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Pentax 645Z vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
49
Imaging
81
Features
74
Overall
78
Pentax 645Z front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax ist DS2 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
  • Succeeded the Pentax 645D
Pentax ist DS2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 605g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Revealed August 2005
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Pentax 645Z vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Pentax 645Z versus Pentax ist DS2, one being a Pro DSLR and the latter is a Advanced DSLR and both of them are sold by Pentax. There is a sizeable difference between the resolutions of the 645Z (51MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the 645Z (Medium format) and ist DS2 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor size.

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The 645Z was introduced 8 years later than the ist DS2 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise summation of how the 645Z scores vs the ist DS2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Pentax ist DS2

 645Z ist DS2 
RevealedApril 2014August 2005More recent by 106 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3.2"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.7")
Screen resolution1037k210kSharper screen (+827k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Pentax 645Z

 ist DS2 645Z 

Common features in the Pentax 645Z and Pentax ist DS2

 645Z ist DS2 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera often, you will need to factor its weight and volume. The Pentax 645Z comes with physical measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") along with a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs) while the Pentax ist DS2 has sizing of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax 645Z versus Pentax ist DS2 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 differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the 645Z vs the ist DS2.

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the 645Z and ist DS2 is 49 and 68 respectively.

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to see the gap between sensor measurements just by checking specs. The visual below may give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the 645Z and ist DS2.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The 645Z having a bigger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Pentax 645Z will resolve greater detail using its extra 45 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more modern 645Z is going to have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax 645Z vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax 645Z Portrait photography info
Pentax ist DS2 Portrait photography info
88
has manual focus
megapixel count excellent (51 megapixels)
big sensor size (Medium format)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
51
focusing manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
low megapixels (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax 645Z
Street photography with Pentax ist DS2
63
screen tilts up and down
big sensor size (Medium format)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
above average high ISO (204,800)
does not have image stabilization
heavier than competitors in class (1,550 grams)
60
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition (605 grams)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax 645Z Sports photography highlights
Pentax ist DS2 Sports photography highlights
71
megapixel count excellent (51MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
max fps low (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery life (650 CIPA)
39
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
low fps (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax 645Z Travel photography highlights
Pentax ist DS2 Travel photography highlights
51
environment proofing
megapixel count excellent (51 megapixels)
not so great battery life (650 per charge)
heavier than competitors in class (1,550g)
screen is not selfie friendly
52
lighter than competition (605g)
built-in flash
no Timelapse recording
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax 645Z Landscape photography factors
Pentax ist DS2 Landscape photography factors
78
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
megapixel count excellent (51MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
does not have anti-alias filter
above average high ISO (204,800)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
two card slots
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery life (650 shots)
47
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (6MP)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax 645Z
Vlogging with Pentax ist DS2
27
provides face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic socket
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
heavier than competitors in class (1,550 grams)
22
lighter than competition (605 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great ( pixels)
no microphone socket
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Pentax 645Z vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax 645Z and Pentax ist DS2
 Pentax 645ZPentax ist DS2
General Information
Brand Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax 645Z Pentax ist DS2
Class Pro DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2014-04-15 2005-08-22
Physical type 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
Maximum resolution 8256 x 6192 3008 x 2008
Maximum native ISO 204800 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 27 11
Lens
Lens support Pentax 645AF2 Pentax KAF
Total lenses 6 151
Focal length multiplier 0.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3.2" 2.5"
Display resolution 1,037k dots 210k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent 95 percent
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
Inbuilt 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
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/125 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 -
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 1550g (3.42 lbs) 605g (1.33 lbs)
Physical 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 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 photographs -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI90 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots SD/MMC card
Card slots Dual 1
Price at launch $5,024 -