Pentax 645Z vs Nikon D5500

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Pentax 645Z vs Nikon D5500

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Medium format 1,436.6mm²
51.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 204,800

Go in depth with our full Pentax 645Z Review.
How does it shoot? Pentax 645Z in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the 645Z.
Compare Pentax 645Z image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Pentax 645Z conclusion.

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Nikon D5500 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D5500 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D5500.
Compare Nikon D5500 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D5500 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Nikon D5600
Compare D5500 vs D5600
Compare Pentax 645Z vs Nikon D5600

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Differences

Pentax 645Z advantages over Nikon D5500

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 3.92 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.
645Z test data on DxO Mark D5500 test data on DxO Mark

4,505 vs 1,438 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
More cross-type AF points
25 vs 9
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
More viewfinder magnification
0.78x vs 0.55x
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
Bigger RAW buffer
10 vs 7 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
204800 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Nikon D5500 advantages over Pentax 645Z

Lens selection
Excellent vs Limited
Better lens selection gives you more options
Less expensive
$697 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
~0.40 vs 1.5 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
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

820 vs 650 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Thinner
70 mm vs 123 mm
Thinner
Higher max flash sync
1/200 vs 1/125 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
More AF points
39 vs 27
More AF points improve autofocus
Faster JPEG shooting
4.9 fps vs 3.1 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
100 vs 12 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
4.0 fps vs 3.1 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
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
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

Amazon
Adorama
Read 645Z User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D5500 User Reviews

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Body Only

All 645Z Deals

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Buy the Nikon D5500

Body Only (Black)

Body Only (Black)
Body Only (Red)
Kit with 18-140mm lens (Black)
Kit with 18-140mm lens (Red)
Kit with 18-55mm lens (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm lens (Red)

All D5500 Deals

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
Read our Pentax 645Z Review

Amazingly small for a DSLR; Great image quality for its class, including superb low light and high ISO performance; Generous JPEG buffer depth; High resolution.
Buffer depths are shallow when shooting RAW; Lacks GPS from the predecessor; No AA filter means it's susceptible to aliasing artifacts.
Read our Nikon D5500 Review

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

Compare Pentax 645Z vs Pentax 645D

Nikon D5500

Pentax 645D

$697
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Lens selection

$3599
Medium format

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Pentax 645D

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

Compare Pentax 645Z vs Leica S (Typ 006)

Nikon D5500

Leica S (Typ 006)

$697
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Lens selection

$10535
Medium format

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Leica S (Typ 006)

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

Compare Pentax 645Z vs Leica S-E (Typ 006)

Nikon D5500

Leica S-E (Typ 006)

$697
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

$16900
Medium format

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Leica S-E (Typ 006)

Compared to Nikon D3400

Pentax 645Z

Nikon D3400

$4845
Medium format

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$497
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Pentax 645Z vs Nikon D3400

Nikon D5500

Nikon D3400

$697
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

$497
APS-C

Less expensive
Built-in Bluetooth

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D3400

Compared to Nikon D5600

Pentax 645Z

Nikon D5600

$4845
Medium format

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$898
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Pentax 645Z vs Nikon D5600

Nikon D5500

Nikon D5600

$697
APS-C

Less expensive
Higher effective ISO

$898
APS-C

Fast startup
NFC

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D5600

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