Pentax 645D vs Nikon D5300

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Pentax 645D vs Nikon D5300

Leave Feedback

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 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Nikon D5300 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D5300 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D5300.
Compare Nikon D5300 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D5300 conclusion.

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

Succeeded by the Nikon D5500
Compare D5300 vs D5500

Compare PENTAX 645Z vs NIKON D5500

Buy From

Differences

Pentax 645D advantages over Nikon D5300

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)
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

800 vs 600 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Less shutter lag
0.16 vs 0.29 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More viewfinder magnification
0.78x vs 0.55x
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 4 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Nikon D5300 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
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
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.
D5300 test data on DxO Mark 645D test data on DxO Mark

13.9 vs 12.6 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Thinner
76 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
More AF points
39 vs 11
More AF points improve autofocus
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
4.0 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
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
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
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 645D User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D5300 User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Pentax 645D

Pentax 645D

All 645D Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Nikon D5300

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 18-140mm Lens
Kit with 18-55mm Lens

All D5300 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 similar to more expensive DSLRs (like the D7100); Great dynamic range; Responsive all-around performer; Excellent Full HD video-shooting quality; Built-in Wi-Fi with remote control and sharing features; Built-in GPS; Compact and lightweight size; 18-140mm kit lens performs well for its type and has a very versatile focus length range.
AA-filterless sensor makes it more prone to moire; Burst speed slows with highest quality 14-bit RAW images; Live View mode not as good as some competitors; No external headphone jack; GPS receiver not very sensitive.
Read our Nikon D5300 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 D5300

Leica S2

$549
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

$22995
Medium format

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon D5300 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 D5300

Leica S (Typ 006)

$549
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Lens selection

$10535
Medium format

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon D5300 vs Leica S (Typ 006)

Compared to Pentax K-3

Pentax 645D

Pentax K-3

$3599
Medium format

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$699
APS-C

Lens selection
Focus peaking

Compare Pentax 645D vs Pentax K-3

Nikon D5300

Pentax K-3

$549
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Fast startup

$699
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5300 vs Pentax K-3

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 D5300

Pentax 645Z

$549
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

$4845
Medium format

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Nikon D5300 vs Pentax 645Z

Compared to Canon T6s

Pentax 645D

Canon T6s

$3599
Medium format

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$619
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Pentax 645D vs Canon T6s

Nikon D5300

Canon T6s

$549
APS-C

Larger sensor
Fast startup

$619
APS-C

Touchscreen
NFC

Compare Nikon D5300 vs Canon T6s

Compare Other Cameras?