Pentax 645D vs Nikon D3400

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Pentax 645D vs Nikon D3400

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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 366.6mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Nikon D3400 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D3400 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D3400.
Compare Nikon D3400 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D3400 conclusion.

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

Succeeded by the Nikon D3500
Compare D3400 vs D3500

Compare PENTAX 645Z vs NIKON D3500

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Differences

Pentax 645D advantages over Nikon D3400

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
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

Nikon D3400 advantages over Pentax 645D

Lens selection
Excellent vs Limited
Better lens selection gives you more options
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 0.7 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
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.
D3400 test data on DxO Mark 645D test data on DxO Mark

13.9 vs 12.6 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
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

1200 vs 800 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Thinner
75 mm vs 119 mm
Thinner
Higher max flash sync
1/200 vs 1/125 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Newer
8 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
Faster JPEG shooting
5.1 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
5.1 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

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
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
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
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 GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
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 645D User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D3400 User Reviews

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Buy the Pentax 645D

Pentax 645D

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Buy the Nikon D3400

Kit with 18-55mm Lens (Black)

Kit with 18-55mm Lens (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm & 70-300mm Lenses (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm Lens (Red)

All D3400 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

Compact DSLR camera body; Excellent image quality; Reliable single-shot autofocus; Good continuous JPEG shooting performance; New kit lens has improved AF; Great value at current prices.
SnapBridge is slow and limited; Poor continuous autofocus; No built-in Wi-Fi; Mediocre video features.
Read our Nikon D3400 Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon T6i

Pentax 645D

Canon T6i

$3599
Medium format

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$699
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Pentax 645D vs Canon T6i

Nikon D3400

Canon T6i

$497
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

$699
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Nikon D3400 vs Canon T6i

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 D3400

Leica S2

$497
APS-C

Lens selection
Built-in Bluetooth

$22995
Medium format

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon D3400 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)

Nikon D3400

Leica S (Typ 006)

$497
APS-C

Lens selection
Built-in Bluetooth

$10535
Medium format

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon D3400 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

Nikon D3400

Pentax 645Z

$497
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

$4845
Medium format

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Nikon D3400 vs Pentax 645Z

Compared to Nikon D5500

Pentax 645D

Nikon D5500

$3599
Medium format

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$697
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Lens selection

Compare Pentax 645D vs Nikon D5500

Nikon D3400

Nikon D5500

$497
APS-C

Less expensive
Built-in Bluetooth

$697
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Nikon D3400 vs Nikon D5500

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