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Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Revealed June 2012
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • New Model is Panasonic ZS20
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
  • Previous Model is Pentax 645D
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Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

The following is a extensive analysis of the Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax 645Z, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Pro DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the ZS15 (12MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the ZS15 (1/2.3") and 645Z (Medium format) come with different sensor measurements.

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The ZS15 was manufactured 21 months before the 645Z making the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before diving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise summation of how the ZS15 matches up vs the 645Z when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Pentax 645Z

 ZS15 645Z 

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Panasonic ZS15

 645Z ZS15 
LaunchedApril 2014June 2012Newer by 21 months
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k460kCrisper display (+577k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax 645Z

 ZS15 645Z 
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera often, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS15 offers physical dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs) while the Pentax 645Z has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") having a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax 645Z in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the ZS15 and the 645Z.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS15 and 645Z is 92 and 49 respectively.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by seeing technical specs. The image below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS15 and 645Z.

As you can tell, both of those cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The ZS15 due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF harder and the Pentax 645Z will produce extra detail due to its extra 39 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more aged ZS15 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Portrait photography camera
21
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
88
you can focus manually
amazing megapixels (51MP)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
supports face detection focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Street photography features
Pentax 645Z Street photography features
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (208g)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
63
screen tilts
sensor size is large (Medium format)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
above average high ISO (204,800)
lack of image stabilization
heavier than average (1,550g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Sports photography highlights
Pentax 645Z Sports photography highlights
36
amazing zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (260 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
71
amazing megapixels (51MP)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
supports tracking autofocus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low battery power (650 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZS15
Travel photography with Pentax 645Z
61
lighter than competition (208g)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
very long reach (384mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery pack (260 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
51
weather sealing
amazing megapixels (51 megapixels)
low battery power (650 per charge)
heavier than average (1,550g)
screen is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Landscape photography details
Pentax 645Z Landscape photography details
37
really wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
not so great battery pack (260 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
78
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inch)
amazing megapixels (51MP)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
no low pass filter
above average high ISO (204,800)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
two card slots
lack of image stabilization
low battery power (650 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Vlogging features
Pentax 645Z Vlogging features
33
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (208 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone port
27
supports face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic socket
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
heavier than average (1,550g)
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Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax 645Z
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15Pentax 645Z
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 Pentax 645Z
Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ25 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Pro DSLR
Revealed 2012-06-29 2014-04-15
Physical type Compact Large SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - PRIME III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Medium format
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 51 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 8256 x 6192
Highest native ISO 6400 204800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 23 27
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens zoom range 24-384mm (16.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Number of lenses - 6
Crop factor 5.8 0.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3.2 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.40 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/125 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD 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 208 grams (0.46 pounds) 1550 grams (3.42 pounds)
Dimensions 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" 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 260 pictures 650 pictures
Battery type 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
Pricing at launch $279 $5,024