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Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
87
Imaging
52
Features
65
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Panasonic ZS100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-250mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 312g - 111 x 65 x 44mm
  • Introduced January 2016
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ100
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS200
Pentax 645Z
(Full Review)
  • 51MP - Medium format Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax 645AF2 Mount
  • 1550g - 156 x 117 x 123mm
  • Announced April 2014
  • Superseded the Pentax 645D
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Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

Following is a extensive overview of the Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax 645Z, one is a Large Sensor Compact and the latter is a Pro DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the resolutions of the ZS100 (20MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the ZS100 (1") and 645Z (Medium format) provide different sensor sizing.

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The ZS100 was introduced 21 months after the 645Z which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a brief summation of how the ZS100 matches up vs the 645Z in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS100 over the Pentax 645Z

 ZS100 645Z 
AnnouncedJanuary 2016April 2014More modern by 21 months
Screen resolution1040k1037kCrisper screen (+3k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Panasonic ZS100

 645Z ZS100 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Panasonic ZS100 and Pentax 645Z

 ZS100 645Z 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS100 has got outside dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 312 grams (0.69 lbs) while the Pentax 645Z has specifications of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") having a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax 645Z in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use at that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the ZS100 vs the 645Z.

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS100 and 645Z is 87 and 49 respectively.

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes simply by checking out specs. The image here should offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS100 and 645Z.

All in all, each of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The ZS100 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF harder and the Pentax 645Z will produce greater detail using its extra 31MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more recent ZS100 should have a benefit in sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS100
Portrait photography with Pentax 645Z
64
you can focus manually
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
offers face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
no external flash support
88
focusing manually
megapixel count high (51MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 as a Street photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Street photography camera
78
image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
features touch to focus
lighter than competition (312g)
fixed screen
63
screen tilts
big sensor size (Medium format)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
good ISO range (204,800)
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition (1,550 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Sports photography camera
67
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
offers tracking autofocus
has no phase detect autofocus
71
megapixel count high (51MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
low fps (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery power (650 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 Travel photography features
Pentax 645Z Travel photography features
75
lighter than competition (312 grams)
features touch to focus
good megapixels (20MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
51
environment proofing
megapixel count high (51MP)
not so great battery power (650 CIPA)
heavier than competition (1,550 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS100
Landscape photography with Pentax 645Z
68
you can focus manually
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
78
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2")
megapixel count high (51 megapixels)
big sensor size (Medium format)
doesnt have low pass filter
good ISO range (204,800)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
has dual storage slots
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery power (650 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS100
Vlogging with Pentax 645Z
35
relatively wide (25mm)
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than competition (312g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic socket
27
provides face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic jack
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition (1,550g)
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Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS100 and Pentax 645Z
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100Pentax 645Z
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 Pentax 645Z
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ100 -
Class Large Sensor Compact Pro DSLR
Introduced 2016-01-05 2014-04-15
Body design Large Sensor Compact Large SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine PRIME III
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" Medium format
Sensor dimensions 13.2 x 8.8mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 51MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Full resolution 5472 x 3648 8256 x 6192
Max native ISO 12800 204800
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW photos
Lowest boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 49 27
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Number of lenses - 6
Focal length multiplier 2.7 0.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3.2 inch
Display resolution 1,040k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,166k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.85x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting speed 9.9 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.00 m (at Auto ISO) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off 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
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/125s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 4K/UHD (3840 x 2160 @ 30p/24p), 1920 x 1080 @ 60p/60i/30p/24p, 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 312g (0.69 lbs) 1550g (3.42 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 65 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 70 101
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 26.0
DXO Dynamic range score 12.5 14.7
DXO Low light score 559 4505
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 650 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 shots @ 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Storage slots 1 2
Retail cost $700 $5,024