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Pentax

645Z

51MP medium format DSLR that made digital MF accessible — still prized for landscape and studio.

$8,499

Launch price

Released Apr 2014

vs
K-70

Pentax

K-70

Weather-sealed APS-C DSLR with IBIS and AA filter simulator.

$649

Launch price

Released Jun 2016

K-70 is 2.1 years newer.

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Wins

9categories

645Z

WildlifeLandscape

Wins

3categories

K-70

WildlifePortrait

5 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

645Z wins 3 categories·K-70 wins 2 categories
  • A645Z has higher RAW buffer depth (120 frames vs 10 frames)
  • A645Z has higher AF points / zones (101 vs 11)
  • BK-70 has higher ISO max (native) (204,800 vs 25,600)
  • BK-70 has lower Weight (688 g vs 1470 g)
  • A645Z has higher Resolution (51.4 MP vs 24.2 MP)

Key specs at a glance

645ZK-70
Resolution51.4 MP24.2 MP
Sensor43.8 × 32.8 mmAPS-C
ISO max25,600204,800
Burst20 fps15 fps
4K60 fps60 fps
IBIS7-stop6-stop
Weight1470 g688 g
Battery640 shots

Size and weight, to scale

645Z

156 × 117 × 123 mm

1470 g (3.24 lb / 51.85 oz)

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

K-70 front view

K-70

126 × 93 × 74 mm

688 g (1.52 lb / 24.27 oz)

645Z is 31mm wider, 24mm taller, and 49mm thicker than K-70.

645Z is 782 g heavier than K-70.

Depth (front-to-back): 123mm 645Z · 74mm K-70

Back view, to scale

Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.

645Z

156 × 117 mm

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

K-70 back view

K-70

126 × 93 mm

Top view, to scale

Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.

645Z

156 × 123 mm

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

K-70 top view

K-70

126 × 74 mm

Sensor size, to scale

645Z

43.8 × 32.8 mm · Medium Format

1437 mm² area

K-70

23.5 × 15.6 mm · APS-C

367 mm² area

3.9× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

645Z: mount data unavailable

K-70

✓ more lenses

Pentax K

70+

native lenses available

30 first-party40 third-party

Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use case645ZK-70
Portrait
6.0Good
6.5Good✓ wins
Sports & Action
6.5Good
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
6.0Good✓ wins
4.5Fair
Landscape
8.0Excellent✓ wins
4.0Fair
Travel
5.5Fair
5.5Fair
Wildlife
9.0Excellent
10.0Excellent✓ wins
Vlogging
5.5Fair✓ wins
5.0Fair

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

645Z

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 156, 117, 123

  • Card types

    Adds SD UHS-II

  • RAW buffer depth

    120 frames vs 10 frames — higher is better

  • AF points / zones

    101 vs 11 — higher is better

  • Resolution

    51.4 MP vs 24.2 MP — higher is better

  • AA filter

    Only 645Z supports it

  • Codecs

    Adds H.265

  • Card slots

    2 vs 1 — higher is better

Reasons to choose

K-70

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 125.5, 93, 74

  • Card types

    Adds SD, SDHC, SDXC

  • ISO max (native)

    204,800 vs 25,600 — higher is better

  • Weight

    688 g vs 1470 g — lower is better

  • EVF magnification

    0.95 × vs 0.78 × — higher is better

Both cameras share

  • AF frame coverageBoth 100 %
  • Eye AFBoth support eye af
  • Animal / bird AFBoth support animal / bird af
  • Pre-Capture / Pre-ReleaseBoth support pre-capture / pre-release
  • 4K max frame rateBoth 60 fps
  • Max video bit rateBoth 150 Mbps

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

645Z

Pros

  • 51MP medium format
  • CMOS sensor
  • Pentax color
  • Relatively affordable MF

Cons

  • Huge body
  • Slow operation
  • Limited lens line vs Hasselblad

K-70

Pros

  • Weather sealed entry
  • IBIS in DSLR
  • Unique features

Cons

  • DSLR
  • 24MP dated
  • Limited video

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the 645Z and K-70 at major authorized retailers.

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Full specifications

= category winner

645Z
K-70
Resolution
51.4 MP2.1× more
24.2 MP
Sensor type
Medium Format CMOS
APS-C CMOS
Sensor size
43.8 × 32.8 mm
23.5 x 15.6 mm
AA filter
Yes
No
645Z
K-70
Processor
Image processor
Image processor
645Z
K-70
ISO min (native)
64−36 less
100
ISO max (native)
25,600
204,800+3 stops
ISO max (expanded)
102,400
102,400
645Z
K-70
Shutter type
Mechanical + Electronic
Mechanical + Electronic
Max mechanical speed
1/8000 sec
1/6000
Max electronic speed
1/16000 sec
1/16000 sec

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for landscape, 645Z or K-70?

645Z scores 8.0/10 versus 4.0/10 for K-70 — 51.4MP — massive detail for large prints.

What's the resolution difference between the 645Z and K-70?

645Z is 51.4 MP and K-70 is 24.2 MP, so the 645Z captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the 645Z and K-70 have in-body image stabilization?

645Z has 7-stop in-body image stabilization, while K-70 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the 645Z or the K-70?

645Z reaches 20 fps electronic. K-70 reaches 15 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the 645Z and K-70?

645Z weighs 1470 g and K-70 weighs 688 g, so the K-70 is 782 g lighter.

Do the 645Z and K-70 record 4K video?

645Z: 4K up to 60p. K-70: 4K up to 60p.

Are the 645Z and K-70 weather sealed?

645Z: Yes. K-70: Yes.

How much does each cost?

645Z launched at $8,499 and K-70 at $649. The K-70 is $7,850 less.

Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.

Add any camera to get a three-way 645Z vs K-70 vs X comparison.

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed August 2026.

Product images courtesy of Pentax press materials.