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Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
26
Overall
32
Olympus VG-160 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Olympus VG-160
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2012
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
  • Announced April 2014
  • Superseded the Pentax 645D
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Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

In this article, we are reviewing the Olympus VG-160 versus Pentax 645Z, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Pro DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap among the resolutions of the VG-160 (14MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the VG-160 (1/2.3") and 645Z (Medium format) feature totally different sensor size.

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The VG-160 was revealed 3 years prior to the 645Z which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before diving through a in depth comparison, below is a quick summary of how the VG-160 grades vs the 645Z in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Pentax 645Z

 VG-160 645Z 

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Olympus VG-160

 645Z VG-160 
AnnouncedApril 2014January 2012More modern by 27 months
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VG-160 and Pentax 645Z

 VG-160 645Z 
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus VG-160 provides physical measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) and 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).

Compare the Olympus VG-160 versus Pentax 645Z in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the VG-160 vs the 645Z.

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the VG-160 and 645Z is 96 and 49 respectively.

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to see the gap in sensor sizes just by checking out a spec sheet. The pic below may offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the VG-160 and 645Z.

As you can see, each of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The VG-160 with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Pentax 645Z will provide more detail because of its extra 37 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images far more aggressively. The more aged VG-160 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Portrait photography features
Pentax 645Z Portrait photography features
33
MP count good (14 megapixels)
includes face detect focusing
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
88
focusing manually
MP count great (51 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
comes with face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Street photography factors
Pentax 645Z Street photography factors
56
lighter than others in class (125 grams)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
63
tilting screen
sensor size is great (Medium format)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
great ISO range (204,800)
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competition (1,550g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Sports photography details
Pentax 645Z Sports photography details
26
MP count good (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (165 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
71
MP count great (51 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proofing
has phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (650 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus VG-160
Travel photography with Pentax 645Z
65
lighter than others in class (125g)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (26mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (165 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
51
weather proofing
MP count great (51 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (650 per charge)
more heavy than competition (1,550 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Landscape photography features
Pentax 645Z Landscape photography features
36
relatively wide (26mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
not so great battery pack (165 shots)
does not have Time Lapse function
78
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3.2 inch)
MP count great (51 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
does not have anti-alias filter
great ISO range (204,800)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
2 card slots
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (650 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Vlogging details
Pentax 645Z Vlogging details
30
relatively wide (26mm)
includes face detect focusing
lighter than others in class (125 grams)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic socket
27
comes with face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external microphone support
does not offer selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competition (1,550g)
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Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-160 and Pentax 645Z
 Olympus VG-160Pentax 645Z
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus VG-160 Pentax 645Z
Class Small Sensor Compact Pro DSLR
Launched 2012-01-10 2014-04-15
Physical type Compact Large SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - 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 alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 8256 x 6192
Maximum native ISO 1600 204800
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 27
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focusing distance 7cm -
Amount of lenses - 6
Crop factor 5.8 0.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3.2 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.80 m 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 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 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 125 gr (0.28 lbs) 1550 gr (3.42 lbs)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 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 165 pictures 650 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-70B D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Card slots 1 Two
Price at release $90 $5,024