Pentax 645Z Review

Image Shooting Modes

Exposure Modes

The Pentax 645Z has the same exposure modes as the 645D except that three user configurations can be saved and accessed directly by turning the exposure mode dial to on of the U1, U2, or U3 positions.

We like that the dial is locked so that it doesn't accidentally get knocked into another position. In order to turn the dial one must push down on the button in the middle. Unlike the K-3, the lock cannot be disabled.

The mode dial has the following settings:

• P: Program mode. The camera sets shutter speed and aperture (and ISO if auto-ISO is engaged). Turning the front e-dial will set the shutter speed to a user selected value and keep that value for subsequent shots while the camera then adjusts aperture automatically; turning the rear e-dial will set the aperture and keep that value for subsequent shots and the camera will now adjust the shutter speed to match. The green button reverts both parameters to the program line and the K-3 to normal P operation. This behavior is called Hyper Program. It is possible to forgo Hyper Program and customize the e-dials to shift the program line, set the ISO and/or adjust exposure compensation
• Sv ("Sensitivity value" mode): This is an exclusive Pentax exposure mode. The user sets the ISO with the rear e-dial and the K-3 will set shutter speed and aperture to match
• Tv ("Time value"): Shutter speed priority, the user sets the shutter speed with the front e-dial. The camera sets a matching aperture (and ISO if auto-ISO is engaged)
• Av ("Aperture value"): Aperture priority mode, the user sets the aperture with the rear e-dial, the camera sets a shutter speed to match (and ISO if auto-ISO is engaged). This is the mode we use the most
• TAv ("Time and Aperture value"): This is another Pentax special. The user sets the shutter speed with the front e-dial and the aperture with the rear e-dial, and the camera adjusts the ISO to match
• M: Metered manual exposure mode. The user sets shutter speed and aperture, the camera meter is active and indicates how much the exposure is off the metered value.  ISO cannot be set to auto in this mode
• B ("Bulb"): Aperture is set with the rear e-dial. The shutter stays open for as long the shutter button is held down. A custom function can change this behavior so that the first press of the shutter release opens the shutter and the next press closes the shutter
• X ("X-sync"): Handy when using third party flash guns or when a flash is connected to the X-sync terminal rather than the hot shoe: The shutter is set to the flash sync speed of 1/125 second and the aperture can be adjusted with the rear e-dial
• U1 through U3: Calls up the user's preferred settings. The following settings can be stored in these user memory banks:
  • Exposure mode (except for Movie mode)
  • Sensitivity (ISO)
  • EV compensation
  • Metering pattern 
  • AF points (spot, auto-27, auto-9, select 1 through 4)
  • Flash mode
  • Drive mode
  • White balance
  • Custom image
  • Almost all settings on the four pages of recording parameters in the menu system. This includes the customization of the buttons and dials
  • Almost all custom function settings

Custom Image

When shooting in the JPEG file format the processing of the image can be controlled by what Pentax calls Custom Image. Pressing the right button on the four way controller brings up the screen where one can select how the future images should be processed.

The following Custom Image styles are available:

• Bright
• Natutal
• Portrait
• Landscape
• Vibrant
• Radiant
• Muted
• Bleach Bypass
• Reversal Film
• Monochrome
• Cross Processing

The different presets are compared in more detail on the studio test page. We doubt, however, that the typical 645Z owner will bother with anything but shooting in RAW where Custom Image has no effect.

With the custom Image screen is displayed, the INFO button brings up a screen for fine tuning saturation, hue, high/low key, contrast and sharpness (depending on the preset):

There is no shortage of customization. We did find the default Landscape settings disappointing and recommend that you stick with Bright or Natural, unless you're prepared to shoot enough sample photos to get the Landscape setting costomized appropriately.

Verdict

The 645Z has all the exposure modes an enthusiast or pro shooter can crave. Additionally it has the usual Pentax custom image settings that affects how the built-in JPG engine processes images. These settings are somewhat out of scope for the 645Z target audience.