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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Revealed September 2012
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
  • Superseded the Pentax 645D
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

Here is a thorough assessment of the Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax 645Z, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Pro DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There exists a significant gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL5 (16MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and 645Z (Medium format) enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL5 was brought out 19 months prior to the 645Z making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before delving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise overview of how the E-PL5 grades vs the 645Z when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Pentax 645Z

 E-PL5 645Z 
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Olympus E-PL5

 645Z E-PL5 
IntroducedApril 2014September 2012Fresher by 19 months
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k460kSharper display (+577k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax 645Z

 E-PL5 645Z 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera often, you need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL5 has got outside measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Pentax 645Z has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") with a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax 645Z in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL5 versus the 645Z.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and 645Z is 88 and 49 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to envision the gap in sensor sizing merely by checking out a spec sheet. The photograph below will offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL5 and 645Z.

As you can see, both of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL5 featuring a smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field tougher and the Pentax 645Z will show extra detail having its extra 35 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos much more aggressively. The older E-PL5 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Portrait photography camera
71
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW files
88
has manual focus
great MP (51 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
comes with face detect focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography advice
Pentax 645Z Street photography advice
85
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
features focus via touch
good high ISO (25,600)
63
tilting screen
sensor size is great (Medium format)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
good ISO range (204,800)
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than average in class (1,550 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography advice
Pentax 645Z Sports photography advice
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
has no phase detect AF
71
great MP (51MP)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
comes with tracking focus
weather proof
has phase detect auto focus
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery pack (650 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Travel photography camera
75
features focus via touch
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse function
51
weather proof
great MP (51MP)
bad battery pack (650 shots)
more heavy than average in class (1,550g)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography info
Pentax 645Z Landscape photography info
74
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
78
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inches)
great MP (51 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
no anti aliasing filter
good ISO range (204,800)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
has dual storage slots
lack of image stabilization
bad battery pack (650 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax 645Z as a Vlogging camera
78
screen is selfie friendly
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lack of external mic jack
27
comes with face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has microphone jack
does not contain selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than average in class (1,550 grams)
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax 645Z
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Pentax 645Z
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Pentax 645Z
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro DSLR
Revealed 2012-09-17 2014-04-15
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - PRIME III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Medium format
Sensor measurements 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 4:3 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 8256 x 6192
Maximum native ISO 25600 204800
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 35 27
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax 645AF2
Available lenses 107 6
Crop factor 2.1 0.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) no built-in flash
Flash modes 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
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250s 1/125s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 325 gr (0.72 lb) 1550 gr (3.42 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 101
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 26.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 14.7
DXO Low light rating 889 4505
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 650 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Storage slots One Dual
Launch price $400 $5,024