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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
81
Features
74
Overall
78

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL3
Pentax 645Z
(Full Review)
  • 51MP - Medium format Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax 645AF2 Mount
  • 1550g - 156 x 117 x 123mm
  • Introduced April 2014
  • Older Model is Pentax 645D
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

Below, we are looking at the Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax 645Z, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Pro DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a significant gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and 645Z (Medium format) use totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL2 was brought out 4 years prior to the 645Z and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before we go through a complete comparison, below is a brief overview of how the E-PL2 matches up against the 645Z in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Pentax 645Z

 E-PL2 645Z 

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Olympus E-PL2

 645Z E-PL2 
IntroducedApril 2014February 2011Fresher by 38 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k460kSharper display (+577k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax 645Z

 E-PL2 645Z 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL2 has got external dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) while the Pentax 645Z has measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") and a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax 645Z in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use at that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the E-PL2 vs the 645Z.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL2 and 645Z is 85 and 49 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to envision the contrast in sensor sizing merely by viewing specs. The graphic underneath might provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL2 and 645Z.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL2 due to its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Pentax 645Z will render greater detail having its extra 39MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images much more aggressively. The older E-PL2 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography features
Pentax 645Z Portrait photography features
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
88
manual focus
resolution is amazing (51MP)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
includes face detection focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography factors
Pentax 645Z Street photography factors
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
63
has a tilting screen
sensor size is big (Medium format)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
very good high ISO (204,800)
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (1,550 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography details
Pentax 645Z Sports photography details
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (280 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
71
resolution is amazing (51 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
includes tracking autofocus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect AF
max fps very slow (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery pack (650 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography highlights
Pentax 645Z Travel photography highlights
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
bad battery power (280 shots)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
51
weather sealing
resolution is amazing (51MP)
terrible battery pack (650 CIPA)
heavier than competition in class (1,550 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography features
Pentax 645Z Landscape photography features
61
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (280 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
78
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2")
resolution is amazing (51MP)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
very good high ISO (204,800)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
has double storage slots
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery pack (650 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL2
Vlogging with Pentax 645Z
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic socket
27
includes face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external mic port
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (1,550g)
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax 645Z
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Pentax 645Z
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Pentax 645Z
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro DSLR
Introduced 2011-02-11 2014-04-15
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V PRIME III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Medium format
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 51 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 8256 x 6192
Highest native ISO 6400 204800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 27
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax 645AF2
Amount of lenses 107 6
Crop factor 2.1 0.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3.2 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, 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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s 1/125s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (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 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362 grams (0.80 lb) 1550 grams (3.42 lb)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 101
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 26.0
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 14.7
DXO Low light score 573 4505
Other
Battery life 280 pictures 650 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Storage slots Single 2
Price at release $0 $5,024