Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax 645D

Here, we are looking at the Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax 645D, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Pro DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference between the image resolutions of the ZS1 (10MP) and 645D (40MP) and the ZS1 (1/2.5") and 645D (Medium format) provide totally different sensor size.

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The ZS1 was unveiled 10 months before the 645D and they are of a similar generation. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax 645D being a Large SLR camera.

Before diving into a detailed comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the ZS1 scores vs the 645D for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 and Pentax 645D. The full galleries are available at Panasonic ZS1 Gallery and Pentax 645D Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS1 provides external dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Pentax 645D has specifications of 156mm x 117mm x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7") and a weight of 1480 grams (3.26 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax 645D in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is a front view size comparison of the ZS1 vs the 645D.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the ZS1 and 645D is 91 and 50 respectively.

Generally, it is very difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizes simply by reading through specifications. The image underneath will give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS1 and 645D.

To sum up, the two cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The ZS1 with its tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Pentax 645D will give more detail having an extra 30MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more aged ZS1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.