Pentax 645Z vs Sony A33
49 Imaging
80 Features
74 Overall
77


67 Imaging
54 Features
80 Overall
64
Pentax 645Z vs Sony A33 Key Specs
(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
- Revealed April 2014
- Superseded the Pentax 645D
(Full Review)
- 14MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Display
- ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
- Revealed August 2010
- Replacement is Sony A35

Pentax 645Z vs Sony A33 Overview
On this page, we are evaluating the Pentax 645Z versus Sony A33, one is a Pro DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the 645Z (51MP) and A33 (14MP) and the 645Z (Medium format) and A33 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor size.

The 645Z was revealed 3 years after the A33 which is a fairly serious 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 A33 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before going right into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise overview of how the 645Z scores vs the A33 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Pentax 645Z vs Sony A33 Gallery
Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax 645Z and Sony SLT-A33. The full galleries are provided at Pentax 645Z Gallery and Sony A33 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Sony A33
645Z | A33 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | April 2014 | ![]() | August 2010 | Newer by 45 months |
Display dimensions | 3.2" | ![]() | 3" | Larger display (+0.2") |
Display resolution | 1037k | ![]() | 921k | Crisper display (+116k dot) |
Reasons to pick Sony A33 over the Pentax 645Z
A33 | 645Z | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Tilting | Fully Articulating display |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies |
Common features in the Pentax 645Z and Sony A33
645Z | A33 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | Dial exact focus | ||
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Neither contains Touch friendly display |
Pentax 645Z vs Sony A33 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera often, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Pentax 645Z has got exterior dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") with a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs) whilst the Sony A33 has measurements of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).
Look at the Pentax 645Z versus Sony A33 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have during that time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the 645Z vs the A33.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the 645Z and A33 is 49 and 67 respectively.

Pentax 645Z vs Sony A33 Sensor Comparison
Oftentimes, it's hard to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions only by seeing specs. The image underneath may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the 645Z and A33.
All in all, each of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The 645Z having a larger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Pentax 645Z will produce more detail because of its extra 37 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics more aggressively. The more recent 645Z is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax 645Z vs Sony A33 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax 645Z vs Sony A33 Specifications
Pentax 645Z | Sony SLT-A33 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Pentax | Sony |
Model type | Pentax 645Z | Sony SLT-A33 |
Class | Pro DSLR | Entry-Level DSLR |
Revealed | 2014-04-15 | 2010-08-24 |
Body design | Large SLR | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor Chip | PRIME III | Bionz |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | Medium format | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 44 x 33mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
Sensor area | 1,452.0mm² | 366.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 51 megapixel | 14 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Peak resolution | 8256 x 6192 | 4592 x 3056 |
Highest native ISO | 204800 | 12800 |
Highest enhanced ISO | - | 25600 |
Lowest native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW support | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Touch focus | ||
Continuous AF | ||
Single AF | ||
Tracking AF | ||
Selective AF | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
AF multi area | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detection AF | ||
Contract detection AF | ||
Phase detection AF | ||
Total focus points | 27 | 15 |
Cross type focus points | - | 3 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | Pentax 645AF2 | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Total lenses | 6 | 143 |
Crop factor | 0.8 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Range of screen | Tilting | Fully Articulated |
Screen sizing | 3.2 inches | 3 inches |
Resolution of screen | 1,037k dot | 921k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch screen | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Optical (pentaprism) | Electronic |
Viewfinder resolution | - | 1,150k dot |
Viewfinder coverage | 98 percent | 100 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.85x | 0.73x |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 30 secs | 30 secs |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/4000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
Continuous shutter speed | 3.0 frames/s | 7.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | no built-in flash | 10.00 m (@ ISO 100) |
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, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
External flash | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Fastest flash sync | 1/125 secs | 1/160 secs |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment exposure | ||
Average exposure | ||
Spot exposure | ||
Partial exposure | ||
AF area exposure | ||
Center weighted exposure | ||
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, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps) |
Highest video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
Video file format | MPEG-4, H.264 | MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 |
Microphone input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | Eye-Fi Connected |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | Optional | None |
Physical | ||
Environment seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 1550 gr (3.42 lbs) | 500 gr (1.10 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") | 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | 101 | 70 |
DXO Color Depth rating | 26.0 | 22.8 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 14.7 | 12.6 |
DXO Low light rating | 4505 | 591 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 650 images | 340 images |
Form of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | D-LI90 | NP-FW50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 secs) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Storage media | Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots | SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Storage slots | Two | 1 |
Launch price | $5,024 | $230 |