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Pentax 645Z vs Sony HX30V

Portability
49
Imaging
81
Features
74
Overall
78
Pentax 645Z front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Pentax 645Z vs Sony HX30V 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
  • Older Model is Pentax 645D
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Introduced February 2012
  • Old Model is Sony HX20V
  • Successor is Sony HX50V
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Pentax 645Z vs Sony HX30V Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Pentax 645Z vs Sony HX30V, one is a Pro DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Pentax and Sony. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the 645Z (51MP) and HX30V (18MP) and the 645Z (Medium format) and HX30V (1/2.3") boast different sensor dimensions.

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The 645Z was unveiled 2 years after the HX30V which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a full comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the 645Z scores versus the HX30V with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Sony HX30V

 645Z HX30V 
IntroducedApril 2014February 2012More modern by 26 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k922kSharper display (+115k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Pentax 645Z

 HX30V 645Z 

Common features in the Pentax 645Z and Sony HX30V

 645Z HX30V 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Pentax 645Z vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera often, you will need to take into account its weight and size. The Pentax 645Z comes with physical 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 HX30V has specifications of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Look at the Pentax 645Z vs Sony HX30V in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use during that time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the 645Z vs the HX30V.

Pentax 645Z vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the 645Z and HX30V is 49 and 90 respectively.

Pentax 645Z vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Pentax 645Z vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizes simply by reading through specs. The pic underneath may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the 645Z and HX30V.

All in all, both cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The 645Z having a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Pentax 645Z will resolve extra detail having an extra 33MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images more aggressively. The newer 645Z should have an advantage in sensor technology.

Pentax 645Z vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Pentax 645Z vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax 645Z vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax 645Z
Portrait photography with Sony HX30V
88
has manual focus
fantastic megapixels (51MP)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
includes face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
45
manual focus
resolution is good (18MP)
provides face detect autofocus
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax 645Z Street photography factors
Sony HX30V Street photography factors
63
screen tilts
sensor size is large (Medium format)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
above average high ISO (204,800)
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition (1,550g)
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (254g)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax 645Z Sports photography details
Sony HX30V Sports photography details
71
fantastic megapixels (51 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
includes tracking autofocus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (650 per charge)
49
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax 645Z Travel photography advice
Sony HX30V Travel photography advice
51
weather sealing
fantastic megapixels (51 megapixels)
not so great battery life (650 per charge)
more heavy than competition (1,550 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than competitors (254g)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long reach (500mm)
no Time Lapse recording
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax 645Z Landscape photography factors
Sony HX30V Landscape photography factors
78
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3.2")
fantastic megapixels (51MP)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
above average high ISO (204,800)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
two card slots
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (650 shots)
50
manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax 645Z Vlogging features
Sony HX30V Vlogging features
27
includes face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone socket
does not have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition (1,550g)
34
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (254g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
does not have selfie friendly display
no mic port
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Pentax 645Z vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax 645Z and Sony HX30V
 Pentax 645ZSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax 645Z Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Class Pro DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2014-04-15 2012-02-28
Body design Large SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip PRIME III BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Medium format 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 44 x 33mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 1,452.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 51 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 8256 x 6192 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 204800 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 27 9
Lens
Lens support Pentax 645AF2 fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Total lenses 6 -
Focal length multiplier 0.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.2 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.85x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 7.10 m
Flash settings 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, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 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 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 1550 gr (3.42 lb) 254 gr (0.56 lb)
Physical dimensions 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 shots 320 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI90 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Two One
Pricing at release $5,024 $420