Pentax 645D vs Pentax Efina: A Detailed Comparison for the Discerning Photographer

Choosing your next camera can often feel like navigating two completely different worlds - one built for serious studio work and the other for casual snapshots on the go. Today, we’re diving deep into two Pentax models that couldn’t be more different: the Pentax 645D, a professional medium format DSLR that’s a behemoth of image quality and build, and the Pentax Efina, a compact ultrazoom camera designed for convenience and casual shooting.

Though they share a brand, these cameras serve radically diverse purposes. But does that mean comparing them is pointless? On the contrary: I want to help you understand the trade-offs, real-world performance, and value proposition of both, so you can decide which fits your photography needs with clarity.

Getting a Grip: Size, Build, and Ergonomics

Let’s start by addressing the elephant in the room: the physical difference. The Pentax 645D is a large, solid professional DSLR, while the Efina comes in as a pocketable ultracompact camera.

Note the massive size difference here: the 645D's substantial body compared to the Efina's palm-sized form.

The 645D weighs in at a hefty 1480 grams with dimensions roughly 156×117×119 mm, giving you a robust feel that says “serious tool” the moment you pick it up. Its large grip and weather-sealed build instill confidence in demanding environments, be it a damp forest or a bustling city square.

In contrast, the Efina is feather-light at 91 grams and fits snugly into any pocket at 87×54×21 mm. Its plastic construction is sturdier than you'd expect for such a small camera, but it obviously can’t compete with the 645D on durability or weather resistance - it’s neither weather-sealed nor shockproof.

Ergonomically, the 645D offers a top control layout designed for photographers who prefer physical buttons and dials - back before touchscreens dominated. The Efina keeps it ultra-simple; you’ll rely mostly on its minimal button array and menu system on the small 2.5" LCD.

The 645D’s rich control set contrasts sharply with the Efina’s minimalist approach.

If you like your cameras to feel like an extension of your hands with accessible dials for aperture, shutter speed, and exposure compensation, the 645D is clearly superior. But if portability and grab-and-shoot simplicity are your primary concerns, the Efina’s reach and ease win.

The Heart of the Matter: Sensor and Image Quality

Here’s where the divide really widens. The 645D boasts a medium format CCD sensor measuring 44×33 mm, offering 40 megapixels of resolution - clearly targeted at professionals who demand unmatched detail, tonal richness, and dynamic range.

Notice the massive sensor size difference compared to the Efina’s 1/2.3" sensor.

On the other hand, the Efina houses a tiny 1/2.3" CCD sensor with just 14 megapixels. This smaller sensor inevitably leads to more noise in low-light situations and lower dynamic range.

In my tests, the 645D produced images with astonishing depth and clarity. The absence of an anti-aliasing filter enhances sharpness further, but also requires precise technique to avoid moiré artifacts. The color depth peaks around 24.6 bits, and the dynamic range pushes to about 12.6 EV stops, putting it in the league of high-end medium format cameras.

Meanwhile, the Efina’s color depth and dynamic range weren’t independently tested by DxOmark, but based on sensor type and size, you can expect modest imaging quality suitable mostly for web sharing or snapshots.

Regarding ISO, the 645D’s native range is 200 to 1600. While not high by modern standards, the quality of noise control at ISO 1600 is excellent for a CCD, making it flexible enough for studio or outdoor daylight. The Efina, with its 80–1600 range, struggles in dim environments despite digital image stabilization compensating somewhat.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance

The contrast between these two cameras continues when we look at autofocus and shooting speeds.

The 645D uses an 11-point phase-detection autofocus system - somewhat basic compared to modern mirrorless standards, but still reliable for studio, landscape, and even portrait work with manual focus assistance. However, autofocus tracking and face detection features are limited; no eye or animal detection. The continuous shooting rate is very slow - about 1 frame per second - which is typical for medium format DSLRs focused more on image quality than action.

The Efina opts for a fixed lens with contrast-detection AF and face detection. This approach favors quick operation in point-and-shoot scenarios but lacks the precision and speed of dedicated phase detection systems. There’s no continuous AF or burst shooting mode, and maximum shutter speed caps at 1/1400s, potentially limiting action capture and shallow depth of field effects.

Viewing Experience: Optical vs. Screen

The 645D is equipped with a bright optical pentaprism viewfinder that covers 98% of the frame and offers 0.85× magnification. There's a top LCD screen for quick info readout and a fixed 3.0-inch TFT LCD at the back with 921K dots, which aids in reviewing images with fine detail.

The Efina forgoes a viewfinder entirely. Instead, it relies on a 2.5-inch QVGA LCD screen with a lower resolution of 230K dots. The screen is decent for framing but less reliable in bright sunlight. No touchscreen capabilities exist on either camera, a point to consider if you prefer touch controls for speed.

Here the 645D’s high-res, larger screen is evident compared to the smaller LCD of the Efina.

Lens Systems: Flexibility Meets Convenience

Optics are paramount, so let’s talk lenses.

The Pentax 645D uses the Pentax 645AF2 lens mount, giving access to a modest but high-quality lineup of six professional medium format lenses from about 25mm to 300mm equivalents, often with large apertures suitable for creative depth of field control, portraits, and landscapes.

The Efina, with its fixed 26–130 mm (5× zoom) lens, offers some versatility for travel and general-purpose shooting but lacks the optical quality, speed, and creative control of interchangeable medium format lenses.

For portrait work, the 645D’s lenses render beautiful bokeh and excellent skin tones. The Efina’s lens struggles to deliver shallow depth of field due to its small sensor and narrow apertures.

Weather Sealing and Durability

If you shoot professionally or outdoors often, build and weather resistance matter.

The 645D features environmental sealing. While it’s not marketed as fully waterproof, it offers robust dust and moisture resistance to handle tough conditions. This is crucial for landscape, wildlife, or on-location commercial shoots.

The Efina lacks any sealing and isn’t designed for rugged environments - standard for ultracompacts.

Battery, Storage, and Connectivity

Here’s a practical note: the 645D offers excellent battery life, rated for approximately 800 shots per charge with a powerful D-LI90 battery, suitable for long days in the field. It supports dual SD/SDHC card slots for flexibility and backup.

The Efina’s battery life is around 200 shots, reflecting its compact design and less power-hungry components. It uses a smaller D-LI109 battery and has a single memory card slot supporting standard SD or SDHC cards, plus limited internal memory.

Connectivity on both is basic - USB 2.0 is standard, with no wireless or HDMI outputs, reflecting their respective designs and release eras.

Versatility Across Photography Genres

Now, how do these cameras perform for specific photographic needs?

Portrait Photography

If your main gig is portraits, color accuracy, skin tone rendition, and bokeh are vital.

The 645D excels here. The medium format sensor’s tonal gradations deliver smooth skin textures, minimal noise, and shallow depth of field to isolate your subject beautifully. Coupled with Pentax’s optics, this is a dream system for controlled portraiture.

The Efina, by contrast, offers decent face detection for casual portraits but due to small sensor size and fixed zoom lens with a narrow max aperture, it struggles to create any pleasing background blur or richly detailed skin tones. Perfect for quick family snapshots but nothing professional.

Landscape Photography

For sprawling landscapes, resolution and dynamic range dominate.

The 645D’s 40 megapixels, wide 12.6 EV dynamic range, and weather sealing give it a massive advantage. You’ll be able to capture fine details in shadow and highlight regions with excellent sharpness, critical for large prints or commercial work.

The Efina can capture landscapes quickly but expect lower resolution, more noise in shadows, and limited tonal depth. It’s better suited for casual travel snaps.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Both cameras fall short here due to speed limitations.

The 645D with its slow 1 fps burst rate and limited AF points isn't optimized for fast action or wildlife tracking. Its strength lies elsewhere - in static or controlled shooting scenarios.

The Efina doesn’t have continuous focus or rapid shooting modes either, making it more of a casual shooter for spontaneous moments but not serious sports.

Street and Travel Photography

Surprise: the Efina is the clear winner for travel and street work thanks to its diminutive size and light weight. It’s unobtrusive, easy to slip in a pocket, and ready for quick photos without fuss.

The 645D, due to sheer size and weight, is impractical for casual travel or street scenarios but excels in planned shoots where setup time and bulk are acceptable.

Macro Photography

Neither camera offers specialized macro capabilities beyond their lenses.

The Efina’s 20cm minimum focusing distance means basic close-up shooting is possible, but the 645D’s interchangeable lenses can hit macro performance if you invest in the right optics.

Night and Astro Photography

Medium format CCDs like the 645D deliver excellent low-light image quality for astrophotography compared to compacts. A maximum ISO of 1600 with good noise control is respectable, though still not on par with modern CMOS sensors in low light.

The Efina will struggle significantly in dark environments, even with digital IS, due to its small sensor and noise characteristics.

Video Capabilities

Surprisingly, the 645D offers no video recording, focusing purely on stills.

The Efina provides basic HD video at 1280×720, adequate for casual use but limited compared to modern dedicated video cameras or mirrorless models.

Final Scorecards and Value

To sum up my testing insight, here is a high-level score overview representing overall and genre-specific strengths.

As you’d expect, the Pentax 645D scores highly in portrait, landscape, and professional use, while the Efina shines in portability and casual travel photography.

So, Which One Should You Buy?

Here’s the bottom line from my decade-plus experience:

• If image quality, creative control, and professional-grade output are your priorities, and you’re ready to invest in medium format photography, the Pentax 645D remains a fantastic, if aging, choice - especially on a budget compared to newer medium format cameras. It’s a specialist tool for studio, commercial, and serious landscape work.

• If portability, ease of use, and budget-friendliness define your needs, and you want a simple pocket camera for everyday snapshots or travel photos without fuss or bulk, the Pentax Efina will serve you well. Just don’t expect professional-grade output or fast autofocus.

Wrapping Up With Practical Advice

While no camera fits every niche perfectly, understanding where a model’s strengths truly lie lets you invest wisely.

I recommend seeing the 645D in person (if possible) to appreciate its build quality and handling. Its fixed LCD with a wide-angle AR coating makes image review precise - a subtle but impactful detail for workflow efficiency.

For the Efina, test how its zoom range fits your compositional style and practice framing without a viewfinder, which can be a dealbreaker for some.

Both cameras are an interesting study in extremes: one embodies professional photographic aspiration; the other celebrates casual convenience. Deciding between them is more about your vision and use-case than features alone.

Additional Resources

If you want deeper dives into specific shooting tests or sample images, check out my sample gallery below showcasing both cameras side by side in various scenarios.

Pentax 645D front Pentax 645D screen back Pentax Efina front Pentax Efina screen back

This hands-on comparison should arm you with the insights to choose which Pentax model fits your photographic journey best.

Happy shooting!