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Panasonic L1 vs Pentax 645D

Portability
65
Imaging
41
Features
38
Overall
39
Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 front
 
Pentax 645D front
Portability
50
Imaging
75
Features
52
Overall
65

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax 645D Key Specs

Panasonic L1
(Full Review)
  • 7MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 606g - 146 x 87 x 77mm
  • Introduced April 2007
Pentax 645D
(Full Review)
  • 40MP - Medium format Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 1600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • No Video
  • Pentax 645AF2 Mount
  • 1480g - 156 x 117 x 119mm
  • Introduced March 2010
  • Refreshed by Pentax 645Z
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Panasonic L1 vs Pentax 645D Overview

Here, we are matching up the Panasonic L1 vs Pentax 645D, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Pro DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the L1 (7MP) and 645D (40MP) and the L1 (Four Thirds) and 645D (Medium format) offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The L1 was launched 3 years prior to the 645D and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic L1 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax 645D being a Large SLR camera.

Before going right into a full comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the L1 grades against the 645D in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic L1 over the Pentax 645D

 L1 645D 

Reasons to pick Pentax 645D over the Panasonic L1

 645D L1 
IntroducedMarch 2010April 2007More recent by 35 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution921k207kCrisper display (+714k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic L1 and Pentax 645D

 L1 645D 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax 645D Physical Comparison

For those who are going to lug around your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic L1 features outside dimensions of 146mm x 87mm x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") and a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs) while the Pentax 645D has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7") along with a weight of 1480 grams (3.26 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic L1 vs Pentax 645D in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the L1 compared to the 645D.

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax 645D size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the L1 and 645D is 65 and 50 respectively.

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax 645D top view buttons comparison

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax 645D Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to see the gap between sensor measurements only by looking at specifications. The visual underneath may give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the L1 and 645D.

Plainly, each of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The L1 featuring a tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Pentax 645D will resolve extra detail utilizing its extra 33MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The older L1 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax 645D sensor size comparison

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax 645D Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax 645D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic L1
Portrait photography with Pentax 645D
54
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
low MP (7 megapixels)
77
has manual focus
great resolution (40 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
supports RAW files
no liveview
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic L1
Street photography with Pentax 645D
58
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lighter than others (606 grams)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
58
sensor size is big (Medium format)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic L1 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax 645D as a Sports photography camera
40
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (7 megapixels)
62
great resolution (40 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
weather proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
no liveview
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery pack (800 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic L1 Travel photography highlights
Pentax 645D Travel photography highlights
50
lighter than others (606 grams)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low MP (7 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
55
weather proofing
great resolution (40MP)
bad battery pack (800 CIPA)
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic L1 Landscape photography features
Pentax 645D Landscape photography features
47
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (7MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
72
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
great resolution (40 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
supports RAW files
weather proofing
has dual storage slots
no liveview
does not have image stabilization
bad battery pack (800 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic L1 Vlogging info
Pentax 645D Vlogging info
9
no video
9
no video
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Panasonic L1 vs Pentax 645D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic L1 and Pentax 645D
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1Pentax 645D
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 Pentax 645D
Type Advanced DSLR Pro DSLR
Introduced 2007-04-11 2010-03-10
Body design Mid-size SLR Large SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds Medium format
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 7 megapixel 40 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Max resolution 3136 x 2352 7264 x 5440
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Lowest enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax 645AF2
Amount of lenses 45 6
Crop factor 2.1 0.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 207k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle and with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.85x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, Red-Eye Auto, On, Red-Eye On, Red-Eye Slow Sync, Off, Slow Sync (1&2) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s 1/125s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Max video resolution None None
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 606 grams (1.34 lb) 1480 grams (3.26 lb)
Physical dimensions 146 x 87 x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") 156 x 117 x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 82
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.6
DXO Low light score not tested 1262
Other
Battery life - 800 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/MMC card SD/SDHC
Storage slots One Dual
Price at release $1,500 $4,000