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Nikon D3S vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
51
Imaging
57
Features
63
Overall
59
Nikon D3S front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
81
Features
74
Overall
78

Nikon D3S vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Nikon D3S
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Increase to 102400)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 1240g - 160 x 157 x 88mm
  • Announced February 2010
  • Replaced the Nikon D3
  • Replacement is Nikon D4
Pentax 645Z
(Full Review)
  • 51MP - Medium format Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax 645AF2 Mount
  • 1550g - 156 x 117 x 123mm
  • Launched April 2014
  • Old Model is Pentax 645D
Photography Glossary

Nikon D3S vs Pentax 645Z Overview

Following is a in-depth comparison of the Nikon D3S versus Pentax 645Z, both Pro DSLR digital cameras by brands Nikon and Pentax. There exists a significant gap between the image resolutions of the D3S (12MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the D3S (Full frame) and 645Z (Medium format) possess totally different sensor size.

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The D3S was announced 5 years earlier than the 645Z which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Large SLR).

Before going through a complete comparison, below is a concise view of how the D3S grades vs the 645Z with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3S over the Pentax 645Z

 D3S 645Z 

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Nikon D3S

 645Z D3S 
LaunchedApril 2014February 2010More modern by 50 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k921kClearer screen (+116k dot)

Common features in the Nikon D3S and Pentax 645Z

 D3S 645Z 
Manual focus More precise focus
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Nikon D3S vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Nikon D3S provides outside dimensions of 160mm x 157mm x 88mm (6.3" x 6.2" x 3.5") accompanied by a weight of 1240 grams (2.73 lbs) whilst the Pentax 645Z has specifications of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") accompanied by a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

See the Nikon D3S versus Pentax 645Z in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the D3S against the 645Z.

Nikon D3S vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D3S and 645Z is 51 and 49 respectively.

Nikon D3S vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3S vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reading through specifications. The image below may offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the D3S and 645Z.

Plainly, the two cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The D3S with its tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF more challenging and the Pentax 645Z will give greater detail with its extra 39MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more aged D3S is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon D3S vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Nikon D3S vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3S vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D3S Portrait photography factors
Pentax 645Z Portrait photography factors
64
focusing manually
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
88
you can focus manually
great resolution (51MP)
large sensor size (Medium format)
features face detection focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon D3S as a Street photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Street photography camera
55
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
63
tilting screen
large sensor size (Medium format)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
above average ISO range (204,800)
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition (1,550g)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D3S Sports photography info
Pentax 645Z Sports photography info
66
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
large sensor size (Full frame)
includes tracking focus
environment proofing
better than average battery pack (4,200 CIPA)
comes with phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
71
great resolution (51 megapixels)
large sensor size (Medium format)
features tracking autofocus
environment sealing
has phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery power (650 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon D3S
Travel photography with Pentax 645Z
51
better than average battery pack (4,200 CIPA)
environment proofing
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
51
environment sealing
great resolution (51 megapixels)
not so great battery power (650 per charge)
more heavy than competition (1,550g)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon D3S
Landscape photography with Pentax 645Z
67
focusing manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
better than average battery pack (4,200 per charge)
2 card slots
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
78
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
great resolution (51 megapixels)
large sensor size (Medium format)
doesnt have low pass filter
above average ISO range (204,800)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
two card slots
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery power (650 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D3S as a Vlogging camera
Pentax 645Z as a Vlogging camera
15
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic support
27
features face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external microphone socket
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition (1,550 grams)
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Nikon D3S vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3S and Pentax 645Z
 Nikon D3SPentax 645Z
General Information
Company Nikon Pentax
Model type Nikon D3S Pentax 645Z
Type Pro DSLR Pro DSLR
Announced 2010-02-16 2014-04-15
Physical type Large SLR Large SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed PRIME III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Medium format
Sensor measurements 36 x 23.9mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor surface area 860.4mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 51 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 5:4 and 3:2 4:3
Full resolution 4256 x 2832 8256 x 6192
Max native ISO 12800 204800
Max boosted ISO 102400 -
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 51 27
Cross type focus points 15 -
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon F Pentax 645AF2
Amount of lenses 309 6
Focal length multiplier 1 0.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3.2"
Display resolution 921 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech Low-temperature polysilicon TFT color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 98%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.85x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 11.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Flash On, Flash On+Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync+Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, contrast-control-sync, high-speed sync, wireless sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/125 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps), 320 x 216 (24 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS Optional Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 1240g (2.73 lb) 1550g (3.42 lb)
Dimensions 160 x 157 x 88mm (6.3" x 6.2" x 3.5") 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 82 101
DXO Color Depth rating 23.5 26.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.0 14.7
DXO Low light rating 3253 4505
Other
Battery life 4200 shots 650 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL4a D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) x 2, UDMA Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Card slots Two Two
Pricing at launch $5,200 $5,024