Pentax 645Z vs Sony A700

Pentax 645Z vs Sony A700: A Hands-On Comparison for Every Photographer’s Needs

If you’re wrestling with choosing between the venerable Pentax 645Z and the classic Sony Alpha A700, you’ve come to the right place. Both cameras represent very different camps and eras in photography, yet each holds a special place in the hands of more serious enthusiasts and professionals. I’ve spent years testing both medium format and APS-C DSLRs, and today we’ll dig deep into the real-world performance, technical nuances, and suitability of these two bodies across a spectrum of photographic disciplines.

Let’s break down what each camera brings to the table – no frills, no hype – just honest experience-based insight to help you make a well-informed decision.

The Physical Feel: Size and Handling First Impressions

Handling profoundly impacts how you shoot day-to-day - so right from the start, ergonomics matter.

The Pentax 645Z is a big beast. Its substantial body size and weight (about 1550g) reflect its medium format heritage. You really feel the quality and robustness as you grip it. The large, textured grip and well-placed dials convey “professional tool” from the second you hold it. Its chassis is sealed against dust and moisture, freezeproof even - perfect for demanding environments. If you love a hefty, solid camera that inspires confidence in survival, the 645Z fits that bill.

Contrast that with the Sony A700, a mid-sized APS-C DSLR tipping the scales at a comfortably portable 768g. This camera is lighter and smaller, making it friendlier to carry for long shoots or street photography outings. It also boasts weather sealing - albeit not as extensive as the 645Z’s - ensuring some resilience in less-than-ideal conditions.

From my hands-on testing, the A700’s more compact form suits photographers who prioritize portability, while the 645Z’s presence is ideal for studio setups or serious outdoor work where durability and balance with heavier lenses matter.

Design and Control Layout: Pocket Intuition vs Pro Precision

Looking at each camera’s top plate reveals their distinct user philosophies.

The 645Z sports a clean but comprehensive control layout with tactile dials for shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation, plus a top LCD display summarizing key settings. These analog elements make it quick to adjust on the fly without digging through menus, a real boon in professional scenarios.

On the Sony A700, the controls feel a bit more “consumer pro” - lots of buttons and a dial, but fewer dedicated physical dials for independent exposure adjustments. It’s decent, especially for its era, but lacks the immediate tactility you get with the 645Z.

If speed and intuitive control are high on your list (say for wedding or commercial shoots), the 645Z nudges ahead. For hobbyists and amateurs stepping up from entry-level models, the A700’s layout is less intimidating and still effective.

Image Quality and Sensor Technology: Size Definitely Matters

Here’s where these cameras start to tell very different stories.

The Pentax 645Z features a 51-megapixel medium format CMOS sensor measuring 44x33mm - significantly larger than the A700’s APS-C 12-megapixel sensor at 23.5x15.6mm. This difference manifests in image quality, dynamic range, and low-light capability.

Based on DxOMark scores and my own lab and real-world tests, the 645Z offers superior color depth (26 stops vs 22.3), an exceptional dynamic range of 14.7 EV compared to A700’s 11.9, and vastly better high ISO performance - low light images retain detail and noise stays impressively controlled up to ISO 204,800 in theory (practically, I recommend keeping it below ISO 6400 for best detail).

This bigger sensor also translates into shallower depth of field for portraits or macro shots, producing that coveted creamy bokeh that’s elusive on smaller APS-C sensors.

The A700’s smaller sensor holds up well for everyday shooting and offers faster operation with less file overhead, but if pixel-peeping and ultimate color fidelity matter, the 645Z steals the show.

Viewing Experience and Interface Usability

Looking through the viewfinder and interacting with the rear LCD screen shape your shooting experience significantly.

The Pentax 645Z provides an optical pentaprism viewfinder covering 98% of the frame at 0.85x magnification - bright, large, and accurate. The tilting 3.2-inch LCD has 1.037 million dots and offers live view with face detection autofocus, though the screen is not touch-sensitive.

Meanwhile, the Sony A700’s optical pentaprism viewfinder covers 95% at 0.6x magnification - noticeably smaller and dimmer but adequate. Its fixed 3-inch LCD sports 920k dots and lacks live view or autofocus on the screen, typical of its generation.

If a refined viewing experience with flexibility is important during shoots (particularly for studio or macro work), the 645Z pulls ahead. The A700 remains functional but feels dated compared to newer standards.

Diverse Photography Genres: Strengths and Caveats

Let’s tackle how these cameras perform across popular photography types using both subjective experience and technical benchmarks.

Portrait Photography

The 645Z’s sensor size and resolution make it brilliant for portraits - skin tones appear natural with true-to-life color rendition, and its ability to create smooth bokeh with appropriate lenses enriches subject isolation. Built-in eye detection autofocus assists in nail-sharp focus on eyes, crucial for engaging portraits.

The A700, while capable, won’t deliver the same creamy background blur or extreme clarity. Its autofocus system is less advanced, but with the many quality Sony/Minolta lenses available, you can still achieve fine portraits if you work the lens right.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range and resolution count heavily here. The 645Z’s 14.7 EV dynamic range lets you retain shadow and highlight detail remarkably in challenging lighting - imagine chasing the golden hour or high-contrast scenes. The medium format resolution also means you can crop or print massive enlargements without loss.

The A700’s smaller sensor yields less latitude, but with solid lenses and good exposure technique, it can produce satisfying landscapes. Importantly, the 645Z’s weather and freeze resistance give it a tangible advantage on long outdoor hikes or cold conditions.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

If you’re aiming for fast action, the Sony A700 shines here. Its 5fps continuous shooting rate is appreciably faster than the 3fps offered by the 645Z. Plus, with 11 autofocus points (including multiple selectable points), tracking moving subjects is easier on the A700, though still modest by modern standards.

The 645Z offers 27 points, but autofocus is optimized more for static subjects; its slow burst speed limits opportunities for fast-moving shots. The A700’s crop factor and extensive lens lineup mean telephoto options abound for wildlife shooters.

Street Photography

Portability and discretion matter here. The A700’s smaller size and lighter weight make it easier to carry all day or shoot inconspicuously in urban environments. Its built-in flash and sensor-shift image stabilization assist in dimmer scenes.

The 645Z’s bulk and slower operational speed make it awkward for candid street shots or rapid-fire scenarios, though image quality reigns supreme if you can manage the heft.

Macro Photography

High resolution and precise autofocus count. The 645Z’s large sensor captures incredible detail crucial for macro shots, especially paired with specialized macro lenses. The tilting LCD aids in low-angle, challenging compositions since it doesn’t have focus stacking but does permit manual focus with confidence.

The A700 is competent here as well but limited by its 12MP resolution and less precise focusing system.

Night and Astro Photography

Low-light ISO performance is king here. The 645Z’s remarkable high ISO capability, coupled with its sensor’s dynamic range, excels for star fields and night landscapes, especially with its long exposure capability (up to 30s shutter speed standard).

The A700’s best ISO is 6400 but noise rises quickly after 800, limiting practical astro applications. It lacks dedicated long exposure or bulb modes favored by night shooters.

Video Capabilities

A clear divergence: the 645Z shoots 1080p HD video at various frame rates (including 60i), has a microphone input, and supports external audio control - respectable for a medium format body.

The A700, however, offers no video recording features at all, reflecting its 2007 release date when video on DSLRs was rare.

Travel Photography

Balancing image quality with size and convenience is critical.

If ultimate image fidelity is your goal, and you don’t mind the 645Z’s weight and bulk, it’s a top-tier travel performer, especially for landscapes and portraits at destinations.

If you prefer a lighter, more versatile snap-everything camera with respectable IQ, the A700 is friendlier for travel photography.

Professional Use and Workflow

The Pentax 645Z supports capture in lossless RAW, high bit-depth files, and integrates well with professional workflows thanks to USB 3.0. Its dual SD slots provide redundancy or extended capacity, critical on important shoots.

The Sony A700 also offers RAW files and dual memory slots (CF and MS cards), but USB is limited to USB 2.0, resulting in slower transfers.

Environmental sealing and build quality favor reliability in harsh professional settings clearly for the 645Z.

Autofocus Deep Dive: Speed, Accuracy, and Versatility

The autofocus systems tell the story of two generations.

The 645Z uses a hybrid system with 27 AF points, face detection, and contrast and phase detection in live view. Manual focus is smooth and accurate, suitable for critical work like portraits or landscapes. The camera allows continuous AF though autofocus speed lags behind DSLRs tuned for action.

The A700 uses a more traditional phase detection autofocus with 11 points for stills but no live view AF or face detection. The AF is faster for tracking but less sophisticated overall.

For sports or wildlife where rapid and reliable tracking is needed, the A700 performs better. For studio portraits or landscapes demanding precise focus, the 645Z excels.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Pentax 645Z uses the medium format Pentax 645AF2 mount with six dedicated lenses available, covering ultra-wide to telephoto ranges. These lenses are high-quality but expensive and heavier than typical DSLR lenses.

Sony A700’s Sony/Minolta Alpha mount enjoys a vast catalog of 143 lenses, including affordable third-party options, especially telephoto zooms and primes. This breadth offers flexibility to photographers on a budget or those seeking specific focal lengths for wildlife or sports.

Battery Life, Storage and Connectivity

The 645Z’s D-LI90 battery delivers an excellent 650 shots per charge, suitable for long days. Dual SD card slots support extended shooting or backup.

Sony’s A700 uses the NP-FM500H battery, with moderate life, though official figures vary and my field experience suggests carrying spares is wise for a full day. Storage involves dual slots - one for CF and one for Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo cards.

Neither camera boasts wireless connectivity, Bluetooth, or NFC - expected given their release dates.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Pentax’s 645Z’s magnesium alloy body is sealed against dust, has freeze resistance, and copes well in tough shooting environments. It’s designed to function under extreme conditions.

The Sony A700 also offers dust and weather sealing, but no freezeproofing, making it adequate for typical outdoor usage but less resilient in extreme weather.

Price-to-Performance Insights

The Pentax 645Z commands a hefty price (~$5,000 at release), clearly positioned as a professional-grade medium format camera focused on image quality over speed.

The Sony A700, priced around $1000 new (now discontinued and only available used), was an affordable advanced DSLR at launch, ideal for enthusiasts stepping up.

If your budget allows and your work demands the highest image quality, the 645Z is worth the investment. For limited budgets or more general photography, the A700 still offers solid value.

Overall Performance Scores and Genre-Specific Ratings

Here’s a look at the cameras' scores based on comprehensive testing (DxOMark and my own benchmarks):

And here’s how each performs across key photography types:

You can see clearly the medium format Pentax dominates in image quality-heavy genres, while the Sony outpaces in action and portability-driven uses.

Sample Photos: Seeing Is Believing

No comparison is complete without looking at real-world images to get a feel for detail, dynamic range, color, and noise.

The Pentax 645Z delivers exquisitely detailed images, superb skin tone rendition, and impressively clean shadows.

The Sony A700 produces pleasing images with decent color accuracy, though shadows and highlights clip sooner and noise appears earlier in ISO tests.

Pentax 645Z front Pentax 645Z screen back Sony A700 front Sony A700 screen back

Final Verdict: Who Should Choose Which?

If you’re a professional portrait, landscape, or studio photographer craving the ultimate in resolution and color fidelity, or you need a camera that can endure tough environments, the Pentax 645Z is a triumph of medium format engineering.

If you’re passionate about wildlife, sports, street photography, or on a tighter budget seeking dependable autofocus and faster operation, the Sony A700 remains a respectable choice - especially in used gear markets.

Both have aged gracefully, but the 645Z’s features and build keep it relevant today for top-tier image quality, while the A700 is a lesson in balanced performance from a previous DSLR generation.

Helpful Tips to Maximize Your Choice

• For 645Z users: Invest in quality 645 lenses and sturdy tripods to unlock your sensor’s potential; experiment with bracketing to tap dynamic range.

• For A700 owners: Use fast lenses and take advantage of the built-in stabilization; shoot RAW and post-process carefully to squeeze the best from the sensor.

• Both users: Carry extra batteries and memory cards - dual slots mean you can set up redundancy, avoiding data loss and downtime.

This comparison reflects my hands-on tests across thousands of photos, varied scenarios, and studio trials over many years. I hope you found the insights practical and that they bring clarity on which camera better fits your vision.

For medium format image quality with serious build – Pentax 645Z. For action and portability with respectable IQ – Sony A700.

Happy shooting, whatever you choose!

If you want to dive deeper into controls or real-life use, check my video review embedded above - watching features in action helps clear up all those specs.

Thank you for reading - and as always, feel free to ask if you want specific shooting tips or deeper tech details about either camera.