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Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
32
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Panasonic LZ30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-875mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 552g - 124 x 84 x 92mm
  • Released January 2013
  • Replaced the Panasonic LZ20
  • Refreshed by Panasonic LZ40
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
  • Launched April 2014
  • Superseded the Pentax 645D
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Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

Following is a complete comparison of the Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax 645Z, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Pro DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the LZ30 (16MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the LZ30 (1/2.3") and 645Z (Medium format) feature different sensor measurements.

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The LZ30 was brought out 15 months before the 645Z making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic LZ30 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before we go in to a more detailed comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the LZ30 matches up vs the 645Z with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ30 over the Pentax 645Z

 LZ30 645Z 

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Panasonic LZ30

 645Z LZ30 
LaunchedApril 2014January 2013More modern by 15 months
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k460kClearer display (+577k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic LZ30 and Pentax 645Z

 LZ30 645Z 
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic LZ30 enjoys outer measurements of 124mm x 84mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Pentax 645Z has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") having a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax 645Z in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the LZ30 versus the 645Z.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the LZ30 and 645Z is 66 and 49 respectively.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizes purely by going through specs. The picture here will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the LZ30 and 645Z.

All in all, each of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The LZ30 because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh more difficult and the Pentax 645Z will show extra detail having its extra 35MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged LZ30 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic LZ30
Portrait photography with Pentax 645Z
32
decent megapixels (16MP)
manual focus not available
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
88
focusing manually
amazing megapixels (51 megapixels)
large sensor size (Medium format)
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic LZ30
Street photography with Pentax 645Z
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
more heavy than competition in class (552g)
63
tilting screen
large sensor size (Medium format)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
great ISO range (204,800)
lack of image stabilization
heavier than average (1,550g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic LZ30
Sports photography with Pentax 645Z
47
excellent zoom range (25-875mm 35.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
includes tracking focus
great battery pack (380 shots)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
71
amazing megapixels (51MP)
large sensor size (Medium format)
provides tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery power (650 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Travel photography advice
Pentax 645Z Travel photography advice
56
great battery pack (380 per charge)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long reach (875mm)
lack of Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (552 grams)
does not have selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
51
environment sealing
amazing megapixels (51 megapixels)
not so great battery power (650 shots)
heavier than average (1,550 grams)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic LZ30
Landscape photography with Pentax 645Z
45
really wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
great battery pack (380 per charge)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
78
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2")
amazing megapixels (51MP)
large sensor size (Medium format)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
great ISO range (204,800)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
2 card slots
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery power (650 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Vlogging highlights
Pentax 645Z Vlogging highlights
22
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone port
more heavy than competition in class (552g)
27
provides face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic support
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
heavier than average (1,550 grams)
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Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LZ30 and Pentax 645Z
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30Pentax 645Z
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 Pentax 645Z
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Pro DSLR
Released 2013-01-07 2014-04-15
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Large SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - PRIME III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Medium format
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 51 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 8256 x 6192
Maximum native ISO 6400 204800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 27
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens zoom range 25-875mm (35.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 6
Focal length multiplier 5.8 0.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3.2 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.40 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/125 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 grams (1.22 lb) 1550 grams (3.42 lb)
Dimensions 124 x 84 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 101
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 26.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 4505
Other
Battery life 380 photographs 650 photographs
Form of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 0r 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Card slots One Two
Launch pricing $230 $5,024