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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax 645Z 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
  • Announced January 2012
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
  • Succeeded the Pentax 645D
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

The following is a thorough comparison of the Panasonic SZ1 versus Pentax 645Z, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Pro DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the SZ1 (16MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the SZ1 (1/2.3") and 645Z (Medium format) use totally different sensor sizing.

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The SZ1 was revealed 3 years earlier than the 645Z which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a full comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the SZ1 grades versus the 645Z in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Pentax 645Z

 SZ1 645Z 

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Panasonic SZ1

 645Z SZ1 
LaunchedApril 2014January 2012Newer by 27 months
Manual focus More precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax 645Z

 SZ1 645Z 
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic SZ1 has exterior dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Pentax 645Z has dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") accompanied by a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic SZ1 versus Pentax 645Z in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the SZ1 and the 645Z.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ1 and 645Z is 95 and 49 respectively.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to envision the gap in sensor dimensions only by viewing technical specs. The picture here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ1 and 645Z.

As you have seen, both of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The SZ1 with its smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh tougher and the Pentax 645Z will result in extra detail because of its extra 35 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more aged SZ1 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Portrait photography advice
Pentax 645Z Portrait photography advice
34
decent MP (16 megapixels)
provides face detection focus
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
88
has manual focus
megapixel count great (51MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Street photography details
Pentax 645Z Street photography details
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (131 grams)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
63
screen tilts
big sensor size (Medium format)
supports RAW files
environment proof
good ISO range (204,800)
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition (1,550g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Sports photography details
Pentax 645Z Sports photography details
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
71
megapixel count great (51 megapixels)
big sensor size (Medium format)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second low (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
terrible battery pack (650 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic SZ1
Travel photography with Pentax 645Z
70
lighter than competition in class (131g)
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
does not have Timelapse function
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
51
environment proof
megapixel count great (51 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (650 per charge)
more heavy than competition (1,550g)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ1
Landscape photography with Pentax 645Z
43
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
78
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2")
megapixel count great (51 megapixels)
big sensor size (Medium format)
no low pass filter
good ISO range (204,800)
supports RAW files
environment proof
has dual storage slots
no image stabilization
terrible battery pack (650 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging details
Pentax 645Z Vlogging details
32
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
lighter than competition in class (131g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone socket
27
offers face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external microphone jack
does not have selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition (1,550 grams)
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax 645Z
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1Pentax 645Z
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 Pentax 645Z
Type Small Sensor Compact Pro DSLR
Announced 2012-01-09 2014-04-15
Body design Compact Large SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - PRIME III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Medium format
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 51 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 8256 x 6192
Maximum native ISO 6400 204800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 23 27
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 4cm -
Amount of lenses - 6
Focal length multiplier 5.9 0.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3.2 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Min shutter speed 8s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.60 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction 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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/125s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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 MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 131 gr (0.29 pounds) 1550 gr (3.42 pounds)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 101
DXO Color Depth score not tested 26.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.7
DXO Low light score not tested 4505
Other
Battery life 250 shots 650 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Storage slots Single 2
Retail cost $179 $5,024