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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax 645Z 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 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
  • Introduced April 2014
  • Replaced the Pentax 645D
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax 645Z, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Pro DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap among the image resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and 645Z (Medium format) boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-12 was released 3 years before the 645Z which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before getting right into a thorough comparison, here is a concise overview of how the SZ-12 scores vs the 645Z when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 SZ-12 645Z 

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

 645Z SZ-12 
IntroducedApril 2014January 2012More modern by 27 months
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k460kCrisper screen (+577k dot)

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

 SZ-12 645Z 
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-12 has got physical measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Pentax 645Z has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") along with a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax 645Z in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the SZ-12 vs the 645Z.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and 645Z is 89 and 49 respectively.

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

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizes simply by researching specifications. The pic below might provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-12 and 645Z.

Plainly, the 2 cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SZ-12 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh more difficult and the Pentax 645Z will render more detail as a result of its extra 37 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more aged SZ-12 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography features
Pentax 645Z Portrait photography features
33
good MP (14 megapixels)
has face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
88
manual focus
excellent megapixels (51 megapixels)
big sensor size (Medium format)
has face detect focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Street photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Street photography camera
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
63
screen tilts up and down
big sensor size (Medium format)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
very good high ISO (204,800)
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than others in class (1,550g)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-12
Sports photography with Pentax 645Z
40
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
has tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (220 shots)
has no phase detect AF
71
excellent megapixels (51 megapixels)
big sensor size (Medium format)
has tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery pack (650 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography details
Pentax 645Z Travel photography details
65
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
good MP (14MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
bad battery (220 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
51
environment sealing
excellent megapixels (51 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (650 CIPA)
more heavy than others in class (1,550 grams)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography info
Pentax 645Z Landscape photography info
40
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
bad battery (220 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
78
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inches)
excellent megapixels (51MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
very good high ISO (204,800)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
has double storage slots
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery pack (650 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax 645Z as a Vlogging camera
31
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focusing
lighter than competition in class (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone socket
27
has face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with microphone port
does not have selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than others in class (1,550g)
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Pentax 645Z
 Olympus SZ-12Pentax 645Z
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SZ-12 Pentax 645Z
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Pro DSLR
Announced 2012-01-10 2014-04-15
Body design Compact Large SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - PRIME III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Medium format
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 51 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 8256 x 6192
Highest native ISO 1600 204800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 27
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Available lenses - 6
Focal length multiplier 5.8 0.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3.2"
Display resolution 460k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in 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
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/125 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lb) 1550 gr (3.42 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 101
DXO Color Depth score not tested 26.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.7
DXO Low light score not tested 4505
Other
Battery life 220 shots 650 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Storage slots One Two
Pricing at release $350 $5,024