Pentax 645D vs K-r | Pentax K-r vs 645D Features, Performance Compared
Pentax is a giant name in the camera industry. The Pentax K-r and the 645D are two very different camera models. Pentax 645D is a highly professional DSLR, while the Pentax K-r is an entry level DSLR. This article compares the differences between the Pentax 645D and the Pentax K-r. The Pentax 645D falls into the category of medium format digital cameras, which are more sophisticated than usual DSLR cameras.
Tips to select a Digital Camera
Resolution of the Camera
Resolution of the camera is one of the main features a user must look into when buying a camera. This is also known as the megapixel value. The Pentax 645D is one of the highest resolution DSLR cameras available commercially. It has an incredible 40 megapixel sensor. On the other hand, the Pentax K-r has a 12.4 megapixel sensor. On the comparison of the resolution, the Pentax 645D is way ahead of the K-r.
ISO Performance
ISO value range is also an important feature. The ISO value of the sensor means, how much sensitive the sensor is to a given quantum of light. This feature is very important in night shots and sports and action photography. But increasing the ISO value causes a noise in the photograph. The Pentax K-r has an ISO range of 200 to 12800 with settings expandable from 100 to 25600 ISO values. On the other hand, the 645D has a range of 200 to 1000 with expandable settings from 100 to 1600. This may seem like an unfair amount of ISO sensitivity, but with the quality of the optics in this camera can help you overcome it.
Frames Per Second Rate
Frames per second rate or more commonly known as the FPS rate is also an important aspect when it comes to sports, wildlife and action photography. FPS rate means the mean number of photos the camera can shoot per second on a certain setting. Pentax K-r is a very fast camera for its price. It has a stunning fps rate of 6 frames per second. But since the 645D has a huge sensor and the amount of data that had to be handled per photo is also huge it has a very slow frame rate of approximately 1.1 fps.
Shutter Lag and Recovery Time
A DSLR would not take the picture as soon as the shutter release is pressed. In most of the conditions, the auto focusing and auto white balancing would take place after the button is pressed. Therefore there is a time gap between the press and the actual photo taken. This is known as the shutter lag of the camera. Pentax products are remarkably fast. Both of these cameras have very small shutter lag.
Number of Autofocus Points
Autofocus points or AF points are the points which are built into the memory of the camera. If the priority is given to an AF point, camera will use its autofocus ability to focus the lens to the object in the given AF point. Both cameras have 11 point autofocus system. The 645D has a highly precise autofocus system; it is highly professional and superfast. The K-r, which is an entry level DSLR, has an autofocus system, which is reasonable for its price.
Weight and Dimensions
The Pentax 645D is massive when compared to the K-r. The 645D measures 156 x 117 x 119 mm in dimensions and about 1500 g in weight. But the K-r measures 25mm x 97mm x 68mm in dimensions and 525 g in weight.
Storage Medium and Capacity
In DSLR cameras, the inbuilt memory is almost negligible. An external storage device is required to hold images. The 645D uses two slots of SD / SDHC cards as storage, the K-r has only one.
Battery Life
The battery life of a camera is very important. It tells us the approximate number of photos that can be taken in a single charge. This is really important in outdoor photography where power is not readily available. The K-r can take up to 1000 photographs with single charge and the 645D can take about 800.
Live View and Flexibility of the Display
Live view is the ability to use the LCD as a viewfinder. This can be convenient because the LCD gives a clear preview of the picture in good colors. Both of these cameras have live view.
Conclusion
Pentax 645D is a highly professional camera, whereas Pentax K-r is an entry level DSLR. The K-r is relatively light weighted and fast. The 645D has outstanding picture quality. The 645D is a very low priced medium format camera, but it is yet ten times more expensive than the K-r.