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Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
91
Imaging
53
Features
62
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Panasonic GM5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 211g - 99 x 60 x 36mm
  • Released September 2014
  • Superseded the Panasonic GM1
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
  • Announced April 2014
  • Superseded the Pentax 645D
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Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

Below is a comprehensive comparison of the Panasonic GM5 versus Pentax 645Z, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Pro DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap between the sensor resolutions of the GM5 (16MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the GM5 (Four Thirds) and 645Z (Medium format) come with different sensor sizing.

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The GM5 was revealed 6 months later than the 645Z and they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GM5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before going in to a full comparison, below is a concise view of how the GM5 grades vs the 645Z with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GM5 over the Pentax 645Z

 GM5 645Z 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Panasonic GM5

 645Z GM5 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k921kClearer screen (+116k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GM5 and Pentax 645Z

 GM5 645Z 
AnnouncedSeptember 2014April 2014Similar age
Manually focus Very exact focus
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GM5 has exterior dimensions of 99mm x 60mm x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 211 grams (0.47 lbs) while 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).

Look at the Panasonic GM5 versus Pentax 645Z in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using during that time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the GM5 against the 645Z.

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GM5 and 645Z is 91 and 49 respectively.

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be tough to picture the difference between sensor measurements purely by reading specs. The graphic underneath should offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the GM5 and 645Z.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GM5 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh harder and the Pentax 645Z will offer more detail because of its extra 35 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a little more aggressively.

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Portrait photography advice
Pentax 645Z Portrait photography advice
71
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
88
manual focus
great sensor resolution (51 megapixels)
big sensor size (Medium format)
features face detection focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Street photography details
Pentax 645Z Street photography details
76
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
includes focus via touch
lighter than average (211 grams)
above average ISO range (25,600)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
63
tilting screen
big sensor size (Medium format)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
very good ISO range (204,800)
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than average (1,550 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Sports photography highlights
Pentax 645Z Sports photography highlights
48
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
max shutter speed is low (1/500 seconds)
low fps (5.8 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low battery life (220 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
71
great sensor resolution (51 megapixels)
big sensor size (Medium format)
features tracking autofocus
weather proofing
has phase detect auto focus
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low battery pack (650 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Travel photography information
Pentax 645Z Travel photography information
71
lighter than average (211 grams)
includes focus via touch
megapixel count decent (16MP)
low battery life (220 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
51
weather proofing
great sensor resolution (51MP)
low battery pack (650 CIPA)
more heavy than average (1,550 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Landscape photography advice
Pentax 645Z Landscape photography advice
69
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
low battery life (220 CIPA)
78
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inches)
great sensor resolution (51 megapixels)
big sensor size (Medium format)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
very good ISO range (204,800)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
has double storage slots
lack of image stabilization
low battery pack (650 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GM5
Vlogging with Pentax 645Z
34
touch screen
features face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (211g)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have mic socket
27
features face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone port
does not contain selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than average (1,550g)
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Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GM5 and Pentax 645Z
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5Pentax 645Z
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 Pentax 645Z
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro DSLR
Released 2014-09-15 2014-04-15
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine PRIME III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Medium format
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 51MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 4592 x 3448 8256 x 6192
Maximum native ISO 25600 204800
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 23 27
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax 645AF2
Number of lenses 107 6
Crop factor 2.1 0.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,166 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 98%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.85x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/500s 1/4000s
Max silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter speed 5.8 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, off 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
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/125s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 211 gr (0.47 lbs) 1550 gr (3.42 lbs)
Dimensions 99 x 60 x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 66 101
DXO Color Depth score 22.1 26.0
DXO Dynamic range score 11.7 14.7
DXO Low light score 721 4505
Other
Battery life 220 images 650 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model DMW-BLH7 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Storage slots One Dual
Cost at release $966 $5,024