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Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
21
Overall
28
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Panasonic FX48
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 150g - 95 x 53 x 22mm
  • Released January 2009
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-FX40
Pentax 645Z
(Full Review)
  • 51MP - Medium format Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax 645AF2 Mount
  • 1550g - 156 x 117 x 123mm
  • Launched April 2014
  • Replaced the Pentax 645D
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Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

Following is a extensive assessment of the Panasonic FX48 and Pentax 645Z, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Pro DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the FX48 (12MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the FX48 (1/2.3") and 645Z (Medium format) provide different sensor sizing.

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The FX48 was introduced 6 years before the 645Z which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FX48 being a Compact camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before diving into a detailed comparison, here is a quick summary of how the FX48 grades vs the 645Z with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FX48 over the Pentax 645Z

 FX48 645Z 

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Panasonic FX48

 645Z FX48 
LaunchedApril 2014January 2009More modern by 63 months
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3.2"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.7")
Screen resolution1037k230kSharper screen (+807k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FX48 and Pentax 645Z

 FX48 645Z 
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera, you are going to need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FX48 enjoys outside measurements of 95mm x 53mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9") and a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) whilst the Pentax 645Z has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") and a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FX48 and Pentax 645Z in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the FX48 against the 645Z.

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the FX48 and 645Z is 95 and 49 respectively.

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizes just by going through specifications. The pic here should offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the FX48 and 645Z.

Plainly, both of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The FX48 using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Pentax 645Z will produce greater detail using its extra 39 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more aged FX48 will be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FX48
Portrait photography with Pentax 645Z
27
has face detection focusing
no manual focus
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
88
manual focus
high resolution (51 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
features face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Street photography information
Pentax 645Z Street photography information
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
63
tilting screen
sensor size is large (Medium format)
exports RAW files
environment proof
great ISO range (204,800)
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (1,550 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FX48
Sports photography with Pentax 645Z
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
71
high resolution (51MP)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (650 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FX48 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Travel photography camera
58
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
no Timelapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
51
environment proof
high resolution (51MP)
not so great battery power (650 CIPA)
more heavy than competition in class (1,550g)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Landscape photography factors
Pentax 645Z Landscape photography factors
33
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5")
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Timelapse recording
78
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inch)
high resolution (51 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
does not have low pass filter
great ISO range (204,800)
exports RAW files
environment proof
2 card slots
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (650 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Vlogging information
Pentax 645Z Vlogging information
30
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
no external microphone socket
27
features face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone support
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (1,550g)
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Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX48 and Pentax 645Z
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48Pentax 645Z
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 Pentax 645Z
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-FX40 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Pro DSLR
Released 2009-01-27 2014-04-15
Physical type Compact Large SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - 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 12MP 51MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 8256 x 6192
Max native ISO 3200 204800
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 27
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens focal range 25-125mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 6
Focal length multiplier 5.9 0.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.5" 3.2"
Resolution of display 230k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/3000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.00 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync 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
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/125 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 848 x 480 (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 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 150g (0.33 lb) 1550g (3.42 lb)
Physical dimensions 95 x 53 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9") 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 - 650 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Card slots 1 2
Retail pricing $325 $5,024