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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax 645D

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Pentax 645D front
Portability
50
Imaging
76
Features
52
Overall
66

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax 645D Key Specs

Olympus SZ-12
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Announced January 2012
Pentax 645D
(Full Review)
  • 40MP - Medium format Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 1600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • No Video
  • Pentax 645AF2 Mount
  • 1480g - 156 x 117 x 119mm
  • Released March 2010
  • Updated by Pentax 645Z
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax 645D Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Olympus SZ-12 versus Pentax 645D, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Pro DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and 645D (40MP) and the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and 645D (Medium format) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-12 was brought out 23 months after the 645D which makes them a generation away from each other. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Pentax 645D being a Large SLR camera.

Before we go right into a thorough comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the SZ-12 matches up versus the 645D with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Pentax 645D

 SZ-12 645D 
ReleasedJanuary 2012March 2010Newer by 23 months

Reasons to pick Pentax 645D over the Olympus SZ-12

 645D SZ-12 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Pentax 645D

 SZ-12 645D 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax 645D Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-12 features outside dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Pentax 645D has dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7") along with a weight of 1480 grams (3.26 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-12 versus Pentax 645D in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the SZ-12 against the 645D.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax 645D size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and 645D is 89 and 50 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax 645D top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax 645D Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by going over a spec sheet. The picture here will give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-12 and 645D.

Clearly, each of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The SZ-12 due to its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax 645D will offer you greater detail having its extra 26MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more recent SZ-12 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax 645D sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax 645D Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax 645D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-12
Portrait photography with Pentax 645D
33
decent megapixels (14MP)
features face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
77
you can focus manually
high MP (40MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography details
Pentax 645D Street photography details
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (226g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
58
big sensor size (Medium format)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography factors
Pentax 645D Sports photography factors
40
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14MP)
features tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery pack (220 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
63
high MP (40MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
environment sealing
has phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
terrible battery life (800 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-12
Travel photography with Pentax 645D
65
lighter than average (226 grams)
decent megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
low battery pack (220 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
55
environment sealing
high MP (40MP)
terrible battery life (800 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography info
Pentax 645D Landscape photography info
40
really wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
low battery pack (220 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse mode
72
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
high MP (40MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
does not have anti-alias filter
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
has dual storage slots
doesn't have liveview
no image stabilization
terrible battery life (800 shots)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax 645D as a Vlogging camera
31
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focus
lighter than average (226 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic jack
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax 645D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Pentax 645D
 Olympus SZ-12Pentax 645D
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SZ-12 Pentax 645D
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Pro DSLR
Announced 2012-01-10 2010-03-10
Body design Compact Large SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime II
Sensor type CCD CCD
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 14 megapixel 40 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 7264 x 5440
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW data
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Number of lenses - 6
Focal length multiplier 5.8 0.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle and with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/125 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 pounds) 1480 grams (3.26 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 156 x 117 x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 82
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.6
DXO Low light score not tested 1262
Other
Battery life 220 shots 800 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots Single Two
Retail cost $350 $4,000