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EOS M5vs Pentax K-3 Mark III

GearFrame · Updated March 2026

Canon EOS M5 Canon EOS M5 (2016) Starting from £350 new Best for Travel & Portrait View EOS M5
VS
Pentax Pentax K-3 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?

Travel & Portrait — EOS M5 (2016): The EOS M5 was the first EF-M camera with a built-in EVF — and it made the system feel complete. Fast Dual Pixel AF, a 9fps burst, and a high-resolution articulating screen deliver a confident shooting experience. No IBIS and 1080p video only limit its appeal for hybrid work, but for stills photographers it remains one of the most well-rounded EF-M bodies available.

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.

↓ Full specifications below

EOS M5 (2016)

  • Enthusiast photographers who want an EVF in a compact EF-M body
  • Photographers switching from DSLR who want familiar handling
  • Portrait and travel photographers who value fast AF and good ergonomics
  • Used-market buyers wanting a capable EF-M stills camera

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 m5 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 M5 (2016)Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021)
Price £350 £1,699
Sensor 24.2MP APS-C CMOS (Dual Pixel) 25.7MP APS-C BSI CMOS (AA-filterless)
Resolution 24.2MP 25.7MP
Video 1080p/60p 4K/30p, 1080p/60p
Autofocus Dual Pixel CMOS AF with face detection SAFOX 13 phase-detect, 101-point (25 cross-type)
Stabilisation 5.5-stop 5-axis IBIS (Shake Reduction III)
Burst Rate 9fps 12fps
Battery Life ~295 shots (CIPA) 800 shots (CIPA)
Weight 427g (body only) 820g body only
Dimensions 116.2 × 88.1 × 60.6mm 134.5 × 103.5 × 73.5mm
Weather Sealed No Yes
Viewfinder Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.39" type Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 1.05× magnification
Screen 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.62M dots 3.2" tilting touchscreen
Mount Canon EF-M mount Pentax KF-mount
Memory Cards Single SD UHS-I slot Dual SD UHS-II
Connectivity USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Genre EOS M5Pentax K-3 Mark III
Travel
8.0
7.0
Portrait
8.0
7.0
Street
8.0
Casual
8.0
Landscape
7.5
9.0
Sports & Action
6.5
9.0
Vlogging & Video
5.5
4.0
Wildlife
9.0

GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →

⚡ Compare specs side by side EOS M5 prices → Pentax K-3 Mark III prices →

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