Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax 645Z

In this write-up, we will be looking at the Olympus VR-340 versus Pentax 645Z, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Pro DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the VR-340 (16MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the VR-340 (1/2.3") and 645Z (Medium format) feature different sensor size.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The VR-340 was launched 3 years prior to the 645Z which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VR-340 being a Compact camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a simple overview of how the VR-340 matches up vs the 645Z in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus VR-340 & Pentax 645Z. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus VR-340 Gallery & Pentax 645Z Gallery.

If you're intending to carry around your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus VR-340 provides external dimensions 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 sizing of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") with a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus VR-340 versus Pentax 645Z in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the VR-340 compared to the 645Z.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the VR-340 and 645Z is 96 and 49 respectively.

In many cases, it's difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizes merely by reviewing a spec sheet. The pic underneath will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the VR-340 and 645Z.

Clearly, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The VR-340 because of its tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh harder and the Pentax 645Z will offer you more detail utilizing its extra 35MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged VR-340 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.