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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
81
Features
74
Overall
78

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Panasonic GH3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 550g - 133 x 93 x 82mm
  • Announced September 2012
  • Older Model is Panasonic GH2
  • Updated by Panasonic GH4
Pentax 645Z
(Full Review)
  • 51MP - Medium format Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax 645AF2 Mount
  • 1550g - 156 x 117 x 123mm
  • Announced April 2014
  • Replaced the Pentax 645D
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

The following is a extended analysis of the Panasonic GH3 versus Pentax 645Z, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Pro DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the GH3 (16MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the GH3 (Four Thirds) and 645Z (Medium format) feature totally different sensor sizing.

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The GH3 was brought out 19 months prior to the 645Z making the cameras a generation away from one another. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the GH3 grades versus the 645Z in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Pentax 645Z

 GH3 645Z 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Panasonic GH3

 645Z GH3 
AnnouncedApril 2014September 2012Newer by 19 months
Display sizing3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k614kClearer display (+423k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax 645Z

 GH3 645Z 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GH3 enjoys physical measurements of 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") having a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) and the Pentax 645Z has dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") and a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GH3 versus Pentax 645Z in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the GH3 compared to the 645Z.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GH3 and 645Z is 66 and 49 respectively.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions purely by going over technical specs. The image here might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the GH3 and 645Z.

As you can tell, both cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The GH3 featuring a tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh tougher and the Pentax 645Z will offer you greater detail having its extra 35MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively. The more aged GH3 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GH3
Portrait photography with Pentax 645Z
71
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
supports RAW formats
88
you can focus manually
resolution is amazing (51MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Street photography information
Pentax 645Z Street photography information
65
fully articulated screen
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
has focus by touch
weather sealing
no image stabilization
more heavy than others (550g)
63
screen tilts
big sensor size (Medium format)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
good high ISO (204,800)
no image stabilization
more heavy than competitors (1,550g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Sports photography highlights
Pentax 645Z Sports photography highlights
63
fast continuous shooting (20.0 frames per second)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
weather sealing
good battery pack (540 per charge)
no image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
71
resolution is amazing (51 megapixels)
big sensor size (Medium format)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proof
supports phase detect AF
low frames per second (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
terrible battery (650 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GH3
Travel photography with Pentax 645Z
71
good battery pack (540 CIPA)
weather sealing
has focus by touch
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
more heavy than others (550 grams)
51
weather proof
resolution is amazing (51 megapixels)
terrible battery (650 per charge)
more heavy than competitors (1,550g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Landscape photography camera
71
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
good battery pack (540 per charge)
no image stabilization
78
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
resolution is amazing (51MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
no anti-alias filter
good high ISO (204,800)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
has dual storage slots
no image stabilization
terrible battery (650 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GH3
Vlogging with Pentax 645Z
65
selfie friendly display
screen is touchscreen
includes face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external microphone socket
no image stabilization
more heavy than others (550 grams)
27
includes face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external microphone jack
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
more heavy than competitors (1,550g)
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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH3 and Pentax 645Z
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3Pentax 645Z
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Pentax 645Z
Type Advanced Mirrorless Pro DSLR
Announced 2012-09-17 2014-04-15
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Large SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine VII 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 4608 x 3456 8256 x 6192
Max native ISO 12800 204800
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
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 23 27
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax 645AF2
Number of lenses 107 6
Crop factor 2.1 0.8
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3.2"
Resolution of display 614k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech OLED Monitor with static touch control -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,744k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x 0.85x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 20.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 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
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs 1/125 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 24 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 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 data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 550 grams (1.21 lb) 1550 grams (3.42 lb)
Dimensions 133 x 93 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 101
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 26.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 14.7
DXO Low light rating 812 4505
Other
Battery life 540 pictures 650 pictures
Type 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
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Storage slots Single 2
Price at launch $799 $5,024