Pentax 645Z vs Nikon D7500

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Pentax 645Z vs Nikon D7500

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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 369.0mm²
20.9 megapixels
ISO 100 - 51,200

Go in depth with our full Nikon D7500 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D7500 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D7500.
Compare Nikon D7500 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D7500 conclusion.

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Differences

Pentax 645Z advantages over Nikon D7500

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 4.22 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 D7500 test data on DxO Mark

4,505 vs 1,483 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More cross-type AF points
25 vs 15
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
More viewfinder magnification
0.78x vs 0.63x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
51.4 vs 20.9 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility

Nikon D7500 advantages over Pentax 645Z

Lens selection
Excellent vs Limited
Better lens selection gives you more options
Less expensive
$997 vs $4694*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Fast startup
~0.20 vs 1.5 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
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

950 vs 650 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Thinner
72 mm vs 123 mm
Thinner
Higher max flash sync
1/250 vs 1/125 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Newer
7 years vs 10 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
More AF points
51 vs 27
More AF points improve autofocus
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Faster JPEG shooting
8.2 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
8.2 fps vs 3.1 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
47 vs 10 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
1638400 vs 204800 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
Tiltable Screen
Both provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
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

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
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
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
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read 645Z User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D7500 User Reviews

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Buy the Pentax 645Z

Body Only

All 645Z Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Nikon D7500

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 16-80mm lens
Kit with 18-140mm lens
Kit with 18-300mm lens

All D7500 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

New carbon fiber body is light, compact and very comfortable; Same excellent image quality as the flagship D500; Quick 8.2 frames per second burst shooting with generous buffer; Very fast, accurate autofocus; Tilting touch-screen display; Very good battery life; Records ultra high-def 4K and 60fps Full HD too.
Only a single flash card slot; Doesn't support portrait / battery grip accessories; No rear infrared receiver any more; non-CPU AI lenses will be manual only; 4K video comes with a heavy crop; Movie AF is prone to hunting, Extended ISO sensitivities are a gimmick.
Read our Nikon D7500 Review

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D7200

Pentax 645Z

Nikon D7200

$4845
Medium format

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$1016
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Pentax 645Z vs Nikon D7200

Nikon D7500

Nikon D7200

$864
APS-C

Less expensive
Shoot 4K video

$1016
APS-C

NFC
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Nikon D7500 vs Nikon D7200

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 D7500

Pentax 645D

$864
APS-C

Lens selection
Shoot 4K video

$3599
Medium format

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon D7500 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 D7500

Leica S (Typ 006)

$864
APS-C

Lens selection
Shoot 4K video

$10535
Medium format

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon D7500 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 D7500

Leica S-E (Typ 006)

$864
APS-C

Lens selection
Shoot 4K video

$16900
Medium format

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon D7500 vs Leica S-E (Typ 006)

Compared to Canon 80D

Pentax 645Z

Canon 80D

$4845
Medium format

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$935
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Pentax 645Z vs Canon 80D

Nikon D7500

Canon 80D

$864
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Fast startup

$935
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
NFC

Compare Nikon D7500 vs Canon 80D

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