Pentax 645Z vs Nikon D810

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Pentax 645Z vs Nikon D810

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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.

35mm 861.6mm²
36.3 megapixels
ISO 64 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Nikon D810 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D810 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D810.
Compare Nikon D810 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D810 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Nikon D850
Compare D810 vs D850
Compare Pentax 645Z vs Nikon D850

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Differences

Pentax 645Z advantages over Nikon D810

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
Medium format vs 35mm
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
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 D810 test data on DxO Mark

4,505 vs 2,853 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 0.70x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
51.4 vs 36.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Higher extended ISO
204800 vs 51200 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Nikon D810 advantages over Pentax 645Z

Lens selection
Excellent vs Limited
Better lens selection gives you more options
Less expensive
$2079 vs $4694*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 1.5 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
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 650 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Thinner
81 mm vs 123 mm
Thinner
Higher max flash sync
1/250 vs 1/125 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Lighter weight
988g vs 1555g
Lighter weight
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
5.1 fps vs 3.1 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
57 vs 12 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
5.1 fps vs 3.1 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
23 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
Dual card slots
Both provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
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
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
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
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read 645Z User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D810 User Reviews

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Body Only

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Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 24-120mm lens

All D810 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

Handles even better than its predecessors; Absolutely spectacular images from the 36-megapixel image sensor; Unusually wide sensitivity range for its resolution; Improved performance and buffer depths; Improved video feature set; Impressive low-light autofocus
Prone to moire and false color with some subjects; No longer available with a low-pass filter; Demands excellent lenses for the best detail; White balance tends warm under tungsten lighting
Read our Nikon D810 Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon 5D Mark IV

Pentax 645Z

Canon 5D Mark IV

$4845
Medium format

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$2249
35mm

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Pentax 645Z vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Nikon D810

Canon 5D Mark IV

$2278
35mm

Less expensive
Longer stills battery life

$2249
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Nikon D810 vs Canon 5D Mark IV

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 D810

Pentax 645D

$2278
35mm

Lens selection
Fast startup

$3599
Medium format

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon D810 vs Pentax 645D

Compared to Nikon D800

Pentax 645Z

Nikon D800

$4845
Medium format

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$1850
35mm

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Pentax 645Z vs Nikon D800

Nikon D810

Nikon D800

$2278
35mm

Longer stills battery life
Lacks anti-aliasing filter

$1850
35mm

Fast startup
Has anti-aliasing filter

Compare Nikon D810 vs Nikon D800

Compared to Nikon D800E

Pentax 645Z

Nikon D800E

$4845
Medium format

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$2212
35mm

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Pentax 645Z vs Nikon D800E

Nikon D810

Nikon D800E

$2278
35mm

Longer stills battery life
Faster JPEG shooting

$2212
35mm

Fast startup

Compare Nikon D810 vs Nikon D800E

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 D810

Leica S (Typ 006)

$2278
35mm

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

$10535
Medium format

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon D810 vs Leica S (Typ 006)

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