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Pentax 645Z vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS

Portability
49
Imaging
78
Features
74
Overall
76
Pentax 645Z front
 
Ricoh WG-4 GPS front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
43
Overall
40

Pentax 645Z vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS 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
  • Introduced April 2014
  • Replaced the Pentax 645D
Ricoh WG-4 GPS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 235g - 124 x 64 x 33mm
  • Announced February 2014
  • Refreshed by Ricoh WG-5 GPS
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Pentax 645Z vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Pentax 645Z versus Ricoh WG-4 GPS, one being a Pro DSLR and the other is a Waterproof by manufacturers Pentax and Ricoh. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the 645Z (51MP) and WG-4 GPS (16MP) and the 645Z (Medium format) and WG-4 GPS (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizing.

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The 645Z was launched 3 months later than the WG-4 GPS so they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera and the Ricoh WG-4 GPS being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick summation of how the 645Z scores versus the WG-4 GPS when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Ricoh WG-4 GPS

 645Z WG-4 GPS 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k460kCrisper display (+577k dot)

Reasons to pick Ricoh WG-4 GPS over the Pentax 645Z

 WG-4 GPS 645Z 

Common features in the Pentax 645Z and Ricoh WG-4 GPS

 645Z WG-4 GPS 
AnnouncedApril 2014February 2014Similar generation
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Pentax 645Z vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera, you are going to need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Pentax 645Z comes with exterior 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 Ricoh WG-4 GPS has measurements of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

See the Pentax 645Z versus Ricoh WG-4 GPS in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the 645Z vs the WG-4 GPS.

Pentax 645Z vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 645Z and WG-4 GPS is 49 and 90 respectively.

Pentax 645Z vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS top view buttons comparison

Pentax 645Z vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements simply by checking technical specs. The graphic here will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the 645Z and WG-4 GPS.

As you have seen, both of those cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The 645Z due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh easier and the Pentax 645Z will give you extra detail utilizing its extra 35MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images somewhat more aggressively.

Pentax 645Z vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS sensor size comparison

Pentax 645Z vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax 645Z vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax 645Z as a Portrait photography camera
Ricoh WG-4 GPS as a Portrait photography camera
86
you can focus manually
MP count excellent (51MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
40
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focusing
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax 645Z
Street photography with Ricoh WG-4 GPS
63
screen tilts up and down
big sensor size (Medium format)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
great ISO range (204,800)
lack of image stabilization
heavier than others (1,550g)
58
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
more heavy than competition (235g)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax 645Z as a Sports photography camera
Ricoh WG-4 GPS as a Sports photography camera
70
MP count excellent (51 megapixels)
big sensor size (Medium format)
features tracking autofocus
environment sealing
supports phase detect AF
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery life (650 per charge)
44
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
weather sealing
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (240 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax 645Z Travel photography details
Ricoh WG-4 GPS Travel photography details
51
environment sealing
MP count excellent (51 megapixels)
terrible battery life (650 CIPA)
heavier than others (1,550 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly display
68
weather sealing
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
terrible battery power (240 CIPA)
more heavy than competition (235g)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax 645Z Landscape photography details
Ricoh WG-4 GPS Landscape photography details
77
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2")
MP count excellent (51MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
great ISO range (204,800)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
2 card slots
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery life (650 per charge)
53
focusing manually
rather wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
weather sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
terrible battery power (240 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax 645Z
Vlogging with Ricoh WG-4 GPS
27
features face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external mic support
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
heavier than others (1,550g)
34
rather wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external microphone socket
more heavy than competition (235g)
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Pentax 645Z vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax 645Z and Ricoh WG-4 GPS
 Pentax 645ZRicoh WG-4 GPS
General Information
Brand Pentax Ricoh
Model type Pentax 645Z Ricoh WG-4 GPS
Class Pro DSLR Waterproof
Introduced 2014-04-15 2014-02-05
Physical type Large SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by PRIME III -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Medium format 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 44 x 33mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 1,452.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 51MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 8256 x 6192 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 204800 6400
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 27 9
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax 645AF2 fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.0-4.9
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Number of lenses 6 -
Crop factor 0.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3.2" 3"
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.85x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.00 m (Auto ISO)
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, flash off, flash on, auto + redeye, on + redeye
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/125 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 1550g (3.42 lbs) 235g (0.52 lbs)
Dimensions 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" 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 240 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI90 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal
Card slots 2 Single
Pricing at launch $5,024 $210