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Panasonic L1 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
65
Imaging
41
Features
38
Overall
39
Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax 645Z 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
  • Revealed April 2007
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
  • Released April 2014
  • Replaced the Pentax 645D
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Panasonic L1 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

Here, we are analyzing the Panasonic L1 versus Pentax 645Z, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Pro DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the L1 (7MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the L1 (Four Thirds) and 645Z (Medium format) offer totally different sensor size.

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The L1 was manufactured 8 years earlier than the 645Z and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic L1 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before we go into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the L1 scores vs the 645Z in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic L1 over the Pentax 645Z

 L1 645Z 

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Panasonic L1

 645Z L1 
ReleasedApril 2014April 2007Fresher by 85 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3.2"2.5"Larger display (+0.7")
Display resolution1037k207kClearer display (+830k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic L1 and Pentax 645Z

 L1 645Z 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic L1 provides outer measurements of 146mm x 87mm x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs) while the Pentax 645Z has measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") with a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic L1 versus Pentax 645Z in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select at that moment. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the L1 compared to the 645Z.

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the L1 and 645Z is 65 and 49 respectively.

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizing only by going through a spec sheet. The photograph below might provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the L1 and 645Z.

Clearly, both the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The L1 featuring a smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh harder and the Pentax 645Z will produce greater detail due to its extra 44 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The older L1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic L1 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax 645Z Portrait photography highlights
54
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
resolution not great (7MP)
88
focusing manually
amazing megapixels (51MP)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic L1 Street photography factors
Pentax 645Z Street photography factors
58
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than average in class (606g)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
63
tilting screen
sensor size is large (Medium format)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
very good high ISO (204,800)
no image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (1,550g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic L1
Sports photography with Pentax 645Z
40
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
resolution not great (7 megapixels)
71
amazing megapixels (51MP)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
features tracking focus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
low battery life (650 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic L1 Travel photography highlights
Pentax 645Z Travel photography highlights
50
lighter than average in class (606 grams)
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
resolution not great (7 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
51
weather proofing
amazing megapixels (51 megapixels)
low battery life (650 shots)
heavier than competition in class (1,550g)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic L1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Landscape photography camera
47
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is small (2.5 inches)
no image stabilization
resolution not great (7 megapixels)
no Timelapse mode
78
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
good sized screen (3.2")
amazing megapixels (51 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
does not have anti-alias filter
very good high ISO (204,800)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
has double storage slots
no image stabilization
low battery life (650 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic L1 Vlogging advice
Pentax 645Z Vlogging advice
9
no video recording
27
features face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes mic port
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (1,550g)
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Panasonic L1 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic L1 and Pentax 645Z
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1Pentax 645Z
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 Pentax 645Z
Type Advanced DSLR Pro DSLR
Revealed 2007-04-11 2014-04-15
Body design Mid-size SLR Large SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - PRIME III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Medium format
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 7 megapixels 51 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Max resolution 3136 x 2352 8256 x 6192
Max native ISO 1600 204800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 3 27
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax 645AF2
Total lenses 45 6
Crop factor 2.1 0.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.5" 3.2"
Display resolution 207 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 98%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.85x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
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) 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
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/125 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 606g (1.34 lbs) 1550g (3.42 lbs)
Physical dimensions 146 x 87 x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 101
DXO Color Depth score not tested 26.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.7
DXO Low light score not tested 4505
Other
Battery life - 650 photographs
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/MMC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Storage slots One Dual
Pricing at release $1,500 $5,024