Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax 645D

Following is a extended analysis of the Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax 645D, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Pro DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the SZ1 (16MP) and 645D (40MP) and the SZ1 (1/2.3") and 645D (Medium format) enjoy totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The SZ1 was announced 23 months after the 645D making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax 645D being a Large SLR camera.

Before getting through a thorough comparison, below is a brief summary of how the SZ1 grades versus the 645D in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 & Pentax 645D. The whole galleries are viewable at Panasonic SZ1 Gallery & Pentax 645D Gallery.

In case you're planning to carry around your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic SZ1 offers exterior measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Pentax 645D has specifications of 156mm x 117mm x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7") along with a weight of 1480 grams (3.26 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax 645D in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have during that time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the SZ1 compared to the 645D.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ1 and 645D is 95 and 50 respectively.

Usually, it can be hard to envision the difference between sensor sizes just by going over specs. The pic underneath might give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ1 and 645D.

All in all, the two cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SZ1 with its tinier sensor will make getting bokeh more challenging and the Pentax 645D will offer you extra detail with its extra 24MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more modern SZ1 will have an advantage in sensor tech.