Nikon D3300 vs Pentax 645Z

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Nikon D3300 vs Pentax 645Z

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APS-C 366.6mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Nikon D3300 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D3300 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D3300.
Compare Nikon D3300 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D3300 conclusion.

Medium format 1,436.6mm²
51.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 204,800

Go in depth with our full Pentax 645Z Review.
How does it shoot? Pentax 645Z in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the 645Z.
Compare Pentax 645Z image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Pentax 645Z conclusion.

Succeeded by the Nikon D3400
Compare D3300 vs D3400
Compare Nikon D3400 vs Pentax 645Z

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Differences

Nikon D3300 advantages over Pentax 645Z

Lens selection
Excellent vs Limited
Better lens selection gives you more options
Less expensive
$16 vs $4694*
Save money for lenses or accessories
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Fast startup
~0.40 vs 1.5 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Thinner
75 mm vs 123 mm
Thinner
Higher max flash sync
1/200 vs 1/125 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Faster JPEG shooting
5.0 fps vs 3.1 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
100 vs 12 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
5.0 fps vs 3.1 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode

Pentax 645Z advantages over Nikon D3300

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
Medium format vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 5.31 vs 3.92 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
645Z test data on DxO Mark D3300 test data on DxO Mark

4,505 vs 1,385 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More dynamic range

More dynamic range

Cameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.

Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.

Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
645Z test data on DxO Mark D3300 test data on DxO Mark

14.7 vs 12.8 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
More cross-type AF points
25 vs 1
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
Less shutter lag
0.16 vs 0.26 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More viewfinder magnification
0.78x vs 0.57x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
51.4 vs 24.2 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
More AF points
27 vs 11
More AF points improve autofocus
Bigger RAW buffer
10 vs 7 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
204800 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
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
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
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D3300 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read 645Z User Reviews

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Kit with 18-55mm Lens (Black)
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Kit with 18-55mm Lens (Red)

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Buy the Pentax 645Z

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All 645Z Deals

Review Excerpt

Excellent image quality with lots of fine detail; Very good high ISO performance; Good dynamic range; Good print quality; Deep buffers with JPEGs; 1080/60p video; Uncompressed HDMI output.
AF struggles in low-light; Contrast-detect AF in live view is slow; Buffer depth is shallow with RAW files; No AE bracketing; No built-in Wi-Fi.
Read our Nikon D3300 Review

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
Read our Pentax 645Z Review

The Competition

Compared to Pentax 645D

Nikon D3300

Pentax 645D

$367
APS-C

Lens selection
In-camera panoramas

$3599
Medium format

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon D3300 vs Pentax 645D

Pentax 645Z

Pentax 645D

$4845
Medium format

Focus peaking
Tiltable Screen

$3599
Medium format

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

Compare Pentax 645Z vs Pentax 645D

Compared to Nikon D3200

Nikon D3300

Nikon D3200

$367
APS-C

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

$477
APS-C

Has anti-aliasing filter
Bigger RAW buffer

Compare Nikon D3300 vs Nikon D3200

Pentax 645Z

Nikon D3200

$4845
Medium format

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$477
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Pentax 645Z vs Nikon D3200

Compared to Sony A37

Nikon D3300

Sony A37

$367
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$600
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D3300 vs Sony A37

Pentax 645Z

Sony A37

$4845
Medium format

Larger sensor
Better color depth

$600
APS-C

Lens selection
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Pentax 645Z vs Sony A37

Compared to Canon T5

Nikon D3300

Canon T5

$367
APS-C

Larger sensor
Less expensive

$399
APS-C

Has anti-aliasing filter

Compare Nikon D3300 vs Canon T5

Pentax 645Z

Canon T5

$4845
Medium format

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$399
APS-C

Less expensive
Lens selection

Compare Pentax 645Z vs Canon T5

Compared to Leica S-E (Typ 006)

Nikon D3300

Leica S-E (Typ 006)

$367
APS-C

Lens selection
In-camera panoramas

$16900
Medium format

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon D3300 vs 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

Compare Pentax 645Z vs Leica S-E (Typ 006)

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