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Pentax 645Z vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77
Pentax 645Z front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax RZ18 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
  • Announced April 2014
  • Older Model is Pentax 645D
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Announced September 2011
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Pentax 645Z vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

Here, we are evaluating the Pentax 645Z versus Pentax RZ18, one is a Pro DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both sold by Pentax. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the 645Z (51MP) and RZ18 (16MP) and the 645Z (Medium format) and RZ18 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizing.

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The 645Z was introduced 2 years after the RZ18 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera and the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a in depth comparison, here is a brief view of how the 645Z scores against the RZ18 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Pentax RZ18

 645Z RZ18 
AnnouncedApril 2014September 2011More modern by 32 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k460kClearer display (+577k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Pentax 645Z

 RZ18 645Z 

Common features in the Pentax 645Z and Pentax RZ18

 645Z RZ18 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and size. The Pentax 645Z offers physical 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 RZ18 has specifications of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

See the Pentax 645Z versus Pentax RZ18 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the 645Z versus the RZ18.

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the 645Z and RZ18 is 49 and 92 respectively.

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be hard to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes only by looking at specifications. The image here may give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the 645Z and RZ18.

Plainly, both cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The 645Z having a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Pentax 645Z will resolve greater detail using its extra 35MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more recent 645Z should have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Pentax 645Z Portrait photography information
Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography information
88
focusing manually
resolution is fantastic (51MP)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
includes face detection focus
supports RAW files
36
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax 645Z
Street photography with Pentax RZ18
63
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is great (Medium format)
supports RAW files
environment proof
great ISO range (204,800)
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition (1,550 grams)
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
lighter than competition (178 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax 645Z Sports photography features
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography features
71
resolution is fantastic (51MP)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery pack (650 per charge)
47
long zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proof
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax 645Z Travel photography features
Pentax RZ18 Travel photography features
51
environment proof
resolution is fantastic (51MP)
not so great battery pack (650 per charge)
heavier than competition (1,550g)
does not offer selfie friendly display
71
lighter than competition (178g)
environment proof
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (450mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax 645Z as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Landscape photography camera
78
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
good sized screen (3.2")
resolution is fantastic (51 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
no anti aliasing filter
great ISO range (204,800)
supports RAW files
environment proof
2 card slots
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery pack (650 per charge)
49
you can focus manually
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
environment proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax 645Z
Vlogging with Pentax RZ18
27
includes face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external mic support
does not offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition (1,550g)
30
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (178 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic support
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Pentax 645Z vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax 645Z and Pentax RZ18
 Pentax 645ZPentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Brand Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax 645Z Pentax Optio RZ18
Type Pro DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2014-04-15 2011-09-12
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 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 1,452.0mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 51 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 8256 x 6192 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 204800 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 27 9
Lens
Lens support Pentax 645AF2 fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-450mm (18.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing range - 4cm
Amount of lenses 6 -
Focal length multiplier 0.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.2 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,037k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.85x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 2.80 m
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, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/125s -
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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 1550 grams (3.42 lbs) 178 grams (0.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 101 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 26.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 4505 not tested
Other
Battery life 650 images -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI90 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Dual 1
Cost at launch $5,024 $210