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Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
91
Imaging
34
Features
40
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax 645Z 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
  • Released November 2008
  • Refreshed by Panasonic LX5
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
  • Revealed April 2014
  • Replaced the Pentax 645D
Photography Glossary

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax 645Z, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Pro DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a large difference among the image resolutions of the LX3 (10MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the LX3 (1/1.63") and 645Z (Medium format) boast totally different sensor size.

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The LX3 was brought out 6 years prior to the 645Z and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic LX3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the LX3 grades against the 645Z in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LX3 over the Pentax 645Z

 LX3 645Z 

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Panasonic LX3

 645Z LX3 
RevealedApril 2014November 2008More recent by 66 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k460kSharper screen (+577k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic LX3 and Pentax 645Z

 LX3 645Z 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera, you need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic LX3 offers physical measurements of 109mm x 60mm x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Pentax 645Z has dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") with a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax 645Z in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is a front view size comparison of the LX3 against the 645Z.

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the LX3 and 645Z is 91 and 49 respectively.

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be tough to see the gap in sensor measurements just by checking out specifications. The photograph here might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the LX3 and 645Z.

Plainly, both of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The LX3 due to its smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field tougher and the Pentax 645Z will show greater detail having its extra 41MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots way more aggressively. The older LX3 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Portrait photography info
Pentax 645Z Portrait photography info
40
has manual focus
saves RAW formats
low MP (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
88
you can focus manually
excellent megapixels (51MP)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic LX3
Street photography with Pentax 645Z
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
more heavy than competition in class (265g)
63
tilting screen
sensor size is big (Medium format)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
very good ISO range (204,800)
no image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (1,550 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LX3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Sports photography camera
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
low MP (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
no phase detect auto focus
71
excellent megapixels (51MP)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
provides tracking focus
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (650 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Travel photography highlights
Pentax 645Z Travel photography highlights
60
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition in class (265g)
low MP (10 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
51
environment proofing
excellent megapixels (51MP)
not so great battery life (650 per charge)
heavier than competition in class (1,550 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax 645Z Landscape photography highlights
52
has manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low MP (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
no Timelapse mode
78
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3.2 inches)
excellent megapixels (51 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
does not have low pass filter
very good ISO range (204,800)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
has double storage slots
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (650 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LX3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax 645Z as a Vlogging camera
30
fairly wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (265 grams)
27
provides face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes mic port
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (1,550g)
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Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LX3 and Pentax 645Z
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3Pentax 645Z
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Pentax 645Z
Class Small Sensor Compact Pro DSLR
Released 2008-11-04 2014-04-15
Body design Compact Large SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - PRIME III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.63" Medium format
Sensor dimensions 8.07 x 5.56mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor surface area 44.9mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 51 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 8256 x 6192
Highest native ISO 6400 204800
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 27
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens zoom range 24-60mm (2.5x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.0-2.8 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Total lenses - 6
Focal length multiplier 4.5 0.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3.2"
Screen resolution 460k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.30 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync 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 - 1/125 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 265g (0.58 lbs) 1550g (3.42 lbs)
Physical dimensions 109 x 60 x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 39 101
DXO Color Depth rating 19.6 26.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.8 14.7
DXO Low light rating 94 4505
Other
Battery life - 650 shots
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Storage slots One Two
Launch pricing $449 $5,024