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Pentax 645Z vs Pentax WG-1

Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77
Pentax 645Z front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax WG-1 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
  • Launched April 2014
  • Older Model is Pentax 645D
Pentax WG-1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Launched February 2011
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Pentax 645Z vs Pentax WG-1 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Pentax 645Z and Pentax WG-1, former being a Pro DSLR while the other is a Waterproof and they are both offered by Pentax. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the 645Z (51MP) and WG-1 (14MP) and the 645Z (Medium format) and WG-1 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The 645Z was announced 3 years later than the WG-1 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera and the Pentax WG-1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple view of how the 645Z matches up versus the WG-1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Pentax WG-1

 645Z WG-1 
LaunchedApril 2014February 2011Fresher by 39 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k230kCrisper display (+807k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Pentax 645Z

 WG-1 645Z 

Common features in the Pentax 645Z and Pentax WG-1

 645Z WG-1 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax WG-1 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Pentax 645Z offers outside dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") having a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs) while the Pentax WG-1 has sizing of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check out the Pentax 645Z and Pentax WG-1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the 645Z against the WG-1.

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax WG-1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the 645Z and WG-1 is 49 and 93 respectively.

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax WG-1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax WG-1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to envision the contrast in sensor sizing only by checking out specifications. The visual below may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the 645Z and WG-1.

Plainly, the two cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The 645Z with its larger sensor will make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Pentax 645Z will show greater detail with its extra 37 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos a little more aggressively. The newer 645Z is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax WG-1 sensor size comparison

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax 645Z Portrait photography advice
Pentax WG-1 Portrait photography advice
88
manual focus
fantastic MP (51MP)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
features face detect focus
supports RAW formats
35
focusing manually
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax 645Z as a Street photography camera
Pentax WG-1 as a Street photography camera
63
has a tilting screen
sensor size is big (Medium format)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
very good ISO range (204,800)
no image stabilization
more heavy than others (1,550g)
54
environment sealing
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax 645Z Sports photography advice
Pentax WG-1 Sports photography advice
71
fantastic MP (51MP)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
features tracking focus
environment sealing
has phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
not so great battery pack (650 shots)
37
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
environment sealing
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax 645Z Travel photography highlights
Pentax WG-1 Travel photography highlights
51
environment sealing
fantastic MP (51 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (650 CIPA)
more heavy than others (1,550 grams)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
71
environment sealing
good megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax 645Z
Landscape photography with Pentax WG-1
78
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2")
fantastic MP (51 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
very good ISO range (204,800)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
has double storage slots
no image stabilization
not so great battery pack (650 per charge)
42
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
environment sealing
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual exposure
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax 645Z Vlogging factors
Pentax WG-1 Vlogging factors
27
features face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has microphone port
does not feature selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
more heavy than others (1,550g)
25
quite wide (28mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone support
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Pentax 645Z vs Pentax WG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax 645Z and Pentax WG-1
 Pentax 645ZPentax Optio WG-1
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax 645Z Pentax Optio WG-1
Class Pro DSLR Waterproof
Launched 2014-04-15 2011-02-07
Physical type Large SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor PRIME III -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Medium format 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 44 x 33mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 1,452.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 51 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 8256 x 6192 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 204800 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 27 9
Lens
Lens support Pentax 645AF2 fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Available lenses 6 -
Focal length multiplier 0.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3.2" 2.7"
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.85x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 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
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/125 seconds -
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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 1550g (3.42 pounds) 157g (0.35 pounds)
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 Overall 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 pictures 260 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI90 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Two One
Retail pricing $5,024 $350