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Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
25
Overall
29
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
81
Features
74
Overall
78

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Panasonic ZS1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Revealed May 2009
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ6
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
  • Announced April 2014
  • Succeeded the Pentax 645D
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Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

The following is a thorough overview of the Panasonic ZS1 and Pentax 645Z, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Pro DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the ZS1 (10MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the ZS1 (1/2.5") and 645Z (Medium format) have totally different sensor size.

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The ZS1 was introduced 5 years before the 645Z which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the ZS1 scores vs the 645Z when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS1 over the Pentax 645Z

 ZS1 645Z 

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Panasonic ZS1

 645Z ZS1 
AnnouncedApril 2014May 2009Newer by 59 months
Manual focus Very exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k230kCrisper display (+807k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS1 and Pentax 645Z

 ZS1 645Z 
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS1 provides physical measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Pentax 645Z has sizing of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") accompanied by a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic ZS1 and Pentax 645Z in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Following is a front view size comparison of the ZS1 against the 645Z.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS1 and 645Z is 91 and 49 respectively.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to envision the gap in sensor dimensions simply by seeing a spec sheet. The picture below will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS1 and 645Z.

As you can see, both the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The ZS1 having a smaller sensor will make getting bokeh more challenging and the Pentax 645Z will provide extra detail using its extra 41 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more aged ZS1 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Portrait photography camera
25
offers face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
low MP (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW support
88
you can focus manually
megapixel count excellent (51 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic ZS1
Street photography with Pentax 645Z
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (229 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW support
63
has a tilting screen
sensor size is great (Medium format)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
above average high ISO (204,800)
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition (1,550 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS1
Sports photography with Pentax 645Z
24
image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (3.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
71
megapixel count excellent (51MP)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
offers tracking focus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (650 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZS1
Travel photography with Pentax 645Z
63
lighter than competitors in class (229 grams)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
long zoom (300mm)
does not have Timelapse function
low MP (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
51
environment sealing
megapixel count excellent (51 megapixels)
not so great battery power (650 shots)
more heavy than competition (1,550g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Landscape photography factors
Pentax 645Z Landscape photography factors
31
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
78
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
good sized screen (3.2")
megapixel count excellent (51MP)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
does not have anti-alias filter
above average high ISO (204,800)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
two card slots
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (650 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Vlogging advice
Pentax 645Z Vlogging advice
31
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors in class (229 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have external microphone socket
27
offers face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes microphone socket
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition (1,550 grams)
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Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS1 and Pentax 645Z
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1Pentax 645Z
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Pentax 645Z
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-TZ6 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Pro DSLR
Revealed 2009-05-14 2014-04-15
Physical type Compact Large SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - PRIME III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" Medium format
Sensor measurements 5.744 x 4.308mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 51 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 4:3
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 8256 x 6192
Maximum native ISO 6400 204800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 27
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-4.9 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Available lenses - 6
Focal length multiplier 6.3 0.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.30 m (Auto ISO) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync 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
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/125 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 229g (0.50 lb) 1550g (3.42 lb)
Physical dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 650 photos
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Card slots 1 2
Cost at launch $0 $5,024