Pentax 645Z has a
51.0MP Medium format (44 x 33 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features PRIME III processor. On the other hand, Canon 1D X II has a
20.0MP Full frame (36 x 24 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Dual DIGIC 6+ processor.
Pentax 645Z's sensor provides 31MP more than Canon 1D X II'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 difference between these two cameras is that Pentax 645Z's sensor lacks 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 645Z and 1D X MII sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Pentax 645Z and Canon 1D X II Cameras
As seen above, Pentax 645Z has a 1.7x Larger sensor area than Canon 1D X II. 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 Pentax 645Z and Canon 1D X II 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, 645Z has scored 101, 13 points higher than 1D X MII.
Model
Overall
Color Depth
Dynamic Range
Low-light ISO
Pentax 645Z
101
26.0 bits
14.7 Evs
4505 ISO
Canon 1D X II
88
24.1 bits
13.5 Evs
3207 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
Pentax 645Z
or the
Canon 1D X II ,
including hyperfocal distance.
One thing to watch when comparing these two: they have different sensor sizes
(Medium format versus Full frame),
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.
