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Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax 645D

Portability
91
Imaging
34
Features
40
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 front
 
Pentax 645D front
Portability
50
Imaging
75
Features
52
Overall
65

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax 645D Key Specs

Panasonic LX3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-60mm (F2.0-2.8) lens
  • 265g - 109 x 60 x 27mm
  • Revealed November 2008
  • Replacement is Panasonic LX5
Pentax 645D
(Full Review)
  • 40MP - Medium format Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 1600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • No Video
  • Pentax 645AF2 Mount
  • 1480g - 156 x 117 x 119mm
  • Launched March 2010
  • New Model is Pentax 645Z
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Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax 645D Overview

Here is a thorough overview of the Panasonic LX3 versus Pentax 645D, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Pro DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a big gap between the resolutions of the LX3 (10MP) and 645D (40MP) and the LX3 (1/1.63") and 645D (Medium format) have totally different sensor measurements.

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The LX3 was released 16 months before the 645D which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic LX3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax 645D being a Large SLR camera.

Before going right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short highlight of how the LX3 scores vs the 645D in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LX3 over the Pentax 645D

 LX3 645D 

Reasons to pick Pentax 645D over the Panasonic LX3

 645D LX3 
LaunchedMarch 2010November 2008Fresher by 16 months
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic LX3 and Pentax 645D

 LX3 645D 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax 645D Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera, you will have to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic LX3 offers outside dimensions of 109mm x 60mm x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") along with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Pentax 645D has measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7") with a weight of 1480 grams (3.26 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic LX3 versus Pentax 645D in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you choose during that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the LX3 versus the 645D.

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax 645D size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the LX3 and 645D is 91 and 50 respectively.

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax 645D top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax 645D Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizing merely by looking at a spec sheet. The photograph below will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the LX3 and 645D.

Clearly, each of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The LX3 featuring a tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field tougher and the Pentax 645D will resolve greater detail as a result of its extra 30 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older LX3 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax 645D sensor size comparison

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax 645D Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax 645D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic LX3
Portrait photography with Pentax 645D
40
focusing manually
supports RAW files
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.63")
77
manual focus
MP count amazing (40 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
supports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LX3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax 645D as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/1.63")
heavier than competition (265 grams)
58
sensor size is great (Medium format)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Sports photography factors
Pentax 645D Sports photography factors
27
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.63")
no phase detect auto focus
62
MP count amazing (40 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
environment sealing
comes with phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (800 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Travel photography factors
Pentax 645D Travel photography factors
60
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (265g)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
55
environment sealing
MP count amazing (40 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (800 shots)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic LX3
Landscape photography with Pentax 645D
52
focusing manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.63")
missing Time Lapse recording
72
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
MP count amazing (40 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
does not have anti aliasing filter
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
has dual storage slots
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (800 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic LX3
Vlogging with Pentax 645D
30
reasonably wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Optical)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic jack
heavier than competition (265g)
9
no video
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Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax 645D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LX3 and Pentax 645D
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3Pentax 645D
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Pentax 645D
Class Small Sensor Compact Pro DSLR
Revealed 2008-11-04 2010-03-10
Body design Compact Large SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Prime II
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.63" Medium format
Sensor measurements 8.07 x 5.56mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor surface area 44.9mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 40 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 7264 x 5440
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Min native ISO 80 200
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens zoom range 24-60mm (2.5x) -
Max aperture f/2.0-2.8 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 6
Focal length multiplier 4.5 0.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle and with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.30 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/125s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (HD 24 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (10fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 265 grams (0.58 lbs) 1480 grams (3.26 lbs)
Physical dimensions 109 x 60 x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") 156 x 117 x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 39 82
DXO Color Depth rating 19.6 24.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.8 12.6
DXO Low light rating 94 1262
Other
Battery life - 800 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC
Storage slots One 2
Cost at release $449 $4,000