EOS Mvs Pentax K-3 Mark III
Canon
EOS M (2012)
Starting from £80 new
Best for Canon mirrorless history & EF-M collectors
View EOS M
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?
Canon Mirrorless History & Ef-M Collectors — EOS M (2012): Canon's first mirrorless — a historic body that broke new ground with touch-AF and EF-M, but its sluggish contrast-detect system quickly became its Achilles heel.
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 M (2012)
- Canon shooters who want the camera that started Canon's mirrorless story
- Budget first-time mirrorless buyers who already own EF/EF-S glass
- Collectors of significant digital camera milestones
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 eos m 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 M (2012) | Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £80 | £1,699 |
| Sensor | 18MP APS-C CMOS | 25.7MP APS-C BSI CMOS (AA-filterless) |
| Resolution | 18.0MP | 25.7MP |
| Video | 1080p 30fps | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF only — notoriously slow | SAFOX 13 phase-detect, 101-point (25 cross-type) |
| Stabilisation | — | 5.5-stop 5-axis IBIS (Shake Reduction III) |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 12fps |
| Battery Life | ~230 shots (CIPA) | 800 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 262g (body only) | 820g body only |
| Dimensions | 108.6 × 66.5 × 32.3mm | 134.5 × 103.5 × 73.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None (optional EVF accessory) | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 1.05× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Pentax KF-mount |
| Memory Cards | 1× SD/SDHC/SDXC | Dual SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0 | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS M | Pentax K-3 Mark III |
|---|---|---|
| Casual | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history