Pentax 645Z vs Sony A230

Here is a thorough assessment of the Pentax 645Z versus Sony A230, one being a Pro DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Pentax and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the 645Z (51MP) and A230 (10MP) and the 645Z (Medium format) and A230 (APS-C) have totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The 645Z was announced 4 years later than the A230 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a complete comparison, here is a concise view of how the 645Z matches up versus the A230 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Pentax 645Z and Sony Alpha DSLR-A230. The whole galleries are provided at Pentax 645Z Gallery and Sony A230 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to carry your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and volume. The Pentax 645Z enjoys outside measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") having a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs) and the Sony A230 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") having a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Examine the Pentax 645Z versus Sony A230 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at the time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the 645Z compared to the A230.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the 645Z and A230 is 49 and 69 respectively.

Usually, it's hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing only by seeing specs. The photograph below will help give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the 645Z and A230.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The 645Z using its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Pentax 645Z will provide more detail with its extra 41 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more modern 645Z is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.