Decision tools · Compare
D3X vs KF
Quick take: The D3X has the highest resolution at 24MP; the D3X is the most affordable; only the KF is weather sealed.
Where the D3X wins
- Cheaper new: £302 vs £849
- Resolution: 24.5MP
- Battery Life: ~4400 shots (CIPA)
- Wedding & Events: 6.0 vs 5.0
- Astrophotography: 5.8 vs 4.8
Where the KF wins
- Burst Rate: 6fps
- Weight: 643g (body only)
- Weather Sealed: Yes
- Street: 5.5 vs 4.0
- Travel: 5.3 vs 3.6
16 specs side by side·15 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video, Clifton Cameras, MPB, eBay and Amazon UK
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
Size comparedbody only, no lens · drawn to one scale
- D3X 160 × 157 × 88 mm · 1220 g
- KF 131 × 101 × 76 mm · 684 g
The KF is 29 mm narrower, 56 mm shorter, 12 mm slimmer and 536 g lighter than the D3X.
Drawn to scale from the makers' dimensions (W × H × D). Front shown, depth on the slanted edge.
Verdictwhich should you buy?
KF — Landscape & Outdoor: The Pentax KF is a rare thing — a weather-sealed DSLR with in-body stabilisation and an articulating screen at an accessible price. Video is modest at 1080p/60p, but for outdoor and landscape photographers who prefer optical viewfinders and want real weather sealing, the KF delivers in a format that is increasingly hard to find.
Who should buy what
KF (2022)
is the right camera for you if…
- Outdoor and landscape photographers who want weather sealing at an accessible price
- DSLR users who want IBIS and an articulating screen without switching systems
- Pentax K-mount lens collectors who want a modern body for their glass
- Photographers who prefer the natural feel of an optical viewfinder
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | D3XNikon · 2008 | KFPentax · 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £302 usedBest | £849 |
| Sensor | 24.5MP full-frame CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.5MPBest | 24.2MP |
| Video | No video | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | 51-point phase-detect AF (15 cross-type) with 3D tracking | SAFOX 13 phase-detect AF with 11 points |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | In-body Shake Reduction (SR II), up to 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 6fpsBest |
| Battery Life | ~4400 shots (CIPA)Best | ~410 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1220g (with battery) | 643g (body only)Best |
| Dimensions | 159.5 × 157 × 87.5mm | 131.0 × 101.0 × 76.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | YesBest |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.7x | Optical pentamirror, 0.95× magnification, ~100% coverage |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 921k dots | 3.0" fully articulating LCD, 1.04M dots (no touch) |
| Mount | Nikon F | Pentax KF-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual CompactFlash slots | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0, HDMI (Type A), 10-pin remote, PC sync, Wi-Fi via WT-4 | USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
D3X
KF
Portrait
5.9/10
6.1/10
Street
4.0/10
5.5/10
Travel
3.6/10
5.3/10
Wedding & Events
6.0/10
5.0/10
Documentary
3.2/10
5.0/10
Sports & Action
5.2/10
5.3/10
Landscape
4.8/10
6.1/10
Wildlife
5.1/10
6.0/10
Casual
2.3/10
4.3/10
Food
4.0/10
5.9/10
Macro
3.6/10
5.4/10
Architecture
5.0/10
6.0/10
Astrophotography
5.8/10
4.8/10
Vlogging & Video
—
4.4/10
Fun & simple
—
3.9/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
Next
More comparisons with D3X
Camera family history