Panasonic S5 vs Pentax 645Z

Its time to look much closer at the Panasonic S5 vs Pentax 645Z, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Pro DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the S5 (24MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the S5 (Full frame) and 645Z (Medium format) feature different sensor dimensions.

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The S5 was announced 6 years later than the 645Z and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic S5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before going through a complete comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the S5 matches up versus the 645Z when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 and Pentax 645Z. The whole galleries are provided at Panasonic S5 Gallery and Pentax 645Z Gallery.

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic S5 features exterior measurements of 133mm x 97mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") and a weight of 714 grams (1.57 lbs) and the Pentax 645Z has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") with a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

See the Panasonic S5 vs Pentax 645Z in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the S5 compared to the 645Z.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the S5 and 645Z is 60 and 49 respectively.

Usually, it is very hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizing purely by researching a spec sheet. The photograph here will help provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the S5 and 645Z.

Clearly, each of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The S5 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Pentax 645Z will provide you with greater detail with its extra 27MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images a little more aggressively. The more modern S5 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.