• Medium format 1,452.0mm2
  • 40.0 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 1000
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 12,800

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Differences

Pentax 645D advantages over Nikon D3300

  • Larger sensor
    Medium format vs APS-C
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 6.06 vs 3.92 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • More cross-type AF points
    11 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
    40.0 vs 24.2 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    16 vs 7 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Nikon D3300 advantages over Pentax 645D

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Limited
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Fast startup
    ~0.40 vs 0.7 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 119 mm
    Thinner
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/200 vs 1/125 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • 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
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    5.0 fps vs 1.1 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    100 vs 19 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    5.0 fps vs 1.1 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Tiltable Screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • 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

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Buy the Pentax 645D
Pentax 645D

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Buy the Nikon D3300
Kit with 18-55mm Lens (Black)
  • Kit with 18-55mm Lens (Black)
  • Kit with 18-55mm Lens (Grey)
  • Kit with 18-55mm Lens (Red)
All D3300 Deals

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

  • 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

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

Nikon D3300
Leica S2
  • $367
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $22995
  • Medium format
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon D3300 vs Leica S2

Compared to Nikon D3200

Pentax 645D
Nikon D3200
  • $3599
  • Medium format
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $477
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup

Compare Pentax 645D vs 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

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)

Nikon D3300
Leica S (Typ 006)
  • $367
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $10535
  • Medium format
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon D3300 vs Leica S (Typ 006)

Compared to Canon T5

Pentax 645D
Canon T5
  • $3599
  • Medium format
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $399
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup

Compare Pentax 645D vs 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

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

Nikon D3300
Pentax 645Z
  • $367
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive
  • $4845
  • Medium format
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor

Compare Nikon D3300 vs Pentax 645Z

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