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Pentax 645D vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
50
Imaging
76
Features
52
Overall
66
Pentax 645D front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Pentax 645D vs Pentax RZ18 Key Specs

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
  • Successor is Pentax 645Z
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Launched September 2011
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Pentax 645D vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

Below is a extended analysis of the Pentax 645D and Pentax RZ18, one being a Pro DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are offered by Pentax. There is a big difference among the resolutions of the 645D (40MP) and RZ18 (16MP) and the 645D (Medium format) and RZ18 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The 645D was introduced 18 months earlier than the RZ18 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both cameras come with different body type with the Pentax 645D being a Large SLR camera and the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the 645D grades against the RZ18 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax 645D over the Pentax RZ18

 645D RZ18 
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Pentax 645D

 RZ18 645D 
LaunchedSeptember 2011March 2010More recent by 18 months

Common features in the Pentax 645D and Pentax RZ18

 645D RZ18 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Pentax 645D vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera, you will want to factor its weight and dimensions. The Pentax 645D comes with outside measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7") accompanied by a weight of 1480 grams (3.26 lbs) while the Pentax RZ18 has dimensions of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Check the Pentax 645D and Pentax RZ18 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the 645D vs the RZ18.

Pentax 645D vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the 645D and RZ18 is 50 and 92 respectively.

Pentax 645D vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Pentax 645D vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be hard to envision the difference in sensor measurements only by checking out technical specs. The visual underneath should offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the 645D and RZ18.

As you can tell, both cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The 645D having a bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Pentax 645D will produce greater detail using its extra 24 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The older 645D will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax 645D vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Pentax 645D vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax 645D vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax 645D Portrait photography factors
Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography factors
77
manual focus
high megapixels (40MP)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
delivers RAW files
does not have liveview
36
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax 645D as a Street photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Street photography camera
58
sensor size is large (Medium format)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
lighter than others (178 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax 645D Sports photography information
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography information
63
high megapixels (40 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
weather sealing
has phase detect AF
does not have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery life (800 shots)
47
long zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
supports tracking focus
weather sealing
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax 645D Travel photography factors
Pentax RZ18 Travel photography factors
55
weather sealing
high megapixels (40MP)
terrible battery life (800 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
71
lighter than others (178 grams)
weather sealing
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
great reach (450mm)
no Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax 645D Landscape photography highlights
Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography highlights
72
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
high megapixels (40MP)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
doesnt have low pass filter
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
has dual storage slots
does not have liveview
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery life (800 shots)
49
manual focus
really wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
weather sealing
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax 645D
Vlogging with Pentax RZ18
9
no video recording
30
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (178 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic jack
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Pentax 645D vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax 645D and Pentax RZ18
 Pentax 645DPentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax 645D Pentax Optio RZ18
Category Pro DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-03-10 2011-09-12
Body design Large SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Prime II -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Medium format 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 44 x 33mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 1,452.0mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 40 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 7264 x 5440 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW pictures
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax 645AF2 fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-450mm (18.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 4cm
Available lenses 6 -
Crop factor 0.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle and with AR coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.85x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 2.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/125s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 1480g (3.26 lb) 178g (0.39 lb)
Dimensions 156 x 117 x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 82 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 24.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.6 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1262 not tested
Other
Battery life 800 photos -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI90 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Dual 1
Price at launch $4,000 $210