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Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K20D

Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77
Pentax 645Z front
 
Pentax K20D front
Portability
59
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K20D 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
  • Revealed April 2014
  • Older Model is Pentax 645D
Pentax K20D
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 142 x 101 x 70mm
  • Revealed June 2008
  • Previous Model is Pentax K10D
Photography Glossary

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K20D Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K20D, former is a Pro DSLR while the latter is a Advanced DSLR and they are both manufactured by Pentax. There is a considerable difference between the image resolutions of the 645Z (51MP) and K20D (15MP) and the 645Z (Medium format) and K20D (APS-C) have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The 645Z was released 5 years after the K20D which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera and the Pentax K20D being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the 645Z matches up vs the K20D with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Pentax K20D

 645Z K20D 
RevealedApril 2014June 2008Newer by 71 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3.2"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1037k230kClearer screen (+807k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K20D over the Pentax 645Z

 K20D 645Z 

Common features in the Pentax 645Z and Pentax K20D

 645Z K20D 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K20D Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to travel with your camera, you should consider its weight and size. 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) while the Pentax K20D has specifications of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Look at the Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K20D in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select during that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the 645Z compared to the K20D.

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K20D size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the 645Z and K20D is 49 and 59 respectively.

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K20D top view buttons comparison

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K20D Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to envision the difference between sensor dimensions simply by going over specifications. The picture here may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the 645Z and K20D.

Plainly, both the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The 645Z featuring a bigger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Pentax 645Z will deliver more detail as a result of its extra 36MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more recent 645Z will have an advantage in sensor technology.

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K20D sensor size comparison

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K20D Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K20D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax 645Z Portrait photography information
Pentax K20D Portrait photography information
88
has manual focus
great megapixels (51 megapixels)
big sensor size (Medium format)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
71
focusing manually
MP count good (15 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax 645Z Street photography details
Pentax K20D Street photography details
63
screen tilts up and down
big sensor size (Medium format)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
above average high ISO (204,800)
no image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (1,550 grams)
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Pentax 645Z Sports photography advice
Pentax K20D Sports photography advice
71
great megapixels (51 megapixels)
big sensor size (Medium format)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proofing
has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (650 CIPA)
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (15MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
weather proof
has phase detect auto focus
low fps (3.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax 645Z
Travel photography with Pentax K20D
51
environment proofing
great megapixels (51 megapixels)
not so great battery life (650 CIPA)
heavier than competition in class (1,550 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
64
weather proof
MP count good (15 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax 645Z
Landscape photography with Pentax K20D
78
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inch)
great megapixels (51 megapixels)
big sensor size (Medium format)
no anti-alias filter
above average high ISO (204,800)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
two card slots
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (650 per charge)
70
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (15 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
screen is small (2.7 inches)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax 645Z Vlogging info
Pentax K20D Vlogging info
27
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic socket
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (1,550g)
9
lack of video recording
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Pentax 645Z vs Pentax K20D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax 645Z and Pentax K20D
 Pentax 645ZPentax K20D
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax 645Z Pentax K20D
Class Pro DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2014-04-15 2008-06-25
Physical type Large SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip PRIME III -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Medium format APS-C
Sensor dimensions 44 x 33mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 1,452.0mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 51 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Maximum resolution 8256 x 6192 4672 x 3104
Maximum native ISO 204800 3200
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 27 11
Lens
Lens support Pentax 645AF2 Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 6 151
Crop factor 0.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3.2" 2.7"
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 98% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.85x 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes 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, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/125 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic 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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 1550 grams (3.42 lb) 800 grams (1.76 lb)
Physical dimensions 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") 142 x 101 x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 101 65
DXO Color Depth rating 26.0 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.7 11.1
DXO Low light rating 4505 639
Other
Battery life 650 photographs -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI90 D-LI50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots SD/MMC/SDHC card
Card slots Dual Single
Pricing at launch $5,024 $700