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Pentax 645Z vs Sony A77

Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77
Pentax 645Z front
 
Sony SLT-A77 front
Portability
59
Imaging
63
Features
83
Overall
71

Pentax 645Z vs Sony A77 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
  • Released April 2014
  • Old Model is Pentax 645D
Sony A77
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 50 - 16000 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 732g - 143 x 104 x 81mm
  • Released October 2011
  • Replaced the Sony A700
  • Replacement is Sony A77 II
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Pentax 645Z vs Sony A77 Overview

Below, we will be analyzing the Pentax 645Z versus Sony A77, former being a Pro DSLR while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Pentax and Sony. There is a considerable difference among the sensor resolutions of the 645Z (51MP) and A77 (24MP) and the 645Z (Medium format) and A77 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor dimensions.

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The 645Z was announced 2 years later than the A77 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera and the Sony A77 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a concise overview of how the 645Z grades versus the A77 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Sony A77

 645Z A77 
ReleasedApril 2014October 2011More recent by 31 months
Screen dimension3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k921kClearer screen (+116k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A77 over the Pentax 645Z

 A77 645Z 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Pentax 645Z and Sony A77

 645Z A77 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Pentax 645Z vs Sony A77 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Pentax 645Z has external measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") along with a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs) whilst the Sony A77 has sizing of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") with a weight of 732 grams (1.61 lbs).

Check the Pentax 645Z versus Sony A77 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select at that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the 645Z vs the A77.

Pentax 645Z vs Sony A77 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the 645Z and A77 is 49 and 59 respectively.

Pentax 645Z vs Sony A77 top view buttons comparison

Pentax 645Z vs Sony A77 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to visualise the gap in sensor measurements simply by going through specs. The photograph below will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the 645Z and A77.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The 645Z using its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Pentax 645Z will provide more detail with its extra 27MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots much more aggressively. The fresher 645Z will have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax 645Z vs Sony A77 sensor size comparison

Pentax 645Z vs Sony A77 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax 645Z vs Sony A77 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax 645Z Portrait photography details
Sony A77 Portrait photography details
88
you can focus manually
excellent megapixels (51MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
77
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detection focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax 645Z Street photography factors
Sony A77 Street photography factors
63
has a tilting screen
big sensor size (Medium format)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
very good ISO range (204,800)
no image stabilization
more heavy than average in class (1,550g)
74
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
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Sports Comparison

Pentax 645Z Sports photography information
Sony A77 Sports photography information
71
excellent megapixels (51 megapixels)
big sensor size (Medium format)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
bad battery life (650 shots)
74
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
bad battery life (470 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax 645Z
Travel photography with Sony A77
51
environment sealing
excellent megapixels (51 megapixels)
bad battery life (650 CIPA)
more heavy than average in class (1,550 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
62
environment sealing
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse function
bad battery life (470 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax 645Z Landscape photography factors
Sony A77 Landscape photography factors
78
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3.2 inch)
excellent megapixels (51MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
no low pass filter
very good ISO range (204,800)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
has double storage slots
no image stabilization
bad battery life (650 per charge)
71
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
bad battery life (470 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax 645Z Vlogging highlights
Sony A77 Vlogging highlights
27
offers face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external microphone port
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
more heavy than average in class (1,550 grams)
76
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external microphone support
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Pentax 645Z vs Sony A77 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax 645Z and Sony A77
 Pentax 645ZSony SLT-A77
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model Pentax 645Z Sony SLT-A77
Category Pro DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2014-04-15 2011-10-25
Physical type Large SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 8256 x 6192 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 204800 16000
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 50
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 27 19
Cross focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax 645AF2 Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 6 143
Focal length multiplier 0.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3.2" 3"
Screen resolution 1,037k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.85x 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 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, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/125s 1/250s
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, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 1550g (3.42 pounds) 732g (1.61 pounds)
Dimensions 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") 143 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 101 78
DXO Color Depth score 26.0 24.0
DXO Dynamic range score 14.7 13.2
DXO Low light score 4505 801
Other
Battery life 650 images 470 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI90 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Dual One
Cost at release $5,024 $900