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Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
81
Features
74
Overall
78

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Panasonic FP5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 141g - 101 x 59 x 18mm
  • Revealed January 2011
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
  • Revealed April 2014
  • Superseded the Pentax 645D
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Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

Here, we are comparing the Panasonic FP5 versus Pentax 645Z, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Pro DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the FP5 (14MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the FP5 (1/2.3") and 645Z (Medium format) have different sensor sizing.

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The FP5 was brought out 4 years earlier than the 645Z and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FP5 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a short highlight of how the FP5 matches up vs the 645Z in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FP5 over the Pentax 645Z

 FP5 645Z 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Panasonic FP5

 645Z FP5 
RevealedApril 2014January 2011More recent by 39 months
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FP5 and Pentax 645Z

 FP5 645Z 
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic FP5 has got external dimensions of 101mm x 59mm x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") along with a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs) while the Pentax 645Z has specifications of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") accompanied by a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FP5 versus Pentax 645Z in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the FP5 versus the 645Z.

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FP5 and 645Z is 95 and 49 respectively.

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be tough to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements only by checking out specs. The graphic here should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the FP5 and 645Z.

All in all, both of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The FP5 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Pentax 645Z will provide greater detail having its extra 37MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images way more aggressively. The older FP5 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP5 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Portrait photography camera
33
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
comes with face detect focusing
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
88
manual focus
excellent MP (51MP)
large sensor size (Medium format)
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FP5 Street photography factors
Pentax 645Z Street photography factors
63
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with touch to focus
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
63
has a tilting screen
large sensor size (Medium format)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
above average high ISO (204,800)
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (1,550 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FP5 Sports photography info
Pentax 645Z Sports photography info
43
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
comes with tracking focus
good battery power (260 shots)
max fps low (6.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
71
excellent MP (51MP)
large sensor size (Medium format)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect AF
max fps low (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (650 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FP5
Travel photography with Pentax 645Z
65
good battery power (260 shots)
comes with touch to focus
decent megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
51
environment proofing
excellent MP (51MP)
not so great battery power (650 shots)
more heavy than competition in class (1,550 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FP5 Landscape photography details
Pentax 645Z Landscape photography details
40
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
good battery power (260 CIPA)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
78
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3.2")
excellent MP (51 megapixels)
large sensor size (Medium format)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
above average high ISO (204,800)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
two card slots
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (650 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP5 Vlogging advice
Pentax 645Z Vlogging advice
30
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic jack
27
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external microphone socket
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (1,550 grams)
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Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP5 and Pentax 645Z
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5Pentax 645Z
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 Pentax 645Z
Class Ultracompact Pro DSLR
Revealed 2011-01-05 2014-04-15
Physical type Ultracompact Large SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine IV PRIME III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Medium format
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 51 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 8256 x 6192
Max native ISO 6400 204800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 27
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens focal range 35-140mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 10cm -
Amount of lenses - 6
Focal length multiplier 5.9 0.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3.2 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT Touch Screen LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.90 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction 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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/125s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 141 gr (0.31 lbs) 1550 gr (3.42 lbs)
Physical dimensions 101 x 59 x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") 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 photographs 650 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Card slots 1 2
Price at launch $199 $5,024