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Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Olympus SH-50 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Olympus SH-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 269g - 112 x 63 x 42mm
  • Introduced January 2013
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
  • Old Model is Pentax 645D
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Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

Following is a thorough review of the Olympus SH-50 versus Pentax 645Z, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Pro DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the SH-50 (16MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the SH-50 (1/2.3") and 645Z (Medium format) enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The SH-50 was unveiled 15 months before the 645Z which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SH-50 being a Compact camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before diving in to a complete comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the SH-50 scores versus the 645Z with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-50 over the Pentax 645Z

 SH-50 645Z 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Olympus SH-50

 645Z SH-50 
RevealedApril 2014January 2013More modern by 15 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k460kSharper screen (+577k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SH-50 and Pentax 645Z

 SH-50 645Z 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera, you have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus SH-50 has got exterior dimensions of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Pentax 645Z has specifications of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") and a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SH-50 versus Pentax 645Z in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have at that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the SH-50 vs the 645Z.

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SH-50 and 645Z is 88 and 49 respectively.

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes simply by seeing specifications. The picture below might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SH-50 and 645Z.

To sum up, each of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SH-50 using its smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh more challenging and the Pentax 645Z will show extra detail having an extra 35MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs much more aggressively. The more aged SH-50 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Portrait photography advice
Pentax 645Z Portrait photography advice
44
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
supports face detect focusing
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
88
has manual focus
high megapixels (51MP)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Street photography factors
Pentax 645Z Street photography factors
64
image stabilization (Optical)
supports focus via touch
lighter than others (269g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
63
has a tilting screen
sensor size is big (Medium format)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
very good ISO range (204,800)
does not have image stabilization
heavier than competitors (1,550 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Sports photography highlights
Pentax 645Z Sports photography highlights
48
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
71
high megapixels (51 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
comes with phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (650 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SH-50
Travel photography with Pentax 645Z
69
lighter than others (269g)
supports focus via touch
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
51
environment proof
high megapixels (51 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (650 CIPA)
heavier than competitors (1,550g)
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-50 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Landscape photography camera
49
you can focus manually
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
78
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inch)
high megapixels (51MP)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
does not have anti-alias filter
very good ISO range (204,800)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
has double storage slots
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (650 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Vlogging highlights
Pentax 645Z Vlogging highlights
34
decently wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (269g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic support
27
offers face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external mic port
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
heavier than competitors (1,550 grams)
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Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-50 and Pentax 645Z
 Olympus SH-50Pentax 645Z
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SH-50 Pentax 645Z
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Pro DSLR
Introduced 2013-01-08 2014-04-15
Body design Compact Large SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI PRIME III
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Medium format
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 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
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 8256 x 6192
Max native ISO 6400 204800
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 27
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 6
Focal length multiplier 5.8 0.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 12.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync 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
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/125 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 grams (0.59 lb) 1550 grams (3.42 lb)
Dimensions 112 x 63 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 101
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 26.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 4505
Other
Battery life - 650 photographs
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Storage slots 1 Dual
Cost at release $300 $5,024