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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax 645D

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
 
Pentax 645D front
Portability
50
Imaging
75
Features
52
Overall
65

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax 645D Key Specs

Panasonic SZ1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 131g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Launched January 2012
Pentax 645D
(Full Review)
  • 40MP - Medium format Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 1600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • No Video
  • Pentax 645AF2 Mount
  • 1480g - 156 x 117 x 119mm
  • Announced March 2010
  • Newer Model is Pentax 645Z
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax 645D Overview

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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Pentax 645D

 SZ1 645D 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012March 2010More modern by 23 months

Reasons to pick Pentax 645D over the Panasonic SZ1

 645D SZ1 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax 645D

 SZ1 645D 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax 645D Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax 645D size comparison

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

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax 645D top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax 645D Sensor Comparison

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.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax 645D sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax 645D Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax 645D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Portrait photography information
Pentax 645D Portrait photography information
34
good MP (16MP)
includes face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
77
focusing manually
amazing MP (40 megapixels)
large sensor size (Medium format)
delivers RAW files
no liveview feature
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Street photography details
Pentax 645D Street photography details
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (131g)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
58
large sensor size (Medium format)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Sports photography info
Pentax 645D Sports photography info
40
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
includes tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
62
amazing MP (40MP)
large sensor size (Medium format)
environment sealing
has phase detect AF
no liveview feature
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery life (800 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Travel photography information
Pentax 645D Travel photography information
70
lighter than competitors (131g)
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
55
environment sealing
amazing MP (40MP)
not so great battery life (800 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax 645D Landscape photography highlights
43
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
72
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
amazing MP (40 megapixels)
large sensor size (Medium format)
no anti-alias filter
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
has double storage slots
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery life (800 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging details
Pentax 645D Vlogging details
32
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
lighter than competitors (131 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic jack
9
no video recording
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax 645D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax 645D
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1Pentax 645D
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 Pentax 645D
Category Small Sensor Compact Pro DSLR
Launched 2012-01-09 2010-03-10
Body design Compact Large SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Prime II
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" Medium format
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 40MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 7264 x 5440
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focus range 4cm -
Total lenses - 6
Focal length multiplier 5.9 0.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle and with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.60 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/125 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format MPEG-4 -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 131 grams (0.29 lb) 1480 grams (3.26 lb)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 156 x 117 x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 82
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.6
DXO Low light score not tested 1262
Other
Battery life 250 shots 800 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC
Storage slots One 2
Retail cost $179 $4,000