Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax 645Z

Let's examine more in depth at the Panasonic GF3 and Pentax 645Z, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Pro DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the GF3 (12MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the GF3 (Four Thirds) and 645Z (Medium format) possess different sensor measurements.

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The GF3 was announced 3 years prior to the 645Z and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before going straight into a full comparison, below is a simple summary of how the GF3 grades versus the 645Z with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 and Pentax 645Z. The whole galleries are viewable at Panasonic GF3 Gallery and Pentax 645Z Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera frequently, you should consider its weight and size. The Panasonic GF3 enjoys physical measurements of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Pentax 645Z has specifications of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") having a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GF3 and Pentax 645Z in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the GF3 versus the 645Z.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GF3 and 645Z is 90 and 49 respectively.

Typically, it is very hard to picture the difference in sensor measurements simply by checking out a spec sheet. The visual below might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the GF3 and 645Z.

Clearly, the two cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GF3 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Pentax 645Z will provide extra detail with its extra 39 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots a little more aggressively. The older GF3 will be behind in sensor innovation.