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Pentax 645Z vs Pentax ist DL2

Portability
49
Imaging
81
Features
74
Overall
78
Pentax 645Z front
 
Pentax ist DL2 front
Portability
69
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax ist DL2 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
  • Introduced April 2014
  • Earlier Model is Pentax 645D
Pentax ist DL2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 565g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Announced January 2006
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Pentax 645Z vs Pentax ist DL2 Overview

In this article, we are reviewing the Pentax 645Z and Pentax ist DL2, former being a Pro DSLR while the other is a Advanced DSLR and both are designed by Pentax. There is a considerable difference among the image resolutions of the 645Z (51MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the 645Z (Medium format) and ist DL2 (APS-C) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The 645Z was introduced 8 years later than the ist DL2 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera and the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a in depth comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the 645Z matches up versus the ist DL2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Pentax ist DL2

 645Z ist DL2 
AnnouncedApril 2014January 2006Fresher by 100 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3.2"2.5"Larger display (+0.7")
Display resolution1037k210kCrisper display (+827k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Pentax 645Z

 ist DL2 645Z 

Common features in the Pentax 645Z and Pentax ist DL2

 645Z ist DL2 
Focus manually More exact focus
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax ist DL2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera often, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Pentax 645Z offers outer dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") with a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs) while the Pentax ist DL2 has measurements of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") and a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

See the Pentax 645Z and Pentax ist DL2 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose during that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the 645Z vs the ist DL2.

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax ist DL2 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the 645Z and ist DL2 is 49 and 69 respectively.

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax ist DL2 top view buttons comparison

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax ist DL2 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to see the gap in sensor sizing simply by going through technical specs. The visual here will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the 645Z and ist DL2.

As you have seen, both the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The 645Z with its larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Pentax 645Z will provide greater detail using its extra 45 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos far more aggressively. The more recent 645Z will have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax ist DL2 sensor size comparison

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax 645Z
Portrait photography with Pentax ist DL2
88
has manual focus
amazing resolution (51MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW files
51
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
sensor resolution low (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Pentax 645Z Street photography factors
Pentax ist DL2 Street photography factors
63
screen tilts up and down
big sensor size (Medium format)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
great ISO range (204,800)
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (1,550 grams)
60
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition (565 grams)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax 645Z Sports photography factors
Pentax ist DL2 Sports photography factors
71
amazing resolution (51MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
terrible battery life (650 shots)
39
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax 645Z Travel photography features
Pentax ist DL2 Travel photography features
51
weather sealing
amazing resolution (51 megapixels)
terrible battery life (650 per charge)
more heavy than competition in class (1,550g)
display isn't selfie friendly
52
lighter than competition (565 grams)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (6MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax 645Z
Landscape photography with Pentax ist DL2
78
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3.2 inch)
amazing resolution (51 megapixels)
big sensor size (Medium format)
doesnt have low pass filter
great ISO range (204,800)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
2 card slots
no image stabilization
terrible battery life (650 per charge)
47
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.5 inches)
doesn't have liveview
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax 645Z
Vlogging with Pentax ist DL2
27
offers face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with microphone support
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (1,550g)
22
lighter than competition (565g)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low ( pxls)
does not have microphone jack
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Pentax 645Z vs Pentax ist DL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax 645Z and Pentax ist DL2
 Pentax 645ZPentax ist DL2
General Information
Company Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax 645Z Pentax ist DL2
Category Pro DSLR Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2014-04-15 2006-01-27
Body design Large SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip PRIME III -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Medium format APS-C
Sensor measurements 44 x 33mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 1,452.0mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 51 megapixels 6 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest resolution 8256 x 6192 3008 x 2008
Highest native ISO 204800 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
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 5
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax 645AF2 Pentax KAF
Total lenses 6 151
Focal length multiplier 0.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3.2" 2.5"
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical
Viewfinder coverage 98% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.85x 0.57x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
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 reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 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) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 -
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 1550g (3.42 lb) 565g (1.25 lb)
Dimensions 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
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 -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI90 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots SD/MMC card
Storage slots Two 1
Pricing at launch $5,024 -