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Pentax 645Z vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
49
Imaging
81
Features
74
Overall
78
Pentax 645Z front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax RS1500 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
  • Launched April 2014
  • Replaced the Pentax 645D
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Launched March 2011
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Pentax 645Z vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Pentax 645Z and Pentax RS1500, one being a Pro DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both sold by Pentax. There exists a significant gap among the sensor resolutions of the 645Z (51MP) and RS1500 (14MP) and the 645Z (Medium format) and RS1500 (1/2.3") feature different sensor size.

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The 645Z was unveiled 3 years later than the RS1500 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera and the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the 645Z matches up vs the RS1500 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Pentax RS1500

 645Z RS1500 
LaunchedApril 2014March 2011Fresher by 38 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k230kCrisper display (+807k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Pentax 645Z

 RS1500 645Z 

Common features in the Pentax 645Z and Pentax RS1500

 645Z RS1500 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and volume. The Pentax 645Z provides physical dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") having a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs) and the Pentax RS1500 has sizing of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax 645Z and Pentax RS1500 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is the front view scale comparison of the 645Z versus the RS1500.

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 645Z and RS1500 is 49 and 93 respectively.

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be tough to imagine the gap in sensor sizing just by researching specifications. The graphic here should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the 645Z and RS1500.

Plainly, each of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The 645Z using its larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Pentax 645Z will render greater detail having an extra 37MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively. The more modern 645Z provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax 645Z Portrait photography highlights
Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography highlights
88
focusing manually
MP count great (51 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
35
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax 645Z as a Street photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Street photography camera
63
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is great (Medium format)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
good high ISO (204,800)
does not have image stabilization
heavier than competition (1,550g)
54
weather sealing
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax 645Z Sports photography factors
Pentax RS1500 Sports photography factors
71
MP count great (51MP)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
supports tracking autofocus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect AF
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low battery power (650 CIPA)
37
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax 645Z Travel photography information
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography information
51
environment sealing
MP count great (51 megapixels)
low battery power (650 CIPA)
heavier than competition (1,550 grams)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
67
weather sealing
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax 645Z Landscape photography features
Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography features
78
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3.2")
MP count great (51 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
no low pass filter
good high ISO (204,800)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
has dual storage slots
does not have image stabilization
low battery power (650 shots)
40
you can focus manually
really wide (28mm)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
weather sealing
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax 645Z as a Vlogging camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Vlogging camera
27
supports face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external mic jack
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
heavier than competition (1,550 grams)
25
really wide (28mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic support
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Pentax 645Z vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax 645Z and Pentax RS1500
 Pentax 645ZPentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Company Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax 645Z Pentax Optio RS1500
Category Pro DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2014-04-15 2011-03-16
Physical type Large SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip PRIME III -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Medium format 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 44 x 33mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 1,452.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 51 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 8256 x 6192 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 204800 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 27 9
Lens
Lens mount Pentax 645AF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 6 -
Crop factor 0.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3.2" 2.7"
Screen resolution 1,037k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.85x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1500s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.90 m
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, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/125s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 1550g (3.42 lbs) 157g (0.35 lbs)
Dimensions 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 101 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 26.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 14.7 not tested
DXO Low light score 4505 not tested
Other
Battery life 650 photos 260 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI90 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 2 One
Price at launch $5,024 $150