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Panasonic SZ10 vs Pentax 645D

Portability
93
Imaging
40
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10 front
 
Pentax 645D front
Portability
50
Imaging
76
Features
52
Overall
66

Panasonic SZ10 vs Pentax 645D Key Specs

Panasonic SZ10
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 177g - 99 x 60 x 30mm
  • Announced January 2015
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
  • Revealed March 2010
  • Successor is Pentax 645Z
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Panasonic SZ10 vs Pentax 645D Overview

Following is a extensive assessment of the Panasonic SZ10 and Pentax 645D, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Pro DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the SZ10 (16MP) and 645D (40MP) and the SZ10 (1/2.3") and 645D (Medium format) provide different sensor sizes.

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The SZ10 was manufactured 4 years after the 645D which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic SZ10 being a Compact camera and the Pentax 645D being a Large SLR camera.

Before diving into a in depth comparison, here is a short overview of how the SZ10 matches up against the 645D with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ10 over the Pentax 645D

 SZ10 645D 
RevealedJanuary 2015March 2010More modern by 59 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Pentax 645D over the Panasonic SZ10

 645D SZ10 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ10 and Pentax 645D

 SZ10 645D 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Panasonic SZ10 vs Pentax 645D Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic SZ10 has got outer measurements of 99mm x 60mm x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 177 grams (0.39 lbs) whilst the Pentax 645D has sizing of 156mm x 117mm x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7") with a weight of 1480 grams (3.26 lbs).

See the Panasonic SZ10 and Pentax 645D in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the SZ10 vs the 645D.

Panasonic SZ10 vs Pentax 645D size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ10 and 645D is 93 and 50 respectively.

Panasonic SZ10 vs Pentax 645D top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ10 vs Pentax 645D Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes purely by researching technical specs. The picture below will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ10 and 645D.

As you have seen, both the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SZ10 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Pentax 645D will render extra detail due to its extra 24 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos more aggressively. The more modern SZ10 should have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic SZ10 vs Pentax 645D sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ10 vs Pentax 645D Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ10 vs Pentax 645D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ10
Portrait photography with Pentax 645D
35
resolution is good (16MP)
offers face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
77
manual focus
megapixel count great (40MP)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
saves RAW files
no liveview
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ10 Street photography highlights
Pentax 645D Street photography highlights
70
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (177g)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
58
sensor size is big (Medium format)
saves RAW files
weather proof
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ10 Sports photography advice
Pentax 645D Sports photography advice
34
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
slow frames per second (1.4 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery pack (200 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
63
megapixel count great (40 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
weather proof
has phase detect AF
no liveview
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery (800 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ10 Travel photography details
Pentax 645D Travel photography details
67
lighter than average in class (177g)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
very long zoom (288mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
low battery pack (200 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
55
weather proof
megapixel count great (40 megapixels)
terrible battery (800 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ10 Landscape photography advice
Pentax 645D Landscape photography advice
41
decently wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
low battery pack (200 shots)
missing Time Lapse mode
72
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
megapixel count great (40 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
does not have anti aliasing filter
saves RAW files
weather proof
has double storage slots
no liveview
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery (800 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ10 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax 645D as a Vlogging camera
32
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
lighter than average in class (177g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic jack
9
no video
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Panasonic SZ10 vs Pentax 645D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ10 and Pentax 645D
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10Pentax 645D
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10 Pentax 645D
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Pro DSLR
Announced 2015-01-06 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 16 megapixels 40 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 7264 x 5440
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Lowest boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens focal range 24-288mm (12.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.1-6.3 -
Total lenses - 6
Crop factor 5.9 0.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle and with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.4 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.20 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, slow sync w/redeye, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/125 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 177 gr (0.39 pounds) 1480 gr (3.26 pounds)
Physical dimensions 99 x 60 x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2") 156 x 117 x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 200 shots 800 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC
Storage slots One Dual
Launch pricing $200 $4,000