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Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K-r

Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77
Pentax 645Z front
 
Pentax K-r front
Portability
67
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K-r Key Specs

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
  • Released April 2014
  • Replaced the Pentax 645D
Pentax K-r
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 598g - 125 x 97 x 68mm
  • Launched March 2011
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Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K-r Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Pentax 645Z versus Pentax K-r, former being a Pro DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and they are both built by Pentax. There exists a sizable gap between the image resolutions of the 645Z (51MP) and K-r (12MP) and the 645Z (Medium format) and K-r (APS-C) possess totally different sensor sizes.

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The 645Z was brought out 3 years later than the K-r and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera and the Pentax K-r being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the 645Z matches up against the K-r for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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

 645Z K-r 
LaunchedApril 2014March 2011Fresher by 38 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k921kCrisper screen (+116k dot)

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

 K-r 645Z 

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

 645Z K-r 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K-r Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Pentax 645Z provides external dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") and a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-r has measurements of 125mm x 97mm x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7") having a weight of 598 grams (1.32 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax 645Z versus Pentax K-r in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the 645Z compared to the K-r.

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K-r size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 645Z and K-r is 49 and 67 respectively.

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

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K-r Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizing simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The visual below will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the 645Z and K-r.

As you can see, the two cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The 645Z because of its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Pentax 645Z will offer you extra detail having its extra 39 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more recent 645Z will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K-r sensor size comparison

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K-r Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Pentax 645Z as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-r as a Portrait photography camera
88
focusing manually
resolution is high (51MP)
great sensor size (Medium format)
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
63
focusing manually
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
supports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Pentax 645Z Street photography highlights
Pentax K-r Street photography highlights
63
screen tilts
great sensor size (Medium format)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
above average ISO range (204,800)
no image stabilization
heavier than others (1,550 grams)
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Pentax 645Z Sports photography details
Pentax K-r Sports photography details
71
resolution is high (51MP)
great sensor size (Medium format)
features tracking autofocus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
low frames per second (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
bad battery life (650 shots)
55
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
low fps (6.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (470 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax 645Z Travel photography advice
Pentax K-r Travel photography advice
51
environment sealing
resolution is high (51 megapixels)
bad battery life (650 shots)
heavier than others (1,550g)
does not posses selfie friendly display
47
built-in flash
terrible battery pack (470 shots)
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax 645Z Landscape photography features
Pentax K-r Landscape photography features
78
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inches)
resolution is high (51MP)
great sensor size (Medium format)
does not have anti aliasing filter
above average ISO range (204,800)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
two card slots
no image stabilization
bad battery life (650 CIPA)
65
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (470 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax 645Z
Vlogging with Pentax K-r
27
features face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic socket
does not posses selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
heavier than others (1,550g)
26
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
does not posses selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone support
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Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K-r Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax 645Z and Pentax K-r
 Pentax 645ZPentax K-r
General Information
Brand Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax 645Z Pentax K-r
Category Pro DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2014-04-15 2011-03-11
Physical type Large SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip PRIME III Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Medium format APS-C
Sensor measurements 44 x 33mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 1,452.0mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 51MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Max resolution 8256 x 6192 4288 x 2848
Max native ISO 204800 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Lowest enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 27 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax 645AF2 Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 6 151
Crop factor 0.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3.2" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,037k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent 96 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.85x 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 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, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync, High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/125s 1/180s
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) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 1550g (3.42 pounds) 598g (1.32 pounds)
Dimensions 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") 125 x 97 x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 101 72
DXO Color Depth score 26.0 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score 14.7 12.4
DXO Low light score 4505 755
Other
Battery life 650 photos 470 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI90 D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots SD/SDHC
Card slots Two 1
Price at release $5,024 $1,100