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Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
74
Imaging
59
Features
84
Overall
69
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Panasonic GX8
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 487g - 133 x 78 x 63mm
  • Announced July 2015
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GX7
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  • Superseded the Pentax 645D
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

Below, we will be contrasting the Panasonic GX8 versus Pentax 645Z, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Pro DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the GX8 (20MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the GX8 (Four Thirds) and 645Z (Medium format) possess different sensor measurements.

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The GX8 was launched 16 months later than the 645Z which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GX8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before diving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief summary of how the GX8 matches up vs the 645Z for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX8 over the Pentax 645Z

 GX8 645Z 
AnnouncedJuly 2015April 2014More recent by 16 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k1037kCrisper screen (+3k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Panasonic GX8

 645Z GX8 
Screen dimension3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Panasonic GX8 and Pentax 645Z

 GX8 645Z 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GX8 has outer dimensions of 133mm x 78mm x 63mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 2.5") and a weight of 487 grams (1.07 lbs) and the Pentax 645Z has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") accompanied by a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GX8 versus Pentax 645Z in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you use at that moment. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the GX8 compared to the 645Z.

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GX8 and 645Z is 74 and 49 respectively.

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to visualize the gap between sensor measurements simply by checking a spec sheet. The visual underneath will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the GX8 and 645Z.

As you can see, the 2 cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The GX8 because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Pentax 645Z will give you greater detail utilizing its extra 31 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots much more aggressively. The fresher GX8 provides a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX8 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Portrait photography camera
75
has manual focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
88
focusing manually
resolution is great (51MP)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX8 as a Street photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Street photography camera
80
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
supports focus via touch
environment proof
above average high ISO (25,600)
63
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is large (Medium format)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
great ISO range (204,800)
does not have image stabilization
heavier than competition (1,550g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX8 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Sports photography camera
68
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
terrible battery life (330 per charge)
no phase detect AF
71
resolution is great (51MP)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
has tracking focus
weather proofing
has phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (650 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Travel photography factors
Pentax 645Z Travel photography factors
73
environment proof
supports focus via touch
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
terrible battery life (330 shots)
51
weather proofing
resolution is great (51MP)
terrible battery pack (650 CIPA)
heavier than competition (1,550g)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Landscape photography info
Pentax 645Z Landscape photography info
76
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
terrible battery life (330 per charge)
78
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inches)
resolution is great (51MP)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
great ISO range (204,800)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
2 card slots
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (650 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GX8
Vlogging with Pentax 645Z
81
screen is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with external mic socket
27
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic support
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
heavier than competition (1,550 grams)
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Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX8 and Pentax 645Z
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8Pentax 645Z
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 Pentax 645Z
Class Advanced Mirrorless Pro DSLR
Announced 2015-07-16 2014-04-15
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine PRIME III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Medium format
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 51 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 8256 x 6192
Maximum native ISO 25600 204800
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 49 27
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax 645AF2
Total lenses 107 6
Crop factor 2.1 0.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of display 1,040k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.77x 0.85x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter rate 12.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced 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
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/125s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 487 gr (1.07 lbs) 1550 gr (3.42 lbs)
Dimensions 133 x 78 x 63mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 2.5") 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 75 101
DXO Color Depth rating 23.5 26.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.6 14.7
DXO Low light rating 806 4505
Other
Battery life 330 photos 650 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Card slots One Two
Retail pricing $898 $5,024