EOS M50 IIvs Pentax K-3 Mark IIIvs ZV-1 II
Pentax
Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021)
From £1699
Best for DSLR enthusiasts & outdoor photographers
View Pentax K-3 Mark III
Which should you buy?
Beginners & Vlogging — EOS M50 II (2020): Canon's most approachable mirrorless — Dual Pixel AF and beautiful colour science in a beginner-friendly body.
Dslr Enthusiasts & Outdoor Photographers — Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021): The finest APS-C DSLR ever made — class-leading weather sealing, optical viewfinder, 5-axis IBIS, and extraordinary build for photographers committed to DSLR.
Pocket Vlogging — ZV-1 II (2023): The best pocket vlogging camera — 1-inch sensor, ultrawide zoom, flip screen, and real-time Eye AF in a shirt pocket.
Who should buy what
EOS M50 II (2020)
- You want your first mirrorless camera at the lowest possible price
- You're a vlogger or content creator just starting out
- Note: EF-M mount is discontinued — consider the EOS R50 for a future-proof system
Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021)
- You're a committed DSLR photographer with significant investment in Pentax glass
- You shoot in extreme weather conditions and place build quality and reliability above everything
- You prefer optical viewfinder performance and want the best modern APS-C DSLR available
ZV-1 II (2023)
- You create vlog content solo and want reliable face tracking in a genuinely portable camera
- You want a wide zoom range for shooting variety without ever changing lenses
- You want clearly better image quality and stabilisation than a smartphone, simply packaged
Quick take: The pentax k-3 mark iii has the highest resolution at 26mp; the eos m50 ii is the most affordable; only the pentax k-3 mark iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS M50 II (2020) | Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021) | ZV-1 II (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £449 | £1,699 | £649 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP APS-C CMOS | 25.7MP APS-C BSI CMOS (AA-filterless) | 20.1MP 1-inch Exmor RS CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 25.7MP | 20.1MP |
| Video | 4K/25p (cropped), 1080p/60p | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF, 143 AF points, eye detection | SAFOX 13 phase-detect, 101-point (25 cross-type) | Phase-detect + contrast, 315 points, Real-time Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | 5.5-stop 5-axis IBIS (Shake Reduction III) | Optical SteadyShot (OIS) |
| Burst Rate | 10fps | 12fps | 15fps |
| Battery Life | ~305 shots (CIPA) | 800 shots (CIPA) | ~260 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 387g body only | 820g body only | 292g |
| Dimensions | 116.3 × 88.1 × 58.7mm | 134.5 × 103.5 × 73.5mm | 105.5 × 60.0 × 43.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.39× | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 1.05× magnification | None |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Pentax KF-mount | Fixed zoom — 18–50mm f/1.8–4.0 equiv |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB Micro-B, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, micro HDMI | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic input |
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