All of the Pentax Medium Format Cameras (120 Film and Digital)
- Nathaniel Stephan
- September 27, 2026
Table of Contents
Pentax released cameras that shoot in two different medium formats, 67 and 645.
There are digital versions of the 645 cameras.
- 6x7 format: 10 frames per roll of 120 film.
- 6x4.5 format: 15 frames per roll of 120 film.
67 Series (Film)
The Pentax 67 series produces a 56x70mm negative. That’s ~4.3 times larger than a 35mm frame.
The gigantic mirror causes a loud mirror slap. It is so strong that the vibrations can cause motion blur at shutter speed between 1/4th and 1/30th of a second.
For slower frame rates, the vibrations only last for a tiny part of the exposure. That’s why you may want to avoid the first version that doesn’t have a mirror lock up option.
- Asahi Pentax 6x7 (1969–1976): The original 6x7cm SLR, famous for being gigantic.
- Asahi Pentax 6x7 MLU (1976–1990): Added a mirror lock-up mechanism to reduce camera shake during shooting.
- Pentax 67 (1990–1999): A cosmetic refresh.
- Pentax 67 II (1999–2009): Added AE metering and TTL flash support.
| Camera | Weight (body only) |
|---|---|
| Asahi Pentax 6x7 | ~1,190 g (2.6 lb) |
| Asahi Pentax 6x7 MLU | ~1,190 g (2.6 lb) |
| Pentax 67 | ~1,190 g (2.6 lb) |
| Pentax 67 II | ~1,270 g (2.8 lb) |
67 Lenses
A fully kitted body + lens combo can easily hit 4.5 pounds (2kg). That fact alone has kept me from ever wanting to own one.
The 105mm f/2.4 is the “classic” portrait lens and very desirable.
| Lens | Weight |
|---|---|
| SMC Pentax 67 55mm f/4 | ~485 g |
| SMC Pentax 67 90mm f/2.8 | ~480 g |
| SMC Pentax 67 105mm f/2.4 | ~660 g |
| SMC Pentax 67 165mm f/2.8 | ~940 g |
| SMC Pentax 67 45mm f/4 | ~580 g |
| SMC Pentax 67 75mm f/4.5 Shift | ~790 g |
645 Series (Film)
The Pentax 645 series produces a 56×41.5mm negative. That’s ~2.7 times larger than a 35mm frame.
Due to the age of all the cameras, check the light seals. They can deteriorate, requiring replacement.
A small aperture coupling lever inside the 645N can break or wear down. That can cause incorrect exposure readings or stop the camera from shooting.
- 645 (1984–1997): The first Pentax 645 camera, shooting 6x4.5cm frames with a built-in motor drive.
- 645N (1997–2001): Added autofocus.
- 645NII (2001–2010): Improved autofocus performance and minor ergonomic updates.
645 Series (Digital)
The Pentax 645 digital cameras used the same lens mount as the film 645 series. Both models featured weather sealing. The shift from CCD to CMOS in the 645Z also added video recording.
- 645D (2010–2014): 40MP CCD sensor with weather sealing.
- 645Z (2014–present): 51.4MP CMOS sensor, improved weather sealing, and video recording capability.
