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Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax 645D

Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
 
Pentax 645D front
Portability
50
Imaging
76
Features
52
Overall
66

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax 645D Key Specs

Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Released January 2013
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
  • Launched March 2010
  • Replacement is Pentax 645Z
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Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax 645D Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Panasonic SZ3 and Pentax 645D, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Pro DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the SZ3 (16MP) and 645D (40MP) and the SZ3 (1/2.3") and 645D (Medium format) boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The SZ3 was revealed 2 years after the 645D which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic SZ3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax 645D being a Large SLR camera.

Before going into a complete comparison, here is a short summation of how the SZ3 scores versus the 645D in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Pentax 645D

 SZ3 645D 
LaunchedJanuary 2013March 2010Newer by 35 months

Reasons to pick Pentax 645D over the Panasonic SZ3

 645D SZ3 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ3 and Pentax 645D

 SZ3 645D 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax 645D Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic SZ3 comes with exterior dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Pentax 645D has sizing of 156mm x 117mm x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7") accompanied by a weight of 1480 grams (3.26 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic SZ3 and Pentax 645D in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the SZ3 versus the 645D.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax 645D size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SZ3 and 645D is 96 and 50 respectively.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax 645D top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax 645D Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to envision the difference in sensor dimensions only by going through a spec sheet. The picture below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ3 and 645D.

Clearly, the two cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The SZ3 with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Pentax 645D will show extra detail because of its extra 24 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images more aggressively. The more recent SZ3 is going to have an edge in sensor innovation.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax 645D sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax 645D Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax 645D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ3
Portrait photography with Pentax 645D
30
MP count good (16MP)
lack of manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
77
you can focus manually
megapixel count great (40 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
delivers RAW files
no liveview feature
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Street photography highlights
Pentax 645D Street photography highlights
64
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (126 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
58
sensor size is large (Medium format)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
no moving screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic SZ3
Sports photography with Pentax 645D
41
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
63
megapixel count great (40 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
environment proof
sensor has phase detect AF
no liveview feature
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
bad battery life (800 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Travel photography factors
Pentax 645D Travel photography factors
71
lighter than competitors in class (126g)
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
does not have Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
55
environment proof
megapixel count great (40 megapixels)
bad battery life (800 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography information
Pentax 645D Landscape photography information
39
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
72
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
megapixel count great (40 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
does not have anti aliasing filter
delivers RAW files
environment proof
has dual storage slots
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
bad battery life (800 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Vlogging highlights
Pentax 645D Vlogging highlights
31
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (126 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone jack
9
lack of video recording
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Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax 645D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ3 and Pentax 645D
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3Pentax 645D
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 Pentax 645D
Type Small Sensor Compact Pro DSLR
Released 2013-01-07 2010-03-10
Body design Compact Large SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime II
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" Medium format
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 40MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 7264 x 5440
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Number of lenses - 6
Focal length multiplier 5.9 0.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT LCD 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
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.10 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/125 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Mic input
Headphone input
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 126g (0.28 pounds) 1480g (3.26 pounds)
Physical dimensions 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 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 pictures 800 pictures
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 feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC
Storage slots One 2
Retail cost $150 $4,000