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Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Panasonic ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ8
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
  • Introduced April 2014
  • Earlier Model is Pentax 645D
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Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

Below, we are looking at the Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax 645Z, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Pro DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the ZS5 (12MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the ZS5 (1/2.3") and 645Z (Medium format) use different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS5 was manufactured 4 years earlier than the 645Z and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS5 being a Compact camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the ZS5 scores against the 645Z in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Pentax 645Z

 ZS5 645Z 

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Panasonic ZS5

 645Z ZS5 
IntroducedApril 2014June 2010More recent by 46 months
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax 645Z

 ZS5 645Z 
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS5 offers external dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Pentax 645Z has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") accompanied by a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax 645Z in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have during that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the ZS5 and the 645Z.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS5 and 645Z is 92 and 49 respectively.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to imagine the difference between sensor measurements just by reading through technical specs. The photograph below should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS5 and 645Z.

As you have seen, both of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The ZS5 because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Pentax 645Z will resolve greater detail due to its extra 39MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older ZS5 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Portrait photography information
Pentax 645Z Portrait photography information
27
supports face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
88
has manual focus
high MP (51MP)
great sensor size (Medium format)
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 as a Street photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Street photography camera
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (214 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
63
tilting screen
great sensor size (Medium format)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
very good ISO range (204,800)
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (1,550g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Sports photography camera
31
image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300 seconds)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
71
high MP (51MP)
great sensor size (Medium format)
includes tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery power (650 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Travel photography info
Pentax 645Z Travel photography info
63
lighter than competition (214g)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (300mm)
missing Timelapse recording
resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
51
environment sealing
high MP (51 megapixels)
terrible battery power (650 shots)
more heavy than competition in class (1,550 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS5
Landscape photography with Pentax 645Z
33
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
78
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3.2 inch)
high MP (51 megapixels)
great sensor size (Medium format)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
very good ISO range (204,800)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
has double storage slots
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery power (650 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Vlogging highlights
Pentax 645Z Vlogging highlights
31
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (214 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone port
27
includes face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with microphone port
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (1,550g)
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Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax 645Z
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5Pentax 645Z
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 Pentax 645Z
Also called as Lumix DMC-TZ8 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Pro DSLR
Introduced 2010-06-16 2014-04-15
Body design Compact Large SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine HD II PRIME III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Medium format
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 51MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 8256 x 6192
Highest native ISO 6400 204800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 27
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.3-4.9 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Total lenses - 6
Focal length multiplier 5.9 0.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3.2 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1300 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.30 m no built-in flash
Flash settings 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
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/125 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30fps), 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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 214 gr (0.47 lbs) 1550 gr (3.42 lbs)
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 32mm (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 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Storage slots Single 2
Launch cost $300 $5,024