Canon 1D X III has a
20.0MP Full frame (36 x 24 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Digic X processor. On the other hand, Pentax 645D has a
40.0MP Medium format (44 x 33 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Prime II processor.
Pentax 645D's sensor provides 20MP more than Canon 1D X III's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely.
On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.
One other difference between these two cameras that is worth mentioning is that Pentax 645D's sensor doesn't have an anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moiré occurring in certain scenes.
Below you can see the 1D X MIII and 645D sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon 1D X III and Pentax 645D Cameras
As seen above, Pentax 645D has a 1.7x Larger sensor area than Canon 1D X III. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.
DxOMark Sensor Scores
Both Canon 1D X III and Pentax 645D sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, 1D X MIII has scored 91, 9 points higher than 645D.
Model
Overall
Color Depth
Dynamic Range
Low-light ISO
Canon 1D X III
91
24.2 bits
14.5 Evs
3248 ISO
Pentax 645D
82
24.6 bits
12.6 Evs
1262 ISO
Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each
of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the
Canon 1D X III
or the
Pentax 645D ,
including hyperfocal distance.
One thing to watch when comparing these two: they have different sensor sizes
(Full frame versus Medium format),
so compare them at the same framing rather than the same focal length.
Put the same focal length on the smaller sensor and it will show less depth of
field, not more, because it also crops tighter. The calculator shows the
full frame equivalent focal length for each body so you can match the framing.
