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Panasonic GF6 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
87
Imaging
52
Features
64
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF6 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Panasonic GF6 vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Panasonic GF6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 323g - 111 x 65 x 38mm
  • Revealed April 2013
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GF5
  • Updated by Panasonic GF7
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
  • Revealed April 2014
  • Superseded the Pentax 645D
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Panasonic GF6 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Panasonic GF6 and Pentax 645Z, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Pro DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap between the image resolutions of the GF6 (16MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the GF6 (Four Thirds) and 645Z (Medium format) provide different sensor size.

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The GF6 was revealed 12 months earlier than the 645Z so they are both of a similar age. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GF6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the GF6 scores vs the 645Z in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF6 over the Pentax 645Z

 GF6 645Z 
Screen resolution1040k1037kSharper screen (+3k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Panasonic GF6

 645Z GF6 
RevealedApril 2014April 2013Fresher by 12 months
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Panasonic GF6 and Pentax 645Z

 GF6 645Z 
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Panasonic GF6 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic GF6 offers outer measurements of 111mm x 65mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.5") along with a weight of 323 grams (0.71 lbs) and the Pentax 645Z has specifications of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") accompanied by a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic GF6 and Pentax 645Z in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using during that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the GF6 compared to the 645Z.

Panasonic GF6 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GF6 and 645Z is 87 and 49 respectively.

Panasonic GF6 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF6 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to picture the contrast between sensor sizing just by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph underneath may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the GF6 and 645Z.

Clearly, both the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The GF6 having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Pentax 645Z will resolve more detail because of its extra 35 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The older GF6 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic GF6 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF6 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF6 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GF6
Portrait photography with Pentax 645Z
64
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
saves RAW files
external flash not possible
88
manual focus
megapixel count fantastic (51 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GF6
Street photography with Pentax 645Z
77
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
features touch to focus
no image stabilization
63
screen tilts
sensor size is great (Medium format)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
very good ISO range (204,800)
no image stabilization
more heavy than competitors in class (1,550g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF6 Sports photography information
Pentax 645Z Sports photography information
51
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
71
megapixel count fantastic (51 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
features tracking focus
weather proofing
supports phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
terrible battery power (650 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF6 Travel photography features
Pentax 645Z Travel photography features
69
features touch to focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
doesn't have selfie friendly display
51
weather proofing
megapixel count fantastic (51 megapixels)
terrible battery power (650 CIPA)
more heavy than competitors in class (1,550 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF6 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax 645Z Landscape photography highlights
67
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
does not have Timelapse recording
78
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2")
megapixel count fantastic (51 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
does not have low pass filter
very good ISO range (204,800)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
has double storage slots
no image stabilization
terrible battery power (650 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF6 Vlogging info
Pentax 645Z Vlogging info
32
touch screen
supports face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
does not have external microphone jack
27
features face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with microphone port
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
more heavy than competitors in class (1,550 grams)
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Panasonic GF6 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF6 and Pentax 645Z
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF6Pentax 645Z
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF6 Pentax 645Z
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro DSLR
Revealed 2013-04-08 2014-04-15
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD PRIME III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Medium format
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 51 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Full resolution 4592 x 3448 8256 x 6192
Max native ISO 12800 204800
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 27
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax 645AF2
Available lenses 107 6
Crop factor 2.1 0.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.30 m no built-in flash
Flash modes 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
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 secs 1/125 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i PsF/30p in NTSC models, 50i PsF/25p on PAL), 1280 x 720p (60i PsF/30p in NTSC models, 50i PsF/25p on PAL), 640 x 480 (30/25fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 323g (0.71 lbs) 1550g (3.42 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 65 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.5") 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 54 101
DXO Color Depth rating 20.7 26.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.6 14.7
DXO Low light rating 622 4505
Other
Battery life 340 photos 650 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Storage slots One Two
Price at launch $326 $5,024