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Leica S Typ 007 vs Pentax 645D

The Leica S (Typ 007) and the Pentax 645D are two professional cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in September 2014 and March 2010. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with a medium format sensor. The Leica has a resolution of 37.5 megapixels, whereas the Pentax provides 39.5 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Leica S Typ 007
versus
Pentax 645D
Leica S Typ 007   Pentax 645D
Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
Leica S mount lenses Pentax 645 mount lenses
37.5 MP – Medium Format sensor 39.5 MP – Medium Format sensor
4K/24p Video no Video
ISO 100-6,400 ISO 100-1,600
Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD – 922k dots 3.0" LCD – 921k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
3.5 shutter flaps per second 1.1 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
160 x 120 x 80 mm, 1260 g 156 x 117 x 119 mm, 1480 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Leica S (Typ 007) and the Pentax 645D? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Leica S Typ 007 and the Pentax 645D are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Leica S Typ 007 vs Pentax 645D
Compare S Typ 007 versus 645D top
Comparison S Typ 007 or 645D rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Pentax 645D is notably smaller (5 percent) than the Leica S Typ 007. However, the 645D is markedly heavier (17 percent) than the S Typ 007. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Leica S Typ 007 160 mm 120 mm 80 mm 1260 g .. Y Sep 2014 24,490ebay.com
2.
 
Pentax 645D 156 mm 117 mm 119 mm 1480 g 800 Y Mar 2010 9,995ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 1D X 158 mm 168 mm 83 mm 1551 g 1120 Y Oct 2011 6,799ebay.com
4.
 
Canon 1D Mark IV 156 mm 157 mm 80 mm 1230 g 1500 Y Oct 2009 4,999ebay.com
5.
 
Leica S3 160 mm 120 mm 80 mm 1260 g .. Y Sep 2018 18,995 amazon.com
6.
 
Leica M Typ 262 139 mm 80 mm 42 mm 680 g .. Y Nov 2015 5,195ebay.com
7.
 
Leica SL 147 mm 104 mm 39 mm 847 g 400 Y Oct 2015 7,450ebay.com
8.
 
Leica S-E Typ 006 160 mm 120 mm 80 mm 1260 g .. Y Sep 2014 16,900ebay.com
9.
 
Leica S Typ 006 160 mm 120 mm 80 mm 1260 g .. Y Sep 2012 21,950ebay.com
10.
 
Leica S2 160 mm 120 mm 80 mm 1410 g .. Y Sep 2008 22,995ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D4S 160 mm 157 mm 91 mm 1350 g 3020 Y Feb 2014 6,499ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D810 146 mm 123 mm 82 mm 980 g 1200 Y Jun 2014 3,299ebay.com
13.
 
Nikon D3S 160 mm 157 mm 88 mm 1240 g 4200 Y Oct 2009 5,199ebay.com
14.
 
Pentax 645Z 156 mm 117 mm 123 mm 1550 g 650 Y Apr 2014 8,499 amazon.com
15.
 
Sony A7R 127 mm 94 mm 48 mm 465 g 340 Y Oct 2013 2,299ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The 645D was launched at a markedly lower price (by 59 percent) than the S Typ 007, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a medium format sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the 645D is 8 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have format factors, respectively, of 0.8 (S Typ 007) and 0.79. The sensor in the S Typ 007 has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the 645D offers a 4:3 aspect.

Leica S Typ 007 and Pentax 645D sensor measures

With 39.5MP, the 645D offers a higher resolution than the S Typ 007 (37.5MP), but the 645D nevertheless has marginally larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 6.06μm versus 6.00μm for the S Typ 007) due to its larger sensor. However, the S Typ 007 is a much more recent model (by 4 years and 6 months) than the 645D, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The Leica S (Typ 007) has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Pentax 645D are ISO 100 to ISO 1600 (no boost).

In terms of underlying technology, the S Typ 007 is build around a CMOS sensor, while the 645D uses a CCD imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

S Typ 007 versus 645D MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Leica S Typ 007 Medium Format 37.5 7500 50004K/24p25.113.7276393
2.
 
Pentax 645D Medium Format 39.5 7264 5440none24.612.6126282
3.
 
Canon 1D X Full Frame 17.9 5184 34561080/30p23.811.8278682
4.
 
Canon 1D Mark IV APS-H 16.0 4896 32641080/30p22.812.0132074
5.
 
Leica S3 Medium Format 64.0 9800 65334K/24p25.614.4314398
6.
 
Leica M Typ 262 Full Frame 23.7 5952 3976none24.813.7247890
7.
 
Leica SL Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p25.013.4182188
8.
 
Leica S-E Typ 006 Medium Format 37.5 7500 5000none25.113.7276393
9.
 
Leica S Typ 006 Medium Format 37.5 7500 5000none23.912.282476
10.
 
Leica S2 Medium Format 37.5 7500 5000none23.912.5222482
11.
 
Nikon D4S Full Frame 16.2 4928 32801080/60p24.413.3307489
12.
 
Nikon D810 Full Frame 36.2 7360 49121080/60p25.714.8285397
13.
 
Nikon D3S Full Frame 12.1 4256 2832720/24p23.512.0325382
14.
 
Pentax 645Z Medium Format 51.1 8256 61921080/60i26.014.74505101
15.
 
Sony A7R Full Frame 36.2 7360 49121080/60p25.614.1274695
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The S Typ 007 indeed provides movie recording capabilities, while the 645D does not. The highest resolution format that the S Typ 007 can use is 4K/24p.

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Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The S Typ 007 and the 645D are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (98%), but the viewfinder of the S Typ 007 has a higher magnification than the one of the 645D (0.87x vs 0.78x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Leica S Typ 007 and Pentax 645D in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Leica S Typ 007optical Y3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s n n
2.
 
Pentax 645Doptical Y3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 1.1/s n n
3.
 
Canon 1D Xoptical Y3.2 / 1040 fixed n 1/8000s 14.0/s n n
4.
 
Canon 1D Mark IVoptical Y3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/8000s 10.0/s n n
5.
 
Leica S3optical Y3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s n n
6.
 
Leica M Typ 262optical n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s n n
7.
 
Leica SL4400 Y3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/8000s 11.0/s n n
8.
 
Leica S-E Typ 006optical Y3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/4000s 1.5/s n n
9.
 
Leica S Typ 006optical Y3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/4000s 1.5/s n n
10.
 
Leica S2optical Y3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 1.5/s n n
11.
 
Nikon D4Soptical Y3.2 / 921 fixed n 1/8000s 11.0/s n n
12.
 
Nikon D810optical Y3.2 / 1229 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y n
13.
 
Nikon D3Soptical Y3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/8000s 11.0/s n n
14.
 
Pentax 645Zoptical Y3.2 / 1037 tilting n 1/4000s 3.0/s n n
15.
 
Sony A7R2400 n3.0 / 1230 tilting n 1/8000s 4.0/s n n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
padding

The Pentax 645D has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The S Typ 007 writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or SDXC cards, while the 645D uses SDXC cards. Both cameras feature dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. The S Typ 007 supports UHS-II cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s), while the 645D cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Leica S (Typ 007) and Pentax 645D and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Leica S Typ 007Ystereo / monoYYmini3.0Y--
2.
 
Pentax 645DYstereo / ----2.0---
3.
 
Canon 1D XYmono / -Y-mini2.0---
4.
 
Canon 1D Mark IVYstereo / -Y-mini2.0---
5.
 
Leica S3Ystereo / monoYYmini3.0Y--
6.
 
Leica M Typ 262Y- / ----2.0---
7.
 
Leica SLYstereo / monoYYfull3.0Y--
8.
 
Leica S-E Typ 006Y- / ---mini2.0---
9.
 
Leica S Typ 006Y- / ---mini2.0---
10.
 
Leica S2Y- / ---mini2.0---
11.
 
Nikon D4SYmono / monoYYmini2.0---
12.
 
Nikon D810Ystereo / monoYYmini3.0Y--
13.
 
Nikon D3SYstereo / ---mini2.0---
14.
 
Pentax 645ZYstereo / monoY-mini3.0---
15.
 
Sony A7RYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
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It is notable that the S Typ 007 offers wifi support, while the 645D does not. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.

Both cameras feature a PC Sync terminal to control professional strobe lights, which will be appreciated by studio photographers.

Travel and landscape photographers will find it useful that the S Typ 007 has an internal geolocalization sensor and can record GPS coordinates in its EXIF data.

Both the S Typ 007 and the 645D have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The 645D was replaced by the Pentax 645Z, while the S Typ 007 was followed by the Leica S3. Further information on the features and operation of the S Typ 007 and 645D can be found, respectively, in the Leica S Typ 007 Manual (free pdf) or the online Pentax 645D Manual.

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Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is there a clear favorite between the Leica S Typ 007 and the Pentax 645D? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

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Advantages of the Leica S (Typ 007):

  • Broader imaging potential: Can record not only still images but also 4K/24p movies.
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.87x vs 0.78x).
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (3.5 vs 1.1 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 220g or 15 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • Easier geotagging: Features an internal GPS sensor to log localization data.
  • Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.0 vs 2.0).
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Supports Ultra High Speed (UHS-II) SDXC cards.
  • More prestigious: Has the Leica luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale price.
  • More modern: Reflects 4 years and 6 months of technical progress since the 645D launch.

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Reasons to prefer the Pentax 645D:

  • Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (59 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in March 2010).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the S Typ 007 is the clear winner of the match-up (10 : 3 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

S Typ 007 10:03 645D

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Leica S Typ 007 and the Pentax 645D place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the S Typ 007 or the 645D. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Leica S Typ 0074/5.......... Sep 2014 24,490ebay.com
2.
 
Pentax 645D5/5.......... Mar 2010 9,995ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 1D X5/5......4.5/54.5/5 Oct 2011 6,799ebay.com
4.
 
Canon 1D Mark IV5/5....89/100.... Oct 2009 4,999ebay.com
5.
 
Leica S3............ Sep 2018 18,995 amazon.com
6.
 
Leica M Typ 262............ Nov 2015 5,195ebay.com
7.
 
Leica SL4/5..4/584/1004.5/54/5 Oct 2015 7,450ebay.com
8.
 
Leica S-E Typ 006............ Sep 2014 16,900ebay.com
9.
 
Leica S Typ 006............ Sep 2012 21,950ebay.com
10.
 
Leica S2............ Sep 2008 22,995ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D4S5/5......4.5/54.5/5 Feb 2014 6,499ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D8105/5..5/586/1005/54.5/5 Jun 2014 3,299ebay.com
13.
 
Nikon D3S5/5....89/1004.5/55/5 Oct 2009 5,199ebay.com
14.
 
Pentax 645Z5/5..3.5/5..4.5/55/5 Apr 2014 8,499 amazon.com
15.
 
Sony A7R5/5+ +..82/1004.5/55/5 Oct 2013 2,299ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications: Leica S Typ 007 vs Pentax 645D

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Leica S Typ 007 Pentax 645D
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Leica S mount lenses Pentax 645 mount lenses
    Launch Date September 2014 March 2010
    Launch Price USD 24,490 USD 9,995
    Sensor Specs Leica S Typ 007 Pentax 645D
    Sensor Technology CMOS CCD
    Sensor Format Medium Format Sensor Medium Format Sensor
    Sensor Size 45.0 x 30.0 mm 44.0 x 33.0 mm
    Sensor Area 1350 mm2 1452 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 54.1 mm 55 mm
    Crop Factor 0.8x 0.79x
    Sensor Resolution 37.5 Megapixels 39.5 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 7500 x 5000 pixels 7264 x 5440 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 6.00 μm 6.06 μm
    Pixel Density 2.78 MP/cm2 2.72 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 4K/24p Video no Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 6,400 ISO 100 - 1,600 ISO
    Image Processor Maestro II PRIME II
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) .. 82
    DXO Color Depth (bits) .. 24.6
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) .. 12.6
    DXO Low Light (ISO) .. 1262
    Screen Specs Leica S Typ 007 Pentax 645D
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 98% 98%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.87x 0.78x
    Top-Level Screen Control Panel Control Panel
    LCD Framing Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 922k dots 921k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Fixed screen
    Shooting Specs Leica S Typ 007 Pentax 645D
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Phase-detect AF
    Manual Focusing AidFocus Peakingno Peaking Feature
    Continuous Shooting 3.5 shutter flaps/s 1.1 shutter flaps/s
    Time-Lapse Photographyno IntervalometerIntervalometer built-in
    Fill Flash no On-Board Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium CF or SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Dual card slots Dual card slots
    UHS card support UHS-II no
    Connectivity Specs Leica S Typ 007 Pentax 645D
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash PC Sync socket PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 3.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI no HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port no MIC socket
    Headphone Socket Headphone port no Headphone port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in no Wifi
    Geotagging GPS built-in no internal GPS
    Body Specs Leica S Typ 007 Pentax 645D
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
    Battery Type BP-PRO1 D-LI90
    Body Dimensions 160 x 120 x 80 mm
    (6.3 x 4.7 x 3.1 in)
    156 x 117 x 119 mm
    (6.1 x 4.6 x 4.7 in)
    Camera Weight 1260 g (44.4 oz) 1480 g (52.2 oz)
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    Check 645D offers at
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