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Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
82
Imaging
60
Features
80
Overall
68
Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Panasonic GX9
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 407g - 124 x 72 x 47mm
  • Announced February 2018
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
  • Released April 2014
  • Replaced the Pentax 645D
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Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

Here is a extensive review of the Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax 645Z, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Pro DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the GX9 (20MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the GX9 (Four Thirds) and 645Z (Medium format) posses different sensor sizing.

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The GX9 was launched 3 years later than the 645Z and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GX9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before we go right into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the GX9 scores vs the 645Z in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic GX9 over the Pentax 645Z

 GX9 645Z 
ReleasedFebruary 2018April 2014Fresher by 47 months
Display resolution1240k1037kClearer display (+203k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Panasonic GX9

 645Z GX9 
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Panasonic GX9 and Pentax 645Z

 GX9 645Z 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GX9 features outer measurements of 124mm x 72mm x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 407 grams (0.90 lbs) and the Pentax 645Z has dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") with a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax 645Z in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the GX9 against the 645Z.

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the GX9 and 645Z is 82 and 49 respectively.

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing purely by researching specifications. The photograph below will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the GX9 and 645Z.

To sum up, both cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The GX9 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field harder and the Pentax 645Z will provide you with more detail utilizing its extra 31 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The newer GX9 should have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Portrait photography advice
Pentax 645Z Portrait photography advice
76
manual focus
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
88
manual focus
MP count excellent (51MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Street photography advice
Pentax 645Z Street photography advice
84
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
has focus by touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
63
tilting screen
big sensor size (Medium format)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
good high ISO (204,800)
does not have image stabilization
heavier than others (1,550g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX9 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Sports photography camera
72
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
has phase detect auto focus
low battery life (260 CIPA)
71
MP count excellent (51MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
provides tracking focus
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low battery (650 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Travel photography info
Pentax 645Z Travel photography info
71
has bluetooth
has focus by touch
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
low battery life (260 shots)
does not offer selfie friendly display
51
environment proofing
MP count excellent (51 megapixels)
low battery (650 CIPA)
heavier than others (1,550g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GX9
Landscape photography with Pentax 645Z
77
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
no anti aliasing filter
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
low battery life (260 shots)
78
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3.2 inches)
MP count excellent (51 megapixels)
big sensor size (Medium format)
does not have anti-alias filter
good high ISO (204,800)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
has dual storage slots
does not have image stabilization
low battery (650 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX9 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax 645Z as a Vlogging camera
35
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does not offer selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone socket
27
provides face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes mic jack
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
heavier than others (1,550 grams)
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Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX9 and Pentax 645Z
 Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9Pentax 645Z
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 Pentax 645Z
Class Advanced Mirrorless Pro DSLR
Announced 2018-02-13 2014-04-15
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine PRIME III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Medium format
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 51 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 5184 x 3888 8256 x 6192
Maximum native ISO 25600 204800
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 49 27
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax 645AF2
Available lenses 107 6
Focal length multiplier 2.1 0.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3.2"
Resolution of screen 1,240 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,760 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 98%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.85x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.00 m (at ISO 200) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced 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
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/125 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 407g (0.90 pounds) 1550g (3.42 pounds)
Physical dimensions 124 x 72 x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9") 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 260 images 650 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 photos over 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Storage slots One Dual
Launch pricing $1,000 $5,024