EOS-1D X Mark IIIvs Pentax K-3 Mark III
Canon
EOS-1D X Mark III (2020)
Starting from £3500 new
Best for Professional Sports, Wildlife & Press Photography
View EOS-1D X Mark III
Pentax
Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021)
Starting from £1699 new
Best for DSLR enthusiasts & outdoor photographers
View Pentax K-3 Mark III
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Professional Sports, Wildlife & Press Photography — EOS-1D X Mark III (2020): Canon's DSLR masterpiece — 20fps live view, 5.5K RAW, 191 cross-type AF points, and dual CFexpress. Almost certainly the finest optical viewfinder camera ever made.
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.
Who should buy what
EOS-1D X Mark III (2020)
- Sports and wildlife photographers with a Canon EF lens collection
- Professionals who prefer the optical viewfinder experience
- Press photographers who need 20fps, weather sealing, and Ethernet
- Canon historians who want to mark the end of the EOS-1D DSLR era
Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021)
- DSLR photographers who want the finest APS-C optical viewfinder experience
- Outdoor and weather photographers who need robust all-weather sealing
- Pentax lens owners who want to use their existing K-mount glass
- Photographers who prefer optical viewfinders and refuse to switch to mirrorless
Quick take: The pentax k-3 mark iii has the highest resolution at 26mp; the pentax k-3 mark iii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS-1D X Mark III (2020) | Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £3,500 | £1,699 |
| Sensor | 20.1MP full-frame CMOS | 25.7MP APS-C BSI CMOS (AA-filterless) |
| Resolution | 20.1MP | 25.7MP |
| Video | 5.5K RAW, 4K 60fps (crop), 4K 60fps (full-frame via firmware) | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | 191-point all cross-type OVF AF; 525-point Dual Pixel CMOS AF (Live View) | SAFOX 13 phase-detect, 101-point (25 cross-type) |
| Stabilisation | — | 5.5-stop 5-axis IBIS (Shake Reduction III) |
| Burst Rate | 16fps mechanical, 20fps live view | 12fps |
| Battery Life | ~2850 shots (CIPA) | 800 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1250g (body only) | 820g body only |
| Dimensions | 158 × 167.6 × 82.6mm | 134.5 × 103.5 × 73.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | OVF 0.76× magnification, 100% coverage | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 1.05× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 4.15M dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon EF | Pentax KF-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type B slots | Dual SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth 4.2, USB-C 3.1 Gen 2, Ethernet | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS-1D X Mark III | Pentax K-3 Mark III |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Street | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Travel | — |
More comparisons with EOS-1D X Mark III
Camera family history