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Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Olympus SH-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Introduced February 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus SH-2
Pentax 645Z
(Full Review)
  • 51MP - Medium format Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • 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 SH-3 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

Below, we are contrasting the Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax 645Z, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Pro DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the SH-3 (16MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the SH-3 (1/2.3") and 645Z (Medium format) enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The SH-3 was launched 23 months later than the 645Z making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SH-3 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-3 matches up against the 645Z with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Pentax 645Z

 SH-3 645Z 
IntroducedFebruary 2016April 2014More recent by 23 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Olympus SH-3

 645Z SH-3 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k460kSharper display (+577k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SH-3 and Pentax 645Z

 SH-3 645Z 
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus SH-3 comes with external measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) and 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 SH-3 vs Pentax 645Z in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose at the time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the SH-3 and the 645Z.

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SH-3 and 645Z is 88 and 49 respectively.

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to visualize the difference in sensor measurements just by researching a spec sheet. The graphic underneath might offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SH-3 and 645Z.

As you can see, the 2 cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SH-3 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh harder and the Pentax 645Z will render extra detail utilizing its extra 35MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The newer SH-3 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SH-3
Portrait photography with Pentax 645Z
44
megapixel count good (16MP)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
88
focusing manually
amazing megapixels (51MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
provides face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Street photography features
Pentax 645Z Street photography features
70
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
comes with touch to focus
lighter than average (271g)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
63
screen tilts up and down
big sensor size (Medium format)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
great ISO range (204,800)
does not have image stabilization
heavier than competition (1,550g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SH-3
Sports photography with Pentax 645Z
51
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
offers tracking focus
great battery life (380 CIPA)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
71
amazing megapixels (51MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery power (650 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Travel photography camera
74
great battery life (380 shots)
lighter than average (271g)
comes with touch to focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
51
weather proofing
amazing megapixels (51 megapixels)
bad battery power (650 per charge)
heavier than competition (1,550 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Landscape photography info
Pentax 645Z Landscape photography info
55
fairly wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (380 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
78
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inches)
amazing megapixels (51 megapixels)
big sensor size (Medium format)
doesnt have low pass filter
great ISO range (204,800)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
2 card slots
does not have image stabilization
bad battery power (650 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax 645Z as a Vlogging camera
35
fairly wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than average (271g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic jack
27
provides face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have mic support
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
heavier than competition (1,550g)
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Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-3 and Pentax 645Z
 Olympus Stylus SH-3Pentax 645Z
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Stylus SH-3 Pentax 645Z
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Pro DSLR
Introduced 2016-02-08 2014-04-15
Physical type Compact Large SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII 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 area 28.1mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 51MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 8256 x 6192
Maximum native ISO 6400 204800
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 27
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Total lenses - 6
Crop factor 5.8 0.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3.2 inch
Screen resolution 460k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 11.5 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/125 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (15 fps), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271g (0.60 pounds) 1550g (3.42 pounds)
Dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 380 shots 650 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Card slots Single Dual
Launch price $579 $5,024