Q3 43vs Pentax K-3 Mark III
Leica
Q3 43 (2024)
Starting from £6995 new
Best for Documentary, portrait & reportage photography
View Q3 43
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?
Documentary, Portrait & Reportage Photography — Q3 43 (2024): The Q3 with the most human lens — 43mm, 60MP, and Leica rendering at its most natural and versatile.
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
Q3 43 (2024)
- Portrait and documentary photographers who find 28mm too wide and 50mm too tight
- Q3 owners who prefer a natural 43mm perspective over the iconic 28mm Summilux
- Reportage photographers who want the discreet Q3 form factor with a more intimate focal length
- Leica system users who want a fixed-lens body that excels across multiple genres
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 q3 43 has the highest resolution at 60mp; the pentax k-3 mark iii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Q3 43 (2024) | Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £6,995 | £1,699 |
| Sensor | 60MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 25.7MP APS-C BSI CMOS (AA-filterless) |
| Resolution | 60.0MP | 25.7MP |
| Video | 8K/30p, 4K/60p 10-bit — L-Log | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF with face and eye detection | SAFOX 13 phase-detect, 101-point (25 cross-type) |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS (combined with OIS) | 5.5-stop 5-axis IBIS (Shake Reduction III) |
| Burst Rate | 15fps electronic | 12fps |
| Battery Life | ~350 shots (CIPA) | 800 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 743g body only | 820g body only |
| Dimensions | 130.0 × 80.3 × 91.1mm | 134.5 × 103.5 × 73.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.79× 5.76M-dot OLED | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 1.05× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.84M dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Fixed Summicron-M 43mm f/2 ASPH (43mm — closest to human field of view) | Pentax KF-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single UHS-II SD slot | Dual SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth 5.0 | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Q3 43 | Pentax K-3 Mark III |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Street | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Sports | — | |
| 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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Camera family history