Nikon D610 vs Pentax 645Z

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Nikon D610 vs Pentax 645Z

Leave Feedback

35mm 861.6mm²
24.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 6400

Go in depth with our full Nikon D610 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D610 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D610.
Compare Nikon D610 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D610 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.

Buy From

Differences

Nikon D610 advantages over Pentax 645Z

Lens selection
Excellent vs Limited
Better lens selection gives you more options
Less expensive
$1997 vs $4694*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Fast startup
~0.30 vs 1.5 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

900 vs 650 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Thinner
82 mm vs 123 mm
Thinner
Higher max flash sync
1/200 vs 1/125 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
More AF points
39 vs 27
More AF points improve autofocus
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Faster JPEG shooting
5.9 fps vs 3.1 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
30 vs 12 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
5.9 fps vs 3.1 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
15 vs 10 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Pentax 645Z advantages over Nikon D610

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
Medium format vs 35mm
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
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 D610 test data on DxO Mark

4,505 vs 2,925 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More cross-type AF points
25 vs 9
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 0.70x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
51.4 vs 24.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
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
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
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
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
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
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D610 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read 645Z User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Nikon D610

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 24-85mm and 70-300mm lenses, wireless adapter, bag
Kit with 24-85mm lens
Kit with 28-300mm lens and accessory bundle

All D610 Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Pentax 645Z

Body Only

All 645Z Deals

Review Excerpt

Eliminated sensor dust-and-oil spot issue from D600; Great controls for amateur or pro; Comfortable ergonomics and weight; Excellent image quality and low-light performance; Very good dynamic range; Excellent battery life; Built-in lens correction.
Not drastically different from D600; Moire with certain subjects; Auto WB still too warm in incandescent light; Slow AF in live view mode; Aliasing in videos.
Read our Nikon D610 Express 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 Canon 6D

Nikon D610

Canon 6D

$1201
35mm

Fast startup
Higher effective ISO

$1499
35mm

Less expensive
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Nikon D610 vs Canon 6D

Pentax 645Z

Canon 6D

$4845
Medium format

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$1499
35mm

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Pentax 645Z vs Canon 6D

Compared to Pentax 645D

Nikon D610

Pentax 645D

$1201
35mm

Lens selection
Fast startup

$3599
Medium format

Larger sensor
Less shutter lag

Compare Nikon D610 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 D600

Nikon D610

Nikon D600

$1201
35mm

Faster RAW shooting

$1900
35mm

Compare Nikon D610 vs Nikon D600

Pentax 645Z

Nikon D600

$4845
Medium format

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$1900
35mm

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Pentax 645Z vs Nikon D600

Compared to Nikon D750

Nikon D610

Nikon D750

$1201
35mm

Fast startup

$1700
35mm

Tiltable Screen
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Nikon D610 vs Nikon D750

Pentax 645Z

Nikon D750

$4845
Medium format

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$1700
35mm

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Pentax 645Z vs Nikon D750

Compared to Leica S-E (Typ 006)

Nikon D610

Leica S-E (Typ 006)

$1201
35mm

Lens selection
Internal flash

$16900
Medium format

Larger sensor
Built-in GPS

Compare Nikon D610 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)

Compare Other Cameras?