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Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
97
Imaging
40
Features
26
Overall
34
Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Panasonic XS1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 103g - 94 x 54 x 14mm
  • Introduced January 2013
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
  • Superseded the Pentax 645D
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Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Panasonic XS1 and Pentax 645Z, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Pro DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a considerable difference among the sensor resolutions of the XS1 (16MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the XS1 (1/2.3") and 645Z (Medium format) posses different sensor measurements.

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The XS1 was introduced 15 months before the 645Z making them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic XS1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before going right into a in depth comparison, here is a brief overview of how the XS1 scores vs the 645Z with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic XS1 over the Pentax 645Z

 XS1 645Z 

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Panasonic XS1

 645Z XS1 
LaunchedApril 2014January 2013More recent by 15 months
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic XS1 and Pentax 645Z

 XS1 645Z 
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera, you will have to factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic XS1 has got physical measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") with a weight of 103 grams (0.23 lbs) and the Pentax 645Z has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") accompanied by a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

See the Panasonic XS1 and Pentax 645Z in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the XS1 and the 645Z.

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the XS1 and 645Z is 97 and 49 respectively.

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements purely by viewing a spec sheet. The photograph below might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the XS1 and 645Z.

Clearly, the 2 cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The XS1 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF tougher and the Pentax 645Z will render greater detail using its extra 35MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos way more aggressively. The older XS1 will be behind in sensor technology.

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic XS1
Portrait photography with Pentax 645Z
30
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
88
manual focus
MP count great (51MP)
great sensor size (Medium format)
comes with face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic XS1 Street photography highlights
Pentax 645Z Street photography highlights
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (103g)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
63
screen tilts
great sensor size (Medium format)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
above average high ISO (204,800)
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (1,550g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic XS1 Sports photography information
Pentax 645Z Sports photography information
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
71
MP count great (51MP)
great sensor size (Medium format)
comes with tracking focus
weather proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low battery life (650 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic XS1 Travel photography information
Pentax 645Z Travel photography information
69
lighter than competition (103g)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
missing Timelapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
51
weather proofing
MP count great (51 megapixels)
low battery life (650 per charge)
heavier than competition in class (1,550g)
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic XS1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Landscape photography camera
39
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
78
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3.2 inches)
MP count great (51 megapixels)
great sensor size (Medium format)
no low pass filter
above average high ISO (204,800)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
two card slots
lack of image stabilization
low battery life (650 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic XS1 Vlogging highlights
Pentax 645Z Vlogging highlights
31
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (103 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone socket
27
comes with face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic socket
does not posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (1,550g)
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Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic XS1 and Pentax 645Z
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1Pentax 645Z
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 Pentax 645Z
Class Small Sensor Compact Pro DSLR
Introduced 2013-01-07 2014-04-15
Physical type Compact Large SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - PRIME III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
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 16 megapixel 51 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 8256 x 6192
Max native ISO 6400 204800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 27
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-6.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 6
Crop factor 5.9 0.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.40 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro 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
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 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) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 103 gr (0.23 lbs) 1550 gr (3.42 lbs)
Physical dimensions 94 x 54 x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 101
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 26.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 4505
Other
Battery life 260 pictures 650 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Card slots 1 Dual
Cost at release $130 $5,024