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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Announced March 2011
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
  • Announced April 2014
  • Superseded the Pentax 645D
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax 645Z Overview

On this page, we will be reviewing the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Pentax 645Z, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Pro DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a big gap between the resolutions of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and 645Z (Medium format) have different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-30MR was revealed 4 years earlier than the 645Z which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a complete comparison, here is a simple summary of how the SZ-30MR scores against the 645Z with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Pentax 645Z

 SZ-30MR 645Z 

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 645Z SZ-30MR 
AnnouncedApril 2014March 2011More modern by 38 months
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k460kClearer screen (+577k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax 645Z

 SZ-30MR 645Z 
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-30MR features outer measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Pentax 645Z has measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") and a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Pentax 645Z in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have during that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the SZ-30MR against the 645Z.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-30MR and 645Z is 89 and 49 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizes purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The pic here will help offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-30MR and 645Z.

Clearly, both the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SZ-30MR using its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax 645Z will offer you more detail because of its extra 35 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more aged SZ-30MR is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography factors
Pentax 645Z Portrait photography factors
34
decent MP (16MP)
offers face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
88
manual focus
high resolution (51 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography advice
Pentax 645Z Street photography advice
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226g)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
63
screen tilts
sensor size is large (Medium format)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
very good high ISO (204,800)
no image stabilization
more heavy than average in class (1,550 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Sports photography with Pentax 645Z
41
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (220 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
71
high resolution (51 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
offers tracking focus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
terrible battery power (650 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography factors
Pentax 645Z Travel photography factors
65
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
terrible battery power (220 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
51
environment sealing
high resolution (51 megapixels)
terrible battery power (650 shots)
more heavy than average in class (1,550g)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Landscape photography with Pentax 645Z
41
really wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
78
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inches)
high resolution (51MP)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
no anti aliasing filter
very good high ISO (204,800)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
has double storage slots
no image stabilization
terrible battery power (650 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging information
Pentax 645Z Vlogging information
34
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (226g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic socket
27
offers face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have microphone port
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
more heavy than average in class (1,550 grams)
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax 645Z
 Olympus SZ-30MRPentax 645Z
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-30MR Pentax 645Z
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Pro DSLR
Announced 2011-03-02 2014-04-15
Body design Compact Large SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ PRIME III
Sensor type CMOS 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 16MP 51MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 8256 x 6192
Max native ISO 3200 204800
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 27
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Total 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 friendly
Display tech TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options 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
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest 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 (30 fps)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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 gr (0.50 pounds) 1550 gr (3.42 pounds)
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 All around 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 220 shots 650 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Storage slots 1 Dual
Pricing at launch $279 $5,024