Panasonic FZ47 vs Pentax 645D

In this article, we are looking at the Panasonic FZ47 vs Pentax 645D, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Pro DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the FZ47 (12MP) and 645D (40MP) and the FZ47 (1/2.3") and 645D (Medium format) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FZ47 was announced 17 months after the 645D making the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FZ47 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax 645D being a Large SLR camera.

Before going in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a short overview of how the FZ47 grades against the 645D in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47 and Pentax 645D. The whole galleries are available at Panasonic FZ47 Gallery and Pentax 645D Gallery.

If you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FZ47 features outer measurements of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") along with a weight of 498 grams (1.10 lbs) whilst the Pentax 645D has dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7") along with a weight of 1480 grams (3.26 lbs).

See the Panasonic FZ47 vs Pentax 645D in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use at that time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the FZ47 compared to the 645D.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FZ47 and 645D is 68 and 50 respectively.

Sometimes, it can be difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizes just by checking out a spec sheet. The image below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the FZ47 and 645D.

As you can see, both of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The FZ47 using its smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh tougher and the Pentax 645D will produce extra detail with its extra 28 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images far more aggressively. The fresher FZ47 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.