Experiments at the high current (up to 2.5 MA) Z‐pinch facility “ANGARA‐V‐1” were performed with Al, Cu, W and CD2wires and outer Ar, Xe and D2gas shells (p=0–1.8 atm). Single shot soft X‐ray spectra were recorded by means of a curved X‐ray cristal spectrograph in a wide spectral wavelength interval. The characteristic X‐ray emission lines of H‐, He‐ and Li‐like ions were analysed with the elaborated spectra simulation codes “SAT” and “META”. The electron temperature Te, density neand ionisation temperature Tzwere determined with respect to the non‐equilibrium plasma state, optical thickness and electron beam excitation. Additional information about the plasma developement was obtained from the emission lines of Na, Cl and Si, which were added to the wire material for diagnostic purposes. For Ar we obtained electron temperatures up toTe ∼ 1.2 keVand electron densities of aboutne ∼ 1021 cm−3, for AlTe ∼ 600 eV,ne ∼ 3·1020 cm−3. A low ionisation temperature in practically all discharges indicates non‐equilibrium states of overheated plasmas. Information about the plasma geometrie was obtained from pinhole framings in different spectral ranges. Discharges with copper wires showed a strong decrease of the hot spot creation with outer gas shells. Pinhole framings were analysed with a high resolution by means of a topographical method.