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Pentax 645Z vs Sony A33

Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77
Pentax 645Z front
 
Sony SLT-A33 front
Portability
67
Imaging
54
Features
80
Overall
64

Pentax 645Z vs Sony A33 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
  • Revealed April 2014
  • Superseded the Pentax 645D
Sony A33
(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
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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.

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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.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Sony A33

 645Z A33 
RevealedApril 2014August 2010Newer by 45 months
Display dimensions3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k921kCrisper display (+116k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A33 over the Pentax 645Z

 A33 645Z 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully 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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Pentax 645Z vs Sony A33 size comparison

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

Pentax 645Z vs Sony A33 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Pentax 645Z vs Sony A33 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax 645Z vs Sony A33 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax 645Z Portrait photography factors
Sony A33 Portrait photography factors
88
has manual focus
sensor resolution is great (51 megapixels)
big sensor size (Medium format)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
72
has manual focus
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax 645Z
Street photography with Sony A33
63
has a tilting screen
big sensor size (Medium format)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
good high ISO (204,800)
no image stabilization
heavier than competitors (1,550g)
76
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Pentax 645Z Sports photography information
Sony A33 Sports photography information
71
sensor resolution is great (51MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
features tracking autofocus
weather sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
not so great battery pack (650 CIPA)
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
low battery life (340 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax 645Z Travel photography info
Sony A33 Travel photography info
51
weather sealing
sensor resolution is great (51MP)
not so great battery pack (650 shots)
heavier than competitors (1,550 grams)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
61
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low battery life (340 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax 645Z Landscape photography features
Sony A33 Landscape photography features
78
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inch)
sensor resolution is great (51MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
no low pass filter
good high ISO (204,800)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
has dual storage slots
no image stabilization
not so great battery pack (650 CIPA)
67
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
low battery life (340 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax 645Z Vlogging highlights
Sony A33 Vlogging highlights
27
features face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic jack
does not feature selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
heavier than competitors (1,550 grams)
77
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have microphone jack
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Pentax 645Z vs Sony A33 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax 645Z and Sony A33
 Pentax 645ZSony 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