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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • Updated by Olympus E-M5 II
Pentax 645Z
(Full Review)
  • 51MP - Medium format Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax 645AF2 Mount
  • 1550g - 156 x 117 x 123mm
  • Revealed April 2014
  • Replaced the Pentax 645D
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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

Below is a extended comparison of the Olympus E-M5 versus Pentax 645Z, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Pro DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a substantial difference between the image resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and 645Z (Medium format) offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 was brought out 23 months prior to the 645Z which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-M5 scores vs the 645Z when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Pentax 645Z

 E-M5 645Z 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Olympus E-M5

 645Z E-M5 
RevealedApril 2014April 2012More recent by 23 months
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k610kSharper screen (+427k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Pentax 645Z

 E-M5 645Z 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-M5 has external measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Pentax 645Z has specifications of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") along with a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M5 versus Pentax 645Z in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is a front view scale comparison of the E-M5 versus the 645Z.

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and 645Z is 81 and 49 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to see the gap between sensor measurements just by reading specs. The visual underneath may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 and 645Z.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-M5 due to its tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field tougher and the Pentax 645Z will offer more detail having its extra 35MP. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs more aggressively. The older E-M5 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax 645Z Portrait photography highlights
71
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
88
focusing manually
megapixel count high (51MP)
large sensor size (Medium format)
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography advice
Pentax 645Z Street photography advice
82
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
weather sealing
above average ISO range (25,600)
63
screen tilts up and down
large sensor size (Medium format)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
very good ISO range (204,800)
no image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (1,550g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography factors
Pentax 645Z Sports photography factors
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
weather sealing
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
71
megapixel count high (51 megapixels)
large sensor size (Medium format)
features tracking focus
weather sealing
has phase detect autofocus
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
low battery (650 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography features
Pentax 645Z Travel photography features
66
weather sealing
comes with focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
51
weather sealing
megapixel count high (51MP)
low battery (650 per charge)
heavier than competition in class (1,550g)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography info
Pentax 645Z Landscape photography info
73
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
does not have Time Lapse recording
78
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3.2")
megapixel count high (51MP)
large sensor size (Medium format)
no low pass filter
very good ISO range (204,800)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
has double storage slots
no image stabilization
low battery (650 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5
Vlogging with Pentax 645Z
34
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have mic socket
27
features face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic port
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (1,550g)
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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Pentax 645Z
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Pentax 645Z
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Pentax 645Z
Class Advanced Mirrorless Pro DSLR
Launched 2012-04-30 2014-04-15
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Large SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI PRIME III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Medium format
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 51 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 8256 x 6192
Highest native ISO 25600 204800
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 27
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax 645AF2
Total lenses 107 6
Crop factor 2.1 0.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of display 610 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 98%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.85x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Flash On, Flash On+Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync+Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, contrast-control-sync, high-speed sync, wireless sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs 1/125 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425 grams (0.94 lb) 1550 grams (3.42 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 101
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 26.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 14.7
DXO Low light rating 826 4505
Other
Battery life 360 shots 650 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Storage slots 1 Dual
Retail price $799 $5,024