MP 0.72vs Pentax K-3 Mark III
Leica
MP 0.72 (2003)
Starting from £4850 new
Best for Street, Documentary & Reportage Film Photography
View MP 0.72
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?
Street, Documentary & Reportage Film Photography — MP 0.72 (2003): The purist's Leica — a fully mechanical 35mm rangefinder with no electronics bar the meter. Still built by hand in Wetzlar. The most honest 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
MP 0.72 (2003)
- Serious film photographers who want the finest rangefinder ever made
- Street and documentary photographers who shoot Kodak Tri-X or HP5
- Leica M-mount collectors and long-term lens owners
- Photographers who value mechanical precision over electronic convenience
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 is the most affordable; only the pentax k-3 mark iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | MP 0.72 (2003) | Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,850 | £1,699 |
| Sensor | 35mm film | 25.7MP APS-C BSI CMOS (AA-filterless) |
| Resolution | — | 25.7MP |
| Video | — | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Manual focus rangefinder — coupled 0.72× viewfinder | SAFOX 13 phase-detect, 101-point (25 cross-type) |
| Stabilisation | — | 5.5-stop 5-axis IBIS (Shake Reduction III) |
| Burst Rate | ~1fps (manual film advance) | 12fps |
| Battery Life | Effectively unlimited — battery powers meter only | 800 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 600g (body only) | 820g body only |
| Dimensions | 138 × 77 × 38mm | 134.5 × 103.5 × 73.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical rangefinder, 0.72× magnification, 28–135mm framelines | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 1.05× magnification |
| Screen | None | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Leica M-mount | Pentax KF-mount |
| Memory Cards | 35mm film (ISO 25–3200 recommended) | Dual SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | None | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | MP 0.72 | Pentax K-3 Mark III |
|---|---|---|
| Street | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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