B&H PHOTO

CONs

No Wireless Connection

No Image Stabilization

No Articulating Screen

No Full HD Video

No Touch Screen

No Face Detection Focusing

Max Sensitivity only ISO 1.600

Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps

Heavy Body: 1480g

Not so wide AE Bracketing Range: ±2 EV

Pentax 645D Lens Mount and Lenses

Pentax 645D has a Pentax 645AF2 lens mount and currently there are 6 native lenses available for this mount. Pentax K mount has backward compatibility for all the K mount lenses produced since 1975 so Pentax users has access to a large selection of manual era native lenses in addition to the modern AF lenses.

Pentax 645D doesn't have a sensor based image stabilization system but 2 of these lenses already comes with Optical Image Stabilization. There are also 3 lenses with weather sealing for 645D that you can couple with its weather sealed body.

Here are some of the most popular Pentax 645D Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Pentax 645D Lenses

	Focal Length on 645D	Max Aperture	Weight	Focusing	Price
Pentax smc D FA 645 25mm F4 AL IF SDM AW	20mm	F4.0	1070gr	AF	$0.00
HD Pentax-DA645 28-45mm F4.5ED AW SR	22.4-36mm	F4.5	1470gr	AF	$4,496.95
Pentax smc DA 16-45mm F4 ED AL	12.8-36mm	F4.0	356gr	AF	$599.95
Pentax HD DFA645 Macro 90mm F2.8 ED AW SR	72mm	F2.8	1040gr	AF	$3,599.00
Pentax smc D FA 645 55mm F2.8 AL IF SDM AW	44mm	F2.8	416gr	AF	$975.00

Check our Pentax 645D Lenses page or use our Smart Lens Finder tool for more detailed lens search.

Pentax 645D Sensor and Photography Features

Pentax 645D has a 40.0MP Medium format (44 x 33 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Prime II processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 7264 x 5440 pixels with aspect ratios of and 4:3. 645D has a native ISO range of 200 - 1600 which can be boosted to 100 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

Pentax 645D is not the highest resolution Medium format camera. Fujifilm GFX 50R with its 51.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Pentax 645D vs Fujifilm GFX 50R or take a look at Highest resolution DSLR cameras list.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. Pentax 645D sensor has been tested by DxO Mark and got an overall score of 82 for its image quality. You can find the details of their analysis of Pentax 645D here.

Anti-Aliasing Filter

Another important feature about Pentax 645D's sensor is the lack of anti-alias (Low-pass) filter. Removing anti-aliasing filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but on the other side it also increases the chance of moire occurring in certain scenes.

Let's look at how the size of the Pentax 645D's Medium format sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Pentax 645D Physical Specs

Pentax 645D weighs 1480 g (3.26 lb / 52.21 oz) and has external dimensions of 156 x 117 x 119 mm (6.14 x 4.61 x 4.69″). Considering that the average weight of DSLR type cameras is 771g, Pentax 645D is a significantly heavy camera for its class. With a thickness of 119mm, it is not small either, 42mm thicker than the average of its class.

Weight Comparison

DSLR Cameras

Pentax 645D

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Thickness Comparison

DSLR Cameras

Pentax 645D

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Here is the front and top view image of Pentax 645D with the dimensions:

In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Pentax 645D, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.

Now lets compare the weight and thickness of Pentax 645D with its main competitors:

Pentax 645D Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Sensor	Weight	vs 645D	Thickness	vs 645D
Pentax 645Z	51.0MP - Medium format	1550g	70g heavier	123mm	4mm thicker
Nikon D810	36.0MP - Full frame	980g	500g lighter	82mm	37mm thinner
Canon 5D MIII	22.0MP - Full frame	950g	530g lighter	76mm	43mm thinner
Canon 5DS R	51.0MP - Full frame	930g	550g lighter	76mm	43mm thinner
Nikon D750	24.0MP - Full frame	840g	640g lighter	78mm	41mm thinner
Sony A7R II	42.0MP - Full frame	625g	855g lighter	60mm	59mm thinner
Pentax K-1	36.0MP - Full frame	1010g	470g lighter	86mm	33mm thinner
Canon 5DS	51.0MP - Full frame	930g	550g lighter	76mm	43mm thinner

Pentax 645D has environmental sealings on its body which makes it a weather resistant camera. If you like outdoors photography and want to be able to use your camera in extreme conditions, Pentax 645D will serve you well. If you attach one of these Pentax 645D weather Sealed lenses to 645D you will have a great all weather kit.

Pentax 645D Other Features

LCD and Viewfinder

Pentax 645D has a Fixed Type 3″ LCD screen with a resolution of 921k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.

645D has a built-in Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder. The viewfinder has a coverage of 98% and a magnification ratio of 0.85x. 98% coverage means that what you see in your viewfinder while shooting will slightly be different from the actual image.

Max Shutter speed
Pentax 645D can shoot continuously at max speed of 1 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/4000 sec.

Flash
Unfortunately 645D doesn't have a built-in flash but it has a flash shoe for mounting external flashes.

Focusing
Pentax 645D features a Phase Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 11 points to choose from.

Video Features
Unfortunately Pentax 645D doesn't have Video recording ability.

Connectivity and Storage

Pentax 645D has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port to connect your camera to other devices.

Battery Pentax 645D is powered by battery which provides a shooting life of 800 according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of DSLR type cameras is 881 shots, its battery life is about average in its class but it would still be wise to invest in some spare batteries for long photo trips.

Battery Life Comparison in Pro DSLR Cameras

Pentax 645D

Min

Average

Max

Nikon D3X with its 4400shots is the model with longest battery life among Pro DSLR cameras. Check the comparison of Pentax 645D vs Nikon D3X or take a look at Longest Battery Life DSLR cameras list.

Pentax 645D Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Pentax 645Z >>Compare to 645D	1920 x 1080	650shots	No	No	No
Nikon D810 >>Compare to 645D	1920 x 1080	1200shots	No	No	No
Canon 5D MIII >>Compare to 645D	1920 x 1080	950shots	No	No	No
Canon 5DS R >>Compare to 645D	1920 x 1080	700shots	No	No	No
Nikon D750 >>Compare to 645D	1920 x 1080	1230shots	Yes	No	No
Sony A7R II >>Compare to 645D	3840 x 2160	290shots	Yes	No	Yes
Pentax K-1 >>Compare to 645D	1920 x 1080	760shots	Yes	No	No
Canon 5DS >>Compare to 645D	1920 x 1080	700shots	No	No	No

Lowest Price
Current Lowest price for Pentax 645D is $3,999.95

What type of Photography is Pentax 645D Good for?

In this section, we review and score Pentax 645D in 5 different photography areas. This first spider web graph shows how the 645D compares with the average DSLR camera.
Hover your mouse over the points to see the score details for each photography type.

Pentax 645D for Portrait Photography

Pentax 645D has a score of 84 for Portrait Photography which makes it an EXCELLENT candidate for this type of photography.

Large Medium format (44 x 33 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 40.0MP
Optical Built-in Viewfinder

Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization

Read the details of how we scored Pentax 645D for Portrait Photography

Pentax 645D for Street Photography

Pentax 645D has a score of 51 for Street Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Street is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top DSLR Cameras for Street Photography list.

Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Large Medium format (44 x 33 mm) sensor
No Live-view

No Image Stabilization
Large Body

Read the details of how we scored Pentax 645D for Street Photography

Pentax 645D for Sports Photography

Pentax 645D has a score of 76 for Sports Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Sports Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 DSLR Cameras for Sports Photography list.

Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
11 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 800 shots
Good Low Light ISO

Good Ergonomics&Handling
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
No Image Stabilization

Read the details of how we scored Pentax 645D for Sports Photography

Pentax 645D for Daily Photography

Pentax 645D has a score of 83 for Daily Photography which makes it an EXCELLENT candidate for this type of photography.

Environmental Sealings
Large Medium format (44 x 33 mm) sensor
Large Body

1480g
Body Thickness 119mm

Read the details of how we scored Pentax 645D for Daily Photography

Pentax 645D for Landscape Photography

Pentax 645D has a score of 85 for Landscape Photography which makes it an EXCELLENT candidate for this type of photography.

Large Medium format (44 x 33 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 40.0MP

Environmental Sealings
No Live-view

Read the details of how we scored Pentax 645D for Landscape Photography

Pentax 645D Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Pentax 645D compares with other DSLR cameras within a similar price range. In the Bubble chart below, you can see Overall Score vs Price comparison of 645D and the top 10 contenders in the same range. Hover your mouse on the bubbles to see the details of the cameras.

Read a more detailed analysis of Pentax 645D alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Pentax 645D

Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Pentax 645D amongst Camera Decision readers.

Pentax 645Z

Compare

Nikon D810

Compare

Canon 5D MIII

Compare

Canon 5DS R

Compare

Nikon D750

Compare

Sony A7R II

Compare

Pentax K-1

Compare

Canon 5DS

Compare

Pentax 645D Alternatives in Mirrorless Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare Pentax 645D with Mirrorless Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked Mirrorless cameras in Pentax 645D's price range.

Nikon Z 7

Compare

Fujifilm GFX 50S

Compare

Sony A7R III

Compare

Nikon Z 6

Compare

Sony A7R II

Compare

Sony A9

Compare

Sony A7 III

Compare

Canon R

Compare

Frequently Asked Questions about Pentax 645D

Does the Pentax 645D have Image Stabilization?
Does the Pentax 645D have RAW support?
Does the Pentax 645D have Weather Sealing?
Does the Pentax 645D have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Pentax 645D?
What is the Sensor Size of Pentax 645D?
is the Pentax 645D a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Pentax 645D have Touch Screen?
Does the Pentax 645D have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Pentax 645D?

Pentax 645D Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Pentax
Model	Pentax 645D
Announced	2010-03-10
Body Type	Large SLR"
Price	$3,999.95
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	Pentax 645AF2
Number of Lenses	6
Focal Length Multiplier	0.8×
Macro Focus Range	n/a
Screen
Screen Type	Fixed Type
Screen Technology	TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle and with AR coating
Screen Size	3″
Screen Resolution	921k dots
Live View
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Resolution	no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage	98%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.85
Photography Features
Min Shutter Speed	30s
Max Shutter Speed	1/4000s
Continuous Shooting	1.0 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation	Yes
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	no built-in flash
Max Flash Sync	1/125s
Flash Modes	Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain
External Flash
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	82
DxO Color Depth	24.6
DxO Dynamic Range	12.6
DxO Low Light ISO	1262
	Report a correction

Sensor
Sensor Type	CCD
Sensor Size	Medium format
Sensor Dimensions	44 x 33 mm
Sensor Area	1452.00mm²
Sensor Resolution	40 megapixels
Max Image Resolution	7264 x 5440
Max Native ISO	1,600
Min Native ISO	200
Min Boosted ISO	100
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	11
Number of Cross Focus Points	Unknown
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	None
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None
HDMI
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Weight	1480g
Physical Dimensions	156 x 117 x 119mm
Battery Life	800 shots
Battery Type	Battery Pack
Battery Model	D-LI90
Other Features
Self Timer	Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None
Storage Type	SD/SDHC
Storage Slots	2

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