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Pentax K-3 Review

  • Overview
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Pentax K-3

    Main Features

    • 24MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
    • No Optical low-pass (anti-aliasing) filter
    • ISO 100 - 51200
    • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
    • 3.2″ Fixed Type Screen
    • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
    • 8 fps continuous shooting
    • 1920 x 1080 video resolution
    • 800g. 131 x 100 x 77 mm
    • Weather Sealed Body
    • Replaced by Pentax K-3 II
    $959.69

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    Pentax K-3 Overview

    First introduced in April 2014 , Pentax K-3 is a 24.0MP Semi-Pro DSLR camera with a APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm ) sized CMOS sensor. Pentax later replaced K-3 with K-3 II. Follow the link to read our in-depth comparison of these cameras:
    Compare Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-3 II

    Pentax K-3 has an Overall Score of 84/100 and ranked #19 out of 196 in DSLR cameras (Top 10 DSLR), and ranked #32 out of 1131 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

    Pentax K-3 Type Scores
    Imaging
    Features
    Value for Money
    Portability
    Overall Score
    Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras

    Pentax K-3 Compared to other DSLR Cameras

    Now let's get in to more details of Pentax K-3's specs and feature, and list out its pro's and con's compared to average cameras in its class.

    PROs
    Image Stabilization
    1920 x 1080 Max Video Resolution
    Optical Built-in Viewfinder
    Face Detection Focusing
    24.0MP - High Resolution Sensor
    51.200 Max ISO
    27 Focus Points
    Large 3.2″ Screen
    1.037k dots LCD Resolution
    1/8000s High Shutter Speed
    8.0fps Fast Continuous Shooting
    Long Battery Life (560 shots)
    External Microphone Port
    External Headphone Port
    Environmental Sealing
    Timelapse Recording
    Good Low Light ISO - 1216
    25 Cross Type Focus Points
    2 Storage Slots
    Top LCD Display
    Flash Sync Port
    AF Micro Adjustment (Fine Tune)
    Anti Alias Filter Simulator
    Dual-axis Electronic Level

    Buy Pentax K-3 from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO


    CONs
    No Wireless Connection
    No Articulating Screen
    No Touch Screen
    Heavy Body: 800g
    Not so wide AE Bracketing Range: ±2 EV
    Pentax K-3 Lens Mount and Lenses

    Pentax K-3 has a Pentax KAF2 lens mount and currently there are 144 native lenses available for this mount. Pentax K mount has backward compatibility for all the K mount lenses produced since 1975 so Pentax users has access to a large selection of manual era native lenses in addition to the modern AF lenses.

    K-3 also has a Sensor based Image Stabilization system which means that all of these lenses will be stabilized when used on K-3. Sensor based image stabilization is one of the most useful features that you can have in an ILC. There are also 22 lenses with weather sealing for K-3 that you can couple with its weather sealed body.

    Here are some of the most popular Pentax K-3 Lenses on Camera Decision:

    Popular Pentax K-3 Lenses
    Model Focal Length on K-3 Max Aperture Weight Focusing Price
    Pentax smc FA 50mm F1.4
    75mm F1.4 220gr AF $271.95
    HD Pentax DA 55-300mm F4.0-5.8 ED WR
    82.5-450mm F4.0 - F5.8 466gr AF $341.89
    Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE
    27-75mm F4.0 - F5.6 158gr AF $296.95
    Pentax D FA 70-200mm F2.8ED DC AW
    105-300mm F2.8 1755gr AF $1,531.00
    HD Pentax D FA 24-70mm F2.8 ED SDM WR
    36-105mm F2.8 787gr AF $1,096.95

    Check our Pentax K-3 Lenses page or use our Smart Lens Finder tool for more detailed lens search.

    Pentax K-3 Sensor and Photography Features

    Pentax K-3 has a 24.0MP APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Prime III processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 6016 x 4000 pixels with aspect ratios of and 3:2. K-3 has a native ISO range of 100 - 51200 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

    Pentax K-3 is not the highest resolution APS-C camera. Sigma Quattro with its 29.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Pentax K-3 vs Sigma Quattro or take a look at Highest resolution DSLR cameras list.

    Anti-Aliasing Filter

    Another important feature about Pentax K-3's sensor is the lack of anti-alias (Low-pass) filter. Removing anti-aliasing filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but on the other side it also increases the chance of moire occurring in certain scenes. But wait! K-3 takes care of this problem for you. It has a unique and adjustable Anti-Aliasing Filter Simulator mode which can create the effects of a Low Pass filter electronically when you want to avoid moire.

    Let's look at how the size of the Pentax K-3's APS-C sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

    Pentax K-3 Sensor Size Comparison

    Pentax K-3 Physical Specs
    Pentax K-3 weighs 800 g (1.76 lb / 28.22 oz) and has external dimensions of 131 x 100 x 77 mm (5.16 x 3.94 x 3.03″). Considering that the average weight of DSLR type cameras is 775g, its weight is about average in its class. With a thickness of 77mm, it also has an average thickness.
    Weight Comparison

    DSLR Cameras

    Pentax K-3
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    Thickness Comparison

    DSLR Cameras

    Pentax K-3
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Here is the front and top view image of Pentax K-3 with the dimensions:

    Pentax K-3 Body Size Dimensions

    In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Pentax K-3, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.


    Pentax K-3 Real Life Body Size Comparison


    Now lets compare the weight and thickness of Pentax K-3 with its main competitors:

    Pentax K-3 Size Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Sensor Weight vs K-3 Thickness vs K-3
    Pentax K-3 II 24.0MP - APS-C 800g equal weight 77mm equal thickness
    Pentax K-S2 20.0MP - APS-C 678g 122g lighter 73mm 4mm thinner
    Nikon D7200 24.0MP - APS-C 765g 35g lighter 76mm 1mm thinner
    Pentax K-5 II 16.0MP - APS-C 760g 40g lighter 73mm 4mm thinner
    Pentax K-70 24.0MP - APS-C 688g 112g lighter 74mm 3mm thinner
    Nikon D7100 24.0MP - APS-C 765g 35g lighter 76mm 1mm thinner
    Nikon D5500 24.0MP - APS-C 420g 380g lighter 70mm 7mm thinner
    Pentax K-50 16.0MP - APS-C 650g 150g lighter 71mm 6mm thinner

    Pentax K-3 has environmental sealings on its body which makes it a weather resistant camera. If you like outdoors photography and want to be able to use your camera in extreme conditions, Pentax K-3 will serve you well. If you attach one of these Pentax K-3 weather Sealed lenses to K-3 you will have a great all weather kit.

    Pentax K-3 Other Features
    LCD and Viewfinder

    Pentax K-3 has a Fixed Type 3.2″ LCD screen with a resolution of 1,037k dots. The Pentax K-3's 3.2″ screen is larger than average and its resolution is up to the class standarts.



    Pentax K-3 back view and LCD

    K-3 has a built-in Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder. The viewfinder has a coverage of 100% and a magnification ratio of 0.64x. 100% coverage ensures that what you see in the viewfinder while shooting matches exactly what you will get later in your image, helping accurate framing your shots and minimizes the need for cropping images later.

    Max Shutter speed
    Pentax K-3 can shoot continuously at max speed of 8 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/8000 sec.

    Flash
    K-3 has a built-in flash, and it also has a flash shoe to mount your external flashes too.

    Focusing
    Pentax K-3 features both Contrast Detection and Phase Detection autofocus (AF) systems which ensures speed and accuracy of focusing in most situations. The AF system has 27 focus points and 25 of these sensors are of Cross-type. Cross-type sensors locks focus faster and more accurate compared to single type sensors.

    Pentax K-3 also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

    Video Features
    With Pentax K-3, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 60i,50i,30p,25p,24p fps and save in MPEG-4 and H.264 formats. Full HD resolution of Pentax K-3 will be adequate in most of the situations. But if you are after the highest resolution videos available, see our list of Top Cameras with 4K (Ultra-HD) Video.

    K-3 has a built-in Mono microphone and a Mono speaker. Pentax K-3 also has a port for an external microphone and a headphone port for connecting external headphones which make Pentax K-3 a very suitable camera high quality videography.

    Connectivity and Storage

    You can connect K-3 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) port.

    Battery Pentax K-3 is powered by D-LI90 battery which provides a shooting life of 560 according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of DSLR type cameras is 884 shots, Pentax K-3 has a short battery life for its class so we strongly recommend K-3 owners to buy some extra batteries.

    Battery Life Comparison in Semi-Pro DSLR Cameras

    Pentax K-3
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Nikon D850 with its 1840shots is the model with longest battery life among Semi-Pro DSLR cameras. Check the comparison of Pentax K-3 vs Nikon D850 or take a look at Longest Battery Life DSLR cameras list.

    Pentax K-3 Features Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Max Video Battery Life Wi-fi Bluetooth NFC
    Pentax K-3 II
    >>Compare to K-3
    1920 x 1080 720shots No No No
    Pentax K-S2
    >>Compare to K-3
    1920 x 1080 410shots Yes No Yes
    Nikon D7200
    >>Compare to K-3
    1920 x 1080 1110shots Yes No Yes
    Pentax K-5 II
    >>Compare to K-3
    1920 x 1080 980shots No No No
    Pentax K-70
    >>Compare to K-3
    1920 x 1080 410shots Yes No No
    Nikon D7100
    >>Compare to K-3
    1920 x 1080 950shots No No No
    Nikon D5500
    >>Compare to K-3
    1920 x 1080 820shots Yes No No
    Pentax K-50
    >>Compare to K-3
    1920 x 1080 410shots No No No

    Lowest Price
    Current Lowest price for Pentax K-3 is $959.69

    $959.69

    What type of Photography is Pentax K-3 Good for?
    In this section, we review and score Pentax K-3 in 5 different photography areas. This first spider web graph shows how the K-3 compares with the average DSLR camera.
    Hover your mouse over the points to see the score details for each photography type.

    Pentax K-3 for Portrait Photography

    Pentax K-3 has a score of 83 for Portrait Photography which makes it an EXCELLENT candidate for this type of photography.
    Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) sensor
    Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
    Image Stabilization
    Optical Built-in Viewfinder
    Good Ergonomics&Handling

    Read the details of how we scored Pentax K-3 for Portrait Photography

    Pentax K-3 for Street Photography

    Pentax K-3 has a score of 85 for Street Photography which makes it an EXCELLENT candidate for this type of photography.
    Optical Built-in Viewfinder
    Live-view
    Face-Detection Focusing
    Image Stabilization
    Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) sensor
    Large Body

    Read the details of how we scored Pentax K-3 for Street Photography

    Pentax K-3 for Sports Photography

    Pentax K-3 has a score of 89 for Sports Photography which makes it an EXCELLENT candidate for this type of photography.
    Fast Continuous Shooting: 8.0fps
    Environmental Sealings
    Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
    25 Cross Type Focus sensors
    27 Focus Points
    Good Battery Life: 560 shots
    Good Low Light ISO
    Good Ergonomics&Handling
    Optical Built-in Viewfinder
    Image Stabilization

    Read the details of how we scored Pentax K-3 for Sports Photography

    Pentax K-3 for Daily Photography

    Pentax K-3 has a score of 71 for Daily Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Daily Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 DSLR Cameras for Daily Photography list.
    Environmental Sealings
    Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) sensor
    Large Body
    800g
    Body Thickness 77mm

    Read the details of how we scored Pentax K-3 for Daily Photography

    Pentax K-3 for Landscape Photography

    Pentax K-3 has a score of 64 for Landscape Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Landscape Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 DSLR Cameras for Landscape Photography list.
    Live-view
    Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) sensor
    Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
    Environmental Sealings

    Read the details of how we scored Pentax K-3 for Landscape Photography

    Pentax K-3 Alternatives
    In this section, we analyse how Pentax K-3 compares with other DSLR cameras within a similar price range. In the Bubble chart below, you can see Overall Score vs Price comparison of K-3 and the top 10 contenders in the same range. Hover your mouse on the bubbles to see the details of the cameras.
    Read a more detailed analysis of Pentax K-3 alternatives.
    Popular Comparisons of Pentax K-3
    Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Pentax K-3 amongst Camera Decision readers.

    Pentax K-3 II
    Pentax K-3 II
    Compare
    Pentax K-S2
    Pentax K-S2
    Compare
    Nikon D7200
    Nikon D7200
    Compare
    Pentax K-5 II
    Pentax K-5 II
    Compare
    Pentax K-70
    Pentax K-70
    Compare
    Nikon D7100
    Nikon D7100
    Compare
    Nikon D5500
    Nikon D5500
    Compare
    Pentax K-50
    Pentax K-50
    Compare
    Pentax K-3 Alternatives in Mirrorless Cameras
    It would also be interesting to compare Pentax K-3 with Mirrorless Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked Mirrorless cameras in Pentax K-3's price range.

    Sony A7 II
    Sony A7 II
    Compare
    Panasonic G85
    Panasonic G85
    Compare
    Sony A7
    Sony A7
    Compare
    Canon M6
    Canon M6
    Compare
    Panasonic GX8
    Panasonic GX8
    Compare
    Olympus E-M5 II
    Olympus E-M5 II
    Compare
    Olympus E-M10 II
    Olympus E-M10 II
    Compare
    Olympus E-M1
    Olympus E-M1
    Compare
    Frequently Asked Questions about Pentax K-3
    Does the Pentax K-3 have Image Stabilization?
    Does the Pentax K-3 have RAW support?
    Does the Pentax K-3 have Weather Sealing?
    Does the Pentax K-3 have built-in GPS?
    What is the Max ISO of Pentax K-3?
    What is the Sensor Size of Pentax K-3?
    is the Pentax K-3 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
    Does the Pentax K-3 have Touch Screen?
    Does the Pentax K-3 have built-in Wireless?
    What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Pentax K-3?
    Pentax K-3 Detailed Specifications

    General
    Brand Pentax
    Model Pentax K-3
    Announced 2014-04-10
    Body Type Mid-size SLR
    Price $959.69
    Lens
    Manual Focus
    Lens Mount Pentax KAF2
    Number of Lenses 144
    Focal Length Multiplier 1.5x
    Macro Focus Range n/a
    Screen
    Screen Type Fixed Type
    Screen Technology TFT LCD monitor
    Screen Size 3.2″
    Screen Resolution 1,037k dots
    Live View
    Touch Screen
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism)
    Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Coverage 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.64
    Photography Features
    Min Shutter Speed 30s
    Max Shutter Speed 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 8.0 fps
    Shutter Priority
    Aperture Priority
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Exposure Compensation Yes
    Custom White Balance
    Image Stabilization
    Built-in Flash
    Flash Range 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
    Max Flash Sync 1/180s
    Flash Modes Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual
    External Flash
    AE Bracketing
    WB Bracketing
    Exposure Modes
    Multi-Segment
    Average
    Spot
    Partial
    AF-Area
    Center Weighted
    DxO Sensor Scores
    DxO Overall Score 80
    DxO Color Depth 23.7
    DxO Dynamic Range 13.4
    DxO Low Light ISO 1216
    Report a correction

    Sensor
    Sensor Type CMOS
    Sensor Size APS-C
    Sensor Dimensions 23.5 x 15.6 mm
    Sensor Area 366.60mm2
    Sensor Resolution 24 megapixels
    Max Image Resolution 6016 x 4000
    Max Native ISO 51,200
    Min Native ISO 100
    RAW Support
    Autofocus
    AF Touch
    AF Continuous
    AF Single
    AF Tracking
    AF Selective
    AF Center
    AF Multi Area
    AF Live View
    AF Face Detection
    AF Contrast Detection
    AF Phase Detection
    Number of Focus Points 27
    Number of Cross Focus Points 25
    Video Features
    Video Resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
    Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080
    Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264
    Microphone Port
    Headphone Port
    Connectivity
    Wireless Connectivity None
    HDMI
    USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
    Physical
    Environmental Sealing
    Water Proof
    Dust Proof
    Shock Proof
    Crush Proof
    Freeze Proof
    Weight 800g
    Physical Dimensions 131 x 100 x 77mm
    Battery Life 560 shots
    Battery Type Battery Pack
    Battery Model D-LI90
    Other Features
    Self Timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
    Timelapse Recording
    GPS Optional
    Storage Type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
    Storage Slots 2
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