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Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
81
Features
74
Overall
78

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Panasonic ZS50
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 243g - 111 x 65 x 34mm
  • Announced January 2015
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS45
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS60
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
  • Introduced April 2014
  • Old Model is Pentax 645D
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Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic ZS50 versus Pentax 645Z, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Pro DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the ZS50 (12MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the ZS50 (1/2.3") and 645Z (Medium format) possess different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS50 was unveiled 9 months after the 645Z so they are of a similar age. The two cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS50 being a Compact camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before diving through a in-depth comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the ZS50 matches up versus the 645Z with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Pentax 645Z

 ZS50 645Z 
IntroducedJanuary 2015April 2014More modern by 9 months
Screen resolution1040k1037kSharper screen (+3k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Panasonic ZS50

 645Z ZS50 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Panasonic ZS50 and Pentax 645Z

 ZS50 645Z 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera often, you'll have to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS50 features external dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs) and the Pentax 645Z has sizing of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") and a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

See the Panasonic ZS50 versus Pentax 645Z in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the ZS50 compared to the 645Z.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the ZS50 and 645Z is 90 and 49 respectively.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to picture the difference in sensor sizes merely by viewing a spec sheet. The pic here should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS50 and 645Z.

Clearly, each of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The ZS50 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Pentax 645Z will provide you with more detail having an extra 39 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The newer ZS50 should have an edge in sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Portrait photography camera
42
you can focus manually
includes face detect focus
supports RAW files
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
88
manual focus
excellent resolution (51MP)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Street photography information
Pentax 645Z Street photography information
68
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (243g)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
63
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is great (Medium format)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
above average high ISO (204,800)
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competitors (1,550g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Sports photography information
Pentax 645Z Sports photography information
43
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking focus
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
71
excellent resolution (51MP)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
includes tracking autofocus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery power (650 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Travel photography camera
66
lighter than competitors in class (243 grams)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
51
weather sealing
excellent resolution (51 megapixels)
terrible battery power (650 shots)
more heavy than competitors (1,550 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Landscape photography details
Pentax 645Z Landscape photography details
51
you can focus manually
decently wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
78
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
good sized screen (3.2 inch)
excellent resolution (51MP)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
above average high ISO (204,800)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
two card slots
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery power (650 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Vlogging advice
Pentax 645Z Vlogging advice
34
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (243g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone port
27
includes face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone socket
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competitors (1,550 grams)
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Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS50 and Pentax 645Z
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50Pentax 645Z
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 Pentax 645Z
Also called Lumix DMC-TZ70 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Pro DSLR
Announced 2015-01-06 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 measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 51MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 8256 x 6192
Max native ISO 6400 204800
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 23 27
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Number of lenses - 6
Crop factor 5.8 0.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3.2 inch
Resolution of display 1,040k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,166k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.85x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.40 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, 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
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/125s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 243g (0.54 pounds) 1550g (3.42 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 44 101
DXO Color Depth rating 20.0 26.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.2 14.7
DXO Low light rating 138 4505
Other
Battery life 300 photographs 650 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Card slots 1 2
Cost at launch $350 $5,024