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Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
29
Overall
32
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Panasonic FX580
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 167g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Released January 2009
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FX550
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
  • Announced April 2014
  • Superseded the Pentax 645D
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Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

Below is a comprehensive comparison of the Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax 645Z, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Pro DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the FX580 (12MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the FX580 (1/2.3") and 645Z (Medium format) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The FX580 was announced 6 years prior to the 645Z and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FX580 being a Compact camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before we go right into a in depth comparison, here is a short overview of how the FX580 scores against the 645Z with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FX580 over the Pentax 645Z

 FX580 645Z 

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Panasonic FX580

 645Z FX580 
AnnouncedApril 2014January 2009More recent by 63 months
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k230kCrisper screen (+807k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FX580 and Pentax 645Z

 FX580 645Z 
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FX580 provides external measurements of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) and 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).

Analyze the Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax 645Z in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the FX580 and the 645Z.

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FX580 and 645Z is 95 and 49 respectively.

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to imagine the gap in sensor measurements only by researching a spec sheet. The photograph below will help give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the FX580 and 645Z.

As you can see, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The FX580 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Pentax 645Z will result in extra detail with its extra 39 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older FX580 will be behind in sensor technology.

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FX580 Portrait photography information
Pentax 645Z Portrait photography information
26
has face detection focus
manual focus not available
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
88
manual focus
MP count fantastic (51 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FX580 Street photography highlights
Pentax 645Z Street photography highlights
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
63
has a tilting screen
sensor size is large (Medium format)
exports RAW files
environment proof
good high ISO (204,800)
no image stabilization
more heavy than others in class (1,550g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FX580 Sports photography factors
Pentax 645Z Sports photography factors
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
71
MP count fantastic (51 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
supports phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (650 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FX580 Travel photography information
Pentax 645Z Travel photography information
58
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
51
environment proof
MP count fantastic (51 megapixels)
not so great battery power (650 shots)
more heavy than others in class (1,550 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FX580 Landscape photography features
Pentax 645Z Landscape photography features
36
pretty wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
78
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3.2")
MP count fantastic (51 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
good high ISO (204,800)
exports RAW files
environment proof
has dual storage slots
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (650 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FX580 Vlogging factors
Pentax 645Z Vlogging factors
30
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone port
27
offers face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external microphone jack
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
more heavy than others in class (1,550g)
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Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX580 and Pentax 645Z
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580Pentax 645Z
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 Pentax 645Z
Also called Lumix DMC-FX550 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Pro DSLR
Released 2009-01-27 2014-04-15
Body design 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 12 megapixel 51 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 4:3
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 8256 x 6192
Max native ISO 1600 204800
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 27
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens focal range 25-125mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 6
Focal length multiplier 5.9 0.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3.2"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options 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
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/125 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 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 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 167g (0.37 lb) 1550g (3.42 lb)
Physical dimensions 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" 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 shots
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Storage slots Single 2
Price at launch $499 $5,024