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Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax 645D

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 front
 
Pentax 645D front
Portability
50
Imaging
75
Features
52
Overall
65

Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax 645D Key Specs

Panasonic FS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Released January 2009
Pentax 645D
(Full Review)
  • 40MP - Medium format Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 1600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • No Video
  • Pentax 645AF2 Mount
  • 1480g - 156 x 117 x 119mm
  • Released March 2010
  • Renewed by Pentax 645Z
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Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax 645D Overview

In this article, we are evaluating the Panasonic FS15 and Pentax 645D, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Pro DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the FS15 (12MP) and 645D (40MP) and the FS15 (1/2.3") and 645D (Medium format) use different sensor sizing.

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The FS15 was released 13 months earlier than the 645D making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax 645D being a Large SLR camera.

Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a concise overview of how the FS15 matches up against the 645D in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS15 over the Pentax 645D

 FS15 645D 

Reasons to pick Pentax 645D over the Panasonic FS15

 645D FS15 
ReleasedMarch 2010January 2009More recent by 13 months
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS15 and Pentax 645D

 FS15 645D 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax 645D Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FS15 features external dimensions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) whilst the Pentax 645D has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7") with a weight of 1480 grams (3.26 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FS15 and Pentax 645D in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the FS15 against the 645D.

Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax 645D size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the FS15 and 645D is 95 and 50 respectively.

Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax 645D top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax 645D Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is tough to visualize the gap in sensor measurements simply by checking out a spec sheet. The photograph here should offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FS15 and 645D.

As you can see, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The FS15 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh harder and the Pentax 645D will provide more detail as a result of its extra 28MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images far more aggressively. The older FS15 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax 645D sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax 645D Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax 645D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Portrait photography advice
Pentax 645D Portrait photography advice
20
no manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
77
has manual focus
megapixel count amazing (40 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
delivers RAW formats
no liveview
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS15 as a Street photography camera
Pentax 645D as a Street photography camera
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
58
sensor size is big (Medium format)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Sports photography info
Pentax 645D Sports photography info
25
image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
62
megapixel count amazing (40 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
weather sealing
has phase detect auto focus
no liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery life (800 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS15 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax 645D as a Travel photography camera
51
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
55
weather sealing
megapixel count amazing (40MP)
bad battery life (800 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FS15
Landscape photography with Pentax 645D
27
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse mode
72
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
megapixel count amazing (40 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
does not have anti aliasing filter
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
has double storage slots
no liveview
does not have image stabilization
bad battery life (800 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Vlogging information
Pentax 645D Vlogging information
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of mic jack
9
can't record video
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Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax 645D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS15 and Pentax 645D
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15Pentax 645D
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 Pentax 645D
Type Ultracompact Pro DSLR
Released 2009-01-16 2010-03-10
Body design Ultracompact Large SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime II
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" Medium format
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 40MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 7264 x 5440
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Maximum enhanced ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens zoom range 29-145mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 6
Crop factor 5.9 0.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle and with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/125 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 640x480 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 136 gr (0.30 lb) 1480 gr (3.26 lb)
Dimensions 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") 156 x 117 x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 82
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 1262
Other
Battery life - 800 pictures
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC
Storage slots Single Dual
Retail pricing $180 $4,000