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Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
67
Imaging
37
Features
62
Overall
47
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Panasonic FZ100
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 540g - 124 x 82 x 92mm
  • Released July 2010
  • Replacement is Panasonic FZ200
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
  • Introduced April 2014
  • Replaced the Pentax 645D
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Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax 645Z, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Pro DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the FZ100 (14MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the FZ100 (1/2.3") and 645Z (Medium format) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FZ100 was brought out 4 years before the 645Z and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FZ100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a simple summary of how the FZ100 grades vs the 645Z with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ100 over the Pentax 645Z

 FZ100 645Z 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Panasonic FZ100

 645Z FZ100 
IntroducedApril 2014July 2010More recent by 45 months
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k460kCrisper screen (+577k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FZ100 and Pentax 645Z

 FZ100 645Z 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic FZ100 provides exterior measurements of 124mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 540 grams (1.19 lbs) and the Pentax 645Z has sizing of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") accompanied by a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax 645Z in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the FZ100 and the 645Z.

Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FZ100 and 645Z is 67 and 49 respectively.

Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to visualise the gap between sensor measurements only by reading specs. The graphic underneath might give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the FZ100 and 645Z.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The FZ100 because of its tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Pentax 645Z will offer you more detail having its extra 37MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older FZ100 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ100 Portrait photography details
Pentax 645Z Portrait photography details
54
you can focus manually
MP count decent (14MP)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW files
sensor is small (1/2.3")
88
manual focus
excellent sensor resolution (51MP)
large sensor size (Medium format)
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ100 as a Street photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Street photography camera
58
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
sensor is small (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition in class (540 grams)
63
has a tilting screen
large sensor size (Medium format)
exports RAW files
weather proof
great high ISO (204,800)
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than average in class (1,550g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ100 Sports photography info
Pentax 645Z Sports photography info
51
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
comes with tracking focus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
71
excellent sensor resolution (51MP)
large sensor size (Medium format)
has tracking autofocus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery power (650 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FZ100
Travel photography with Pentax 645Z
59
MP count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
rather wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (540 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
51
weather proof
excellent sensor resolution (51 megapixels)
not so great battery power (650 CIPA)
more heavy than average in class (1,550 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FZ100
Landscape photography with Pentax 645Z
51
you can focus manually
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
saves RAW files
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have Timelapse function
78
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2")
excellent sensor resolution (51MP)
large sensor size (Medium format)
no anti-alias filter
great high ISO (204,800)
exports RAW files
weather proof
2 card slots
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery power (650 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ100 Vlogging details
Pentax 645Z Vlogging details
64
rather wide (25mm)
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has microphone support
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
more heavy than competition in class (540 grams)
27
has face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone support
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than average in class (1,550 grams)
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Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ100 and Pentax 645Z
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100Pentax 645Z
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 Pentax 645Z
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Pro DSLR
Released 2010-07-21 2014-04-15
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Large SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD PRIME III
Sensor type CMOS 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 megapixels 51 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 8256 x 6192
Highest native ISO 6400 204800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 27
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.2 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 6
Crop factor 5.9 0.8
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3.2 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 11.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 9.50 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/125s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 540g (1.19 pounds) 1550g (3.42 pounds)
Physical dimensions 124 x 82 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6") 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 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Card slots One Two
Cost at launch $500 $5,024