Pentax 645D vs Canon 80D

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Pentax 645D vs Canon 80D

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Medium format 1,452.0mm²
40.0 megapixels
ISO 200 - 1000

Go in depth with our full Pentax 645D Review.
See real-world photos taken with the 645D.

APS-C 337.5mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 16,000

Go in depth with our full Canon 80D Review.
How does it shoot? Canon 80D in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the 80D.
Compare Canon 80D image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon 80D conclusion.

Succeeded by the Pentax 645Z
Compare 645D vs 645Z

Succeeded by the Canon 90D
Compare 80D vs 90D

Compare PENTAX 645Z vs CANON 90D

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Differences

Pentax 645D advantages over Canon 80D

Larger sensor
Medium format vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 6.06 vs 3.75 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
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.
645D test data on DxO Mark 80D test data on DxO Mark

1,262 vs 1,135 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More viewfinder magnification
0.78x vs 0.59x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
40.0 vs 24.2 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos

Canon 80D advantages over Pentax 645D

Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs none
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Lens selection
Excellent vs Limited
Better lens selection gives you more options
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 0.7 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
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

960 vs 800 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Thinner
78 mm vs 119 mm
Thinner
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
More cross-type AF points
45 vs 11
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
Higher max flash sync
1/250 vs 1/125 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Newer
9 years vs 14 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Shoots 1080p video
Yes vs No
You'll want this if you shoot video
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
More AF points
45 vs 11
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
6.8 fps vs 1.1 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
53 vs 19 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
6.7 fps vs 1.1 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
24 vs 16 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 1600 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
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

Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read 645D User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read 80D User Reviews

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Pentax 645D

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Body Only
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Kit with 18-55mm Lens

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Review Excerpt

Very high-resolution 40-megapixel sensor; Plentiful controls with great placement; Excellent optical viewfinder; Dual SDHC card slots; Infrared remote sensors front and back.
High price tag; Aliasing artifacts; Produces ~70MB RAW files.
Read our Pentax 645D Review

Very good image quality; Better RAW high ISO performance than predecessor; Improved buffer depth; Very fast AF; Dual Pixel CMOS AF is excellent; f/8 AF support; 1080/60p video; Headphone jack; Very good battery life.
New kit lens isn't very sharp; No 4K video; No clean HDMI out; 29:59 minute video recording limit; Phase detect AF not as sensitive in low-light as expected (Dual Pixel AF is better in low-light).
Read our Canon 80D Review

The Competition

Compared to Leica S2

Pentax 645D

Leica S2

$3599
Medium format

Less expensive
More cross-type AF points

$22995
Medium format

Thinner
More viewfinder magnification

Compare Pentax 645D vs Leica S2

Canon 80D

Leica S2

$935
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

$22995
Medium format

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon 80D vs Leica S2

Compared to Leica S (Typ 006)

Pentax 645D

Leica S (Typ 006)

$3599
Medium format

Less expensive
Higher effective ISO

$10535
Medium format

Thinner
More viewfinder magnification

Compare Pentax 645D vs Leica S (Typ 006)

Canon 80D

Leica S (Typ 006)

$935
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

$10535
Medium format

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon 80D vs Leica S (Typ 006)

Compared to Pentax 645Z

Pentax 645D

Pentax 645Z

$3599
Medium format

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

$4845
Medium format

Focus peaking
Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax 645D vs Pentax 645Z

Canon 80D

Pentax 645Z

$935
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

$4845
Medium format

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon 80D vs Pentax 645Z

Compared to Nikon D7200

Pentax 645D

Nikon D7200

$3599
Medium format

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$1097
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Pentax 645D vs Nikon D7200

Canon 80D

Nikon D7200

$935
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$1097
APS-C

Higher effective ISO
More dynamic range

Compare Canon 80D vs Nikon D7200

Compared to Nikon D7500

Pentax 645D

Nikon D7500

$3599
Medium format

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$864
APS-C

Lens selection
Shoot 4K video

Compare Pentax 645D vs Nikon D7500

Canon 80D

Nikon D7500

$935
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
NFC

$864
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Fast startup

Compare Canon 80D vs Nikon D7500

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