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Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Olympus SZ-15
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-483mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Launched June 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
  • Introduced April 2014
  • Old Model is Pentax 645D
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

Following is a in depth assessment of the Olympus SZ-15 versus Pentax 645Z, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Pro DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There exists a significant gap among the resolutions of the SZ-15 (16MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and 645Z (Medium format) provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-15 was released 9 months earlier than the 645Z which means that they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief view of how the SZ-15 scores versus the 645Z with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Pentax 645Z

 SZ-15 645Z 

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Olympus SZ-15

 645Z SZ-15 
IntroducedApril 2014June 2013More modern by 9 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k460kSharper screen (+577k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Pentax 645Z

 SZ-15 645Z 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-15 features outside dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") along with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Pentax 645Z has dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") along with a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-15 versus 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 depending on the lens you select at that time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-15 compared to the 645Z.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-15 and 645Z is 88 and 49 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be tough to visualise the difference in sensor sizes purely by going through technical specs. The picture here may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-15 and 645Z.

As you have seen, both of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SZ-15 because of its smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Pentax 645Z will provide extra detail as a result of its extra 35MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more aged SZ-15 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography advice
Pentax 645Z Portrait photography advice
44
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
provides face detection focusing
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
88
has manual focus
megapixel count fantastic (51MP)
great sensor size (Medium format)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography features
Pentax 645Z Street photography features
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (250 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
63
screen tilts
great sensor size (Medium format)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
good high ISO (204,800)
does not have image stabilization
heavier than average in class (1,550g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-15
Sports photography with Pentax 645Z
53
incredible zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
71
megapixel count fantastic (51MP)
great sensor size (Medium format)
features tracking autofocus
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low battery pack (650 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography highlights
Pentax 645Z Travel photography highlights
68
lighter than average (250 grams)
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (23mm)
long reach (483mm)
does not have Timelapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
51
environment proofing
megapixel count fantastic (51 megapixels)
low battery pack (650 CIPA)
heavier than average in class (1,550g)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography advice
Pentax 645Z Landscape photography advice
49
focusing manually
decently wide (23mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
78
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
megapixel count fantastic (51 megapixels)
great sensor size (Medium format)
no anti aliasing filter
good high ISO (204,800)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
has dual storage slots
does not have image stabilization
low battery pack (650 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-15
Vlogging with Pentax 645Z
34
decently wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (250g)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone jack
27
features face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic jack
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
heavier than average in class (1,550 grams)
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Pentax 645Z
 Olympus SZ-15Pentax 645Z
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-15 Pentax 645Z
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Pro DSLR
Launched 2013-06-21 2014-04-15
Body design Compact Large SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - PRIME III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Medium format
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 51 megapixel
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 3200 204800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 27
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens zoom range 23-483mm (21.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 6
Focal length multiplier 5.8 0.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3.2 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Min shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.50 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
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/125 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 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 data format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250g (0.55 lbs) 1550g (3.42 lbs)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 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 pictures
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Storage slots One Dual
Launch cost $200 $5,024