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Pentax 645D vs Pentax 645Z Comparison

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Pentax 645D

40 MP | Medium format (44 x 33 mm) CCD Sensor

Pentax 645D
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Pentax 645Z

51 MP | Medium format (44 x 33 mm) CMOS Sensor

Pentax 645Z
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Pentax 645D vs Pentax 645Z Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing 645D and 645Z, two Pro DSLR cameras by Pentax. Both cameras have Medium format sensors but Pentax 645D has a 40.0 MP and Pentax 645Z has a 51.0 MP resolution. Pentax 645D was introduced to market in March 2010 and Pentax 645Z was launched in April 2014. As you can see, 645D is 4 years older than 645Z. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Pentax 645D and Pentax 645Z before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Pentax 645D Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2010-03-10
  • 40MP - Medium format CCD Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 200 - 1600 ( expands to 100)
  • Pentax 645AF2 Mount
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
  • 1 fps continuous shooting
  • No Video Mode
  • 1480g. 156 x 117 x 119 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body

Pentax 645Z Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2014-04-15
  • 51MP - Medium format CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Pentax 645AF2 Mount
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
  • 3 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 1550g. 156 x 117 x 123 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Pentax 645D Compare

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Pentax 645D and Pentax 645Z compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Pentax 645D over Pentax 645Z
Battery Life
800 shots vs 650 shots 150 more frames with a single charge
Weight
1480 g vs 1550 g 70 g lighter
Sensor Pixel Area
36.74µm2 vs 28.40µm2 29% larger pixel area
Flash Sync Port
Yes vs No Connect off-camera flash


Reasons to choose Pentax 645Z over Pentax 645D
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Max Sensor Resolution
51 MP vs 40 MP 27% more pixels
Max ISO
204.800 vs 1.600 12700% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
27 vs 11 16 more focus points
LCD Screen Size
3.2" vs 3" 0.2 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution
1.037k dots vs 921k dots 12% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting
3.0fps vs 1.0fps 2 fps faster
Microphone Port
Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Color Depth
26.0 vs 24.6 higher color depth
Dynamic Range
14.7 vs 12.6 higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO
4505 vs 1262 better High ISO performance
Max Video Resolution
1920 x 1080 vs None Higher Resolution Video
AE Bracketing Range
±5 EV vs ±2 EV Wide Bracketing range is useful for HDR

Common Strengths of Pentax 645D and Pentax 645Z
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Viewfinder
Yes (Optical) vs Yes (Optical) Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Max Resolution
40 MP vs 51 MP Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Size
3" vs 3.2" Large display
LCD Screen Resolution
921k dots vs 1.037k dots High resolution screens
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs Yes shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs Yes creative shooting
Top LCD Display
Yes vs Yes Help viewing and changing settings easily
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
AF Micro Adjustment (Fine Tune)
Yes vs Yes Adjust each lens for accurate focusing
Dual-axis Electronic Level
Yes vs Yes Level the camera easily in two axis
Storage Slot
2 vs 2 Extra Storage Slot
Common Weaknesses of Pentax 645D and Pentax 645Z
In-body Image Stabilization
No vs No No Built-in stabilization
Built-in Flash
No vs No Require external flash
New4
Pentax 645D vs Pentax 645Z: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Pentax 645D and Pentax 645Z side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Pentax 645D has external dimensions of 156 x 117 x 119 mm (6.14 x 4.61 x 4.69″) and weighs 1480 g (3.26 lb / 52.21 oz) (including batteries). Pentax 645Z has external dimensions of 156 x 117 x 123 mm (6.14 x 4.61 x 4.84″) and weighs 1550 g (3.42 lb / 54.67 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Pentax 645D and Pentax 645Z. Pentax 645D has the same height and width with Pentax 645Z. On the other hand, with a thickness of 119mm, it is 4mm thinner.

Pentax 645D vs Pentax 645Z Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Pentax 645D and Pentax 645Z Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Pentax 645D and Pentax 645Z.

Pentax 645D vs Pentax 645Z Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Pentax 645D and Pentax 645Z Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Pentax 645D and Pentax 645Z.
Pentax 645D vs Pentax 645Z Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Pentax 645D and Pentax 645Z Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Pentax 645D is 70g lighter than the Pentax 645Z but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you have to also take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Pentax 645D and Pentax 645Z have the same Pentax 645AF2 lens mount and Medium format sized sensors, lenses will not be a differentiator on total size of the system.

Weight Comparison

DSLR Cameras

645D
645Z
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Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

DSLR Cameras

645D
645Z
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Both 645D and 645Z have weather sealings in their body, making them resistant to water and dust.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Pentax 645Z's 3.2" LCD screen is slightly larger than Pentax 645D's 3" screen.

In addition to the size advantage, Pentax 645Z LCD screen also has a Tilting feature where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over the head levels. On the other hand, Pentax 645D has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to 645Z.
Pentax 645D vs Pentax 645Z: Sensor Comparison

Pentax 645D has a 40.0MP Medium format (44 x 33 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Prime II processor. On the other hand, Pentax 645Z has a 51.0MP Medium format (44 x 33 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features PRIME III processor.

Pentax 645Z's sensor provides 11MP more than Pentax 645D'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.

Another similarity between these two cameras is that both Pentax 645Z and Pentax 645D sensors lack anti-alias (Low-Pass) filters. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moire occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the 645D and 645Z sensor size comparison.

Pentax 645D vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Pentax 645D and Pentax 645Z Cameras


Pentax 645D and Pentax 645Z have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture. On the other hand, since Pentax 645D has 29% larger pixel area compared to Pentax 645Z, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. It 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. Pentax 645D and Pentax 645Z sensors have been tested by DxO and the results show that 645Z has a better overall score of 101, 19 points higher compared to 645D's score of 82.

Model Overall Color Depth Dynamic Range Low-light ISO
Pentax 645D 82 24.6 bits 12.6 Evs 1262 ISO
Pentax 645Z 101 26.0 bits 14.7 Evs 4505 ISO
Pentax 645D vs Pentax 645Z Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

Number of available lenses is a big decision factor while choosing your interchangeable lens camera. Pentax 645D and Pentax 645Z have the same Pentax 645AF2 lens mount and currently there are 6 native lenses available for these cameras.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. None of these bodies have sensor based image stabilization so you have to buy lenses with Optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 2 lenses with Image stabilization for Pentax 645AF2 mount.

Lens Type # of Pentax 645D Lenses # of Pentax 645Z Lenses
Standard Zoom 1 1
Standard Prime 1 1
Wideangle Zoom 1 1
Wideangle Prime 2 2
Telephoto Zoom n/a n/a
Telephoto Prime n/a n/a
SuperZoom n/a n/a
Wideangle Fisheye Prime n/a n/a
Macro Prime 1 1
Perspective Control Prime n/a n/a
Telephoto Mirror Prime n/a n/a
TOTAL 6 6

Here are some of the most popular Pentax 645AF2 Mount Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Pentax 645AF2 Mount Lenses for 645D and 645Z
Model Coverage Weight Focusing Street Price
Pentax smc DA 16-45mm F4 ED AL Lens Pentax smc DA 16-45mm F4 ED AL
APS-C / DX 356gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Pentax smc D FA 645 25mm F4 AL IF SDM AW Lens Pentax smc D FA 645 25mm F4 AL IF SDM AW
645 1070gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
HD Pentax-DA645 28-45mm F4.5ED AW SR Lens HD Pentax-DA645 28-45mm F4.5ED AW SR
645 1470gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Pentax HD DFA645 Macro 90mm F2.8 ED AW SR Lens Pentax HD DFA645 Macro 90mm F2.8 ED AW SR
645 1040gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Pentax smc D FA 645 55mm F2.8 AL IF SDM AW Lens Pentax smc D FA 645 55mm F2.8 AL IF SDM AW
645 416gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
HD Pentax-D FA645 35mm F3.5 AL IF Lens HD Pentax-D FA645 35mm F3.5 AL IF
645 570gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
What types of Photography are Pentax 645D and Pentax 645Z Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Pentax 645D and Pentax 645Z for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Pentax 645D for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Pentax 645Z for Portrait Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Medium format (44 x 33 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 40.0MP
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Large Medium format (44 x 33 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 51.0MP
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Pentax 645D for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Pentax 645Z for Street Photography

GOOD
Large Medium format (44 x 33 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
No Image Stabilization
No Live-view
Large Body
Read the details
Large Medium format (44 x 33 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details

Pentax 645D for Sports Photography

GOOD

Pentax 645Z for Sports Photography

GOOD
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
11 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 800 shots
Good Low Light ISO
No Image Stabilization
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Read the details
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
27 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 650 shots
Good Low Light ISO
No Image Stabilization
Slow Continuous Shooting: 3.0fps
Read the details

Pentax 645D for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT

Pentax 645Z for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Medium format (44 x 33 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Large Body
1480g
Body Thickness 119mm
Read the details
Large Medium format (44 x 33 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Large Body
1550g
Body Thickness 123mm
Read the details

Pentax 645D for Landscape Photography

GOOD

Pentax 645Z for Landscape Photography

GOOD
Large Medium format (44 x 33 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 40.0MP
Environmental Sealings
No Live-view
Read the details
Large Medium format (44 x 33 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 51.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details

Pentax 645D vs Pentax 645Z: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Pentax 645D and Pentax 645Z, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Pentax 645D and Pentax 645Z scores compare:

Pentax 645D
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #14 out of 36 in Large SLR cameras
Ranked #290 out of 1223 in all Cameras
Pentax 645Z
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #3 out of 36 in Large SLR cameras
Ranked #48 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Pentax 645Z is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Pentax 645D in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Pentax 645D. Otherwise, Pentax 645Z is the better camera overall.

Pentax 645D
Pentax 645D
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Pentax 645Z
Pentax 645Z
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Pentax 645Z vs Pentax 645D Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Pentax 645D Pentax 645Z
Brand Pentax Pentax
Announced 2010-03-10 2014-04-15
Body Type Large SLR Large SLR
Sensor
Type CCD CMOS
Size Medium format Medium format
Dimensions 44 x 33 mm 44 x 33 mm
Area 1452.00mm2 1452.00mm2
Megapixels 40 megapixels 51 megapixels
Max Resolution 7264 x 5440 8256 x 6192
Max Native Light sensitivity 1,600 ISO 204,800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 200 ISO 100 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity 100 ISO -
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 11 27
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Pentax 645AF2 Pentax 645AF2
Number of Available Lenses 6 6
Screen
Type Fixed type Tilting
Size 3" 3.2"
Resolution 921k dots 1,037k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Coverage 98% 98%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.85x 0.85x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s 1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization No No
Built-in Flash
Max Flash Sync 1/125s 1/125s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 1.0 fps 3.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution None 1920 x 1080
Video Formats n/a MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 1480g 1550g
Dimensions 156 x 117 x 119mm 156 x 117 x 123mm
Battery Life 800 shots 650 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None Optional
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 82 101
DxO Color Depth 24.6 26.0
DxO Dynamic Range 12.6 14.7
DxO Low Light ISO 1262 4505
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