• Medium format 1,436.6mm2
  • 51.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 204,800
  • 35mm 861.6mm2
  • 36.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 204,800

Buy From

Differences

Pentax 645Z advantages over Pentax K-1

  • Larger sensor
    Medium format vs 35mm
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Higher effective ISO
    4,505 vs 3,280 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.78x vs 0.70x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    51.4 vs 36.4 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos

Pentax K-1 advantages over Pentax 645Z

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Limited
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • High resolution composite
    Yes vs No
    Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Built-in GPS
    GPS vs None
    Geotag your photos
  • Thinner
    85 mm vs 123 mm
    Thinner
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/200 vs 1/125 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Lighter weight
    1015g vs 1555g
    Lighter weight
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Optional anti-aliasing filter
    Optional vs None
    Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    4.6 fps vs 3.1 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    74 vs 12 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    4.6 fps vs 3.1 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    17 vs 10 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Focus peaking
    Both provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Tiltable Screen
    Both provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Top deck display
    Both provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • External Mic Jack
    Both provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Dual card slots
    Both provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Internal flash
    Neither provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • Phenomenal resolution and detail; Great high ISO performance; Rugged, weather-sealed body; Huge, bright viewfinder; Fast autofocus works well in low light; Swift performance for a medium-format camera; Good battery life; Shoots Full HD video

  • Quite bulky compared to an APS-C or full-frame DSLR; Autofocus points clustered near center of frame; Most lenses aren't weather-sealed or optimized for digital; Prone to aliasing artifacts (but so are most high-end cameras these days); Attracts a lot of attention from passers-by

  • Unlocks the full potential of full-frame Pentax lenses; Excellent image quality; Great ergonomics and build; Very compact for full-frame; Decent performance; Fast autofocus with great low-light capabilities; Very wide sensitivity range; Bright, accurate viewfinder; Articulated LCD; Stabilization, Wi-Fi and GPS in-camera

  • No built-in flash strobe; Quite heavy compared to APS-C flagships; Somewhat soft images and blown highlights by default in JPEG mode; Warm Auto white balance indoors; Slow startup and buffer clearing; Small top-deck status display; Weak viewfinder illumination; Below-average battery life for DSLR

The Competition

Compared to Pentax 645D

Pentax 645Z
Pentax 645D
  • $4845
  • Medium format
  • Focus peaking
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $3599
  • Medium format
  • Fast startup
  • Longer stills battery life
Pentax K-1
Pentax 645D
  • $1800
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $3599
  • Medium format
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to Leica S (Typ 006)

Pentax 645Z
Leica S (Typ 006)
  • $4845
  • Medium format
  • Focus peaking
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $10535
  • Medium format
  • Thinner
  • More viewfinder magnification
Pentax K-1
Leica S (Typ 006)
  • $1800
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $10535
  • Medium format
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to Leica S-E (Typ 006)

Pentax 645Z
Leica S-E (Typ 006)
  • $4845
  • Medium format
  • Focus peaking
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $16900
  • Medium format
  • Built-in GPS
  • Thinner
Pentax K-1
Leica S-E (Typ 006)
  • $1800
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $16900
  • Medium format
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to Canon 5DS

Pentax 645Z
Canon 5DS
  • $4845
  • Medium format
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $1299
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive
Pentax K-1
Canon 5DS
  • $1800
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1299
  • 35mm
  • Fast startup
  • More cross-type AF points

Compared to Pentax K-1 II

Pentax 645Z
Pentax K-1 II
  • $4845
  • Medium format
  • Larger sensor
  • More viewfinder magnification
  • $1747
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive
Pentax K-1
Pentax K-1 II
  • $1800
  • 35mm
  • $1747
  • 35mm
  • Higher extended ISO
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