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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax 645D

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
55
Overall
46
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
 
Pentax 645D front
Portability
50
Imaging
76
Features
52
Overall
66

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax 645D Key Specs

Panasonic ZS45
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 249g - 108 x 60 x 32mm
  • Introduced January 2015
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS40
  • New Model is Panasonic ZS50
Pentax 645D
(Full Review)
  • 40MP - Medium format Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 1600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • No Video
  • Pentax 645AF2 Mount
  • 1480g - 156 x 117 x 119mm
  • Announced March 2010
  • Renewed by Pentax 645Z
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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax 645D Overview

In this write-up, we will be contrasting the Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax 645D, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Pro DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the ZS45 (16MP) and 645D (40MP) and the ZS45 (1/2.3") and 645D (Medium format) enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The ZS45 was launched 4 years after the 645D which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS45 being a Compact camera and the Pentax 645D being a Large SLR camera.

Before getting through a thorough comparison, below is a short summation of how the ZS45 scores versus the 645D with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Pentax 645D

 ZS45 645D 
AnnouncedJanuary 2015March 2010Newer by 59 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k921kSharper screen (+119k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax 645D over the Panasonic ZS45

 645D ZS45 
Focus manually More exact focusing

Common features in the Panasonic ZS45 and Pentax 645D

 ZS45 645D 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax 645D Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera often, you'll have to factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS45 comes with outside dimensions of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Pentax 645D has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7") with a weight of 1480 grams (3.26 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax 645D in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the ZS45 and the 645D.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax 645D size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS45 and 645D is 91 and 50 respectively.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax 645D top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax 645D Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be hard to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reading specs. The picture here should offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS45 and 645D.

All in all, each of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The ZS45 because of its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Pentax 645D will offer you extra detail utilizing its extra 24 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The younger ZS45 provides an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax 645D sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax 645D Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax 645D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax 645D as a Portrait photography camera
37
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
comes with face detection focus
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
77
manual focus
fantastic MP (40 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
supports RAW files
does not have liveview
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Street photography information
Pentax 645D Street photography information
69
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (249 grams)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
58
sensor size is great (Medium format)
supports RAW files
weather proof
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Sports photography highlights
Pentax 645D Sports photography highlights
56
incredible zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
great battery (350 per charge)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
63
fantastic MP (40MP)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
weather proof
comes with phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
max fps low (1.0 fps)
no image stabilization
low battery pack (800 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Travel photography info
Pentax 645D Travel photography info
71
great battery (350 shots)
lighter than average in class (249 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long zoom (480mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
55
weather proof
fantastic MP (40MP)
low battery pack (800 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax 645D as a Landscape photography camera
48
reasonably wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
great battery (350 shots)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse mode
72
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
fantastic MP (40MP)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
does not have low pass filter
supports RAW files
weather proof
has dual storage slots
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
low battery pack (800 shots)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Vlogging highlights
Pentax 645D Vlogging highlights
34
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (249 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic jack
9
can't shoot video
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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax 645D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS45 and Pentax 645D
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45Pentax 645D
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 Pentax 645D
Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ57 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Pro DSLR
Introduced 2015-01-06 2010-03-10
Body design Compact Large SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" Medium format
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 40MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 7264 x 5440
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Lowest enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 21 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens focal range 24-480mm (20.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Number of lenses - 6
Crop factor 5.9 0.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,040 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle and with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.00 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/125 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format MPEG-4 -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 249g (0.55 pounds) 1480g (3.26 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") 156 x 117 x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 82
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.6
DXO Low light score not tested 1262
Other
Battery life 350 photos 800 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC
Storage slots One 2
Launch price $300 $4,000