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Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K-3

Portability
49
Imaging
81
Features
74
Overall
78
Pentax 645Z front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
85
Overall
73

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

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
  • Released April 2014
  • Replaced the Pentax 645D
Pentax K-3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Launched April 2014
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-3 II
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Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Following is a thorough assessment of the Pentax 645Z versus Pentax K-3, former is a Pro DSLR while the other is a Advanced DSLR and both are manufactured by Pentax. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the 645Z (51MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the 645Z (Medium format) and K-3 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The 645Z was revealed very close to the K-3 so they are of a similar age. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting in to a more detailed comparison, below is a brief view of how the 645Z scores vs the K-3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Pentax K-3

 645Z K-3 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Pentax 645Z

 K-3 645Z 

Common features in the Pentax 645Z and Pentax K-3

 645Z K-3 
LaunchedApril 2014April 2014Same age
Manual focus Very exact focus
Display dimension3.2"3.2"Identical display sizing
Display resolution1037k1037kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and volume. The Pentax 645Z has exterior measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") with a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 has sizing of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Compare the Pentax 645Z versus Pentax K-3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. The following is the front view size comparison of the 645Z versus the K-3.

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the 645Z and K-3 is 49 and 59 respectively.

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes just by checking out specs. The picture here will provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the 645Z and K-3.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The 645Z with its larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Pentax 645Z will provide more detail because of its extra 27MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics much more aggressively.

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax 645Z Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography advice
88
has manual focus
great megapixels (51MP)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
79
you can focus manually
MP count good (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax 645Z Street photography details
Pentax K-3 Street photography details
63
tilting screen
sensor size is large (Medium format)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
very good high ISO (204,800)
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than average (1,550 grams)
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
very good ISO range (51,200)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Pentax 645Z Sports photography features
Pentax K-3 Sports photography features
71
great megapixels (51MP)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low battery (650 shots)
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
terrible battery (560 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax 645Z as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Travel photography camera
51
weather proof
great megapixels (51MP)
low battery (650 per charge)
more heavy than average (1,550 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
60
weather sealing
MP count good (24MP)
flash built-in
terrible battery (560 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax 645Z Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-3 Landscape photography highlights
78
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3.2 inch)
great megapixels (51 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
no anti aliasing filter
very good high ISO (204,800)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
has double storage slots
does not have image stabilization
low battery (650 CIPA)
78
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
very good ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
has double storage slots
terrible battery (560 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax 645Z Vlogging advice
Pentax K-3 Vlogging advice
27
provides face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone port
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than average (1,550g)
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes mic port
display isn't selfie friendly
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Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax 645Z and Pentax K-3
 Pentax 645ZPentax K-3
General Information
Make Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax 645Z Pentax K-3
Category Pro DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2014-04-15 2014-04-10
Body design Large SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip PRIME III Prime III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Medium format APS-C
Sensor dimensions 44 x 33mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 1,452.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 51MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Maximum resolution 8256 x 6192 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 204800 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 27 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount Pentax 645AF2 Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 6 151
Crop factor 0.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.2" 3.2"
Resolution of display 1,037k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.85x 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options 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 Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/125 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS Optional Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 1550g (3.42 pounds) 800g (1.76 pounds)
Dimensions 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 101 80
DXO Color Depth score 26.0 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 14.7 13.4
DXO Low light score 4505 1216
Other
Battery life 650 images 560 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI90 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Two Two
Retail pricing $5,024 $639