• Medium format 1,436.6mm2
  • 51.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 204,800
  • APS-C 337.5mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 16,000

Buy From

Differences

Pentax 645Z advantages over Canon 80D

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    Medium format vs APS-C
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 5.31 vs 3.75 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Better color depth
    26.0 vs 23.6 bits
    Capture richer, more accurate colors
  • Higher effective ISO
    4,505 vs 1,135 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    14.7 vs 13.2 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.78x vs 0.59x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    51.4 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
  • Higher extended ISO
    204800 vs 25600 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Canon 80D advantages over Pentax 645Z

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Limited
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Less expensive
    $935 vs $4694*
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Fast startup
    ~0.50 vs 1.5 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 960 vs 650 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Thinner
    78 mm vs 123 mm
    Thinner
  • More cross-type AF points
    45 vs 25
    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
  • More AF points
    45 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
    6.8 fps vs 3.1 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    53 vs 12 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    6.7 fps vs 3.1 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    24 vs 10 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light

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
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • 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

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • 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

  • 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).

The Competition

Compared to Pentax 645D

Pentax 645Z
Pentax 645D
  • $4845
  • Medium format
  • Focus peaking
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $3599
  • Medium format
  • Fast startup
  • Longer stills battery life
Canon 80D
Pentax 645D
  • $935
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Lens selection
  • $3599
  • Medium format
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to Leica S (Typ 006)

Pentax 645Z
Leica S (Typ 006)
  • $4845
  • Medium format
  • Focus peaking
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $10535
  • Medium format
  • Thinner
  • More viewfinder magnification
Canon 80D
Leica S (Typ 006)
  • $935
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $10535
  • Medium format
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to 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
Canon 80D
Leica S-E (Typ 006)
  • $935
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Lens selection
  • $16900
  • Medium format
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to Nikon D7200

Pentax 645Z
Nikon D7200
  • $4845
  • Medium format
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $1016
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive
Canon 80D
Nikon D7200
  • $935
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $1016
  • APS-C
  • Higher effective ISO
  • More dynamic range

Compared to Nikon D7500

Pentax 645Z
Nikon D7500
  • $4845
  • Medium format
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $864
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive
Canon 80D
Nikon D7500
  • $935
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • NFC
  • $864
  • APS-C
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Fast startup
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