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Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
35
Overall
36
Olympus VR-320 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Olympus VR-320
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-300mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 101 x 58 x 29mm
  • Introduced July 2011
  • Renewed by Olympus VR-330
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
  • Released April 2014
  • Replaced the Pentax 645D
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Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Olympus VR-320 and Pentax 645Z, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Pro DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the VR-320 (14MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the VR-320 (1/2.3") and 645Z (Medium format) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The VR-320 was announced 3 years prior to the 645Z which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus VR-320 being a Compact camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a full comparison, here is a brief summary of how the VR-320 scores versus the 645Z in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VR-320 over the Pentax 645Z

 VR-320 645Z 

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Olympus VR-320

 645Z VR-320 
ReleasedApril 2014July 2011More modern by 33 months
Manually focus More exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k230kSharper screen (+807k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VR-320 and Pentax 645Z

 VR-320 645Z 
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera often, you should take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus VR-320 enjoys outside measurements of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Pentax 645Z has sizing 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 VR-320 and Pentax 645Z in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the VR-320 against the 645Z.

Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the VR-320 and 645Z is 94 and 49 respectively.

Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to visualize the gap in sensor sizes merely by viewing specifications. The image here may provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the VR-320 and 645Z.

To sum up, both the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The VR-320 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Pentax 645Z will result in extra detail with its extra 37 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more aged VR-320 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VR-320 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax 645Z Portrait photography highlights
33
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
includes face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
88
focusing manually
MP count amazing (51 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
has face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus VR-320 Street photography advice
Pentax 645Z Street photography advice
62
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (158g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
63
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is great (Medium format)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
good ISO range (204,800)
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (1,550g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VR-320
Sports photography with Pentax 645Z
47
excellent zoom range (24-300mm 12.5 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
71
MP count amazing (51 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
has tracking autofocus
environment sealing
supports phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery pack (650 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VR-320 Travel photography details
Pentax 645Z Travel photography details
70
lighter than average in class (158g)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long reach (300mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
51
environment sealing
MP count amazing (51 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (650 per charge)
more heavy than competition in class (1,550g)
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus VR-320
Landscape photography with Pentax 645Z
42
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
78
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
good sized screen (3.2")
MP count amazing (51MP)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
does not have low pass filter
good ISO range (204,800)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
has dual storage slots
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery pack (650 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus VR-320
Vlogging with Pentax 645Z
32
reasonably wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focusing
lighter than average in class (158g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone support
27
has face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external microphone jack
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (1,550g)
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Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-320 and Pentax 645Z
 Olympus VR-320Pentax 645Z
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus VR-320 Pentax 645Z
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Pro DSLR
Introduced 2011-07-19 2014-04-15
Body design Compact Large SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III 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 megapixel 51 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 8256 x 6192
Maximum native ISO 1600 204800
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 27
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens zoom range 24-300mm (12.5x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 6
Focal length multiplier 5.8 0.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.70 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
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/125 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 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 input
Headphone input
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 158g (0.35 lbs) 1550g (3.42 lbs)
Physical dimensions 101 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 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 shots
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-42B D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Storage slots Single Two
Price at release $179 $5,024