D850vs Pentax K-3 Mark III
Nikon
D850 (2017)
From £2199
Best for Landscape, wildlife & professional studio photography
View D850
Pentax
Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021)
From £1699
Best for DSLR enthusiasts & outdoor photographers
View Pentax K-3 Mark III
Which should you buy?
Landscape, Wildlife & Professional Studio Photography — D850 (2017): The finest DSLR ever made — 45MP, 9fps, and nearly 2000 shots per charge in a body that still outperforms most mirrorless cameras for battery life.
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
D850 (2017)
- Nikon F-mount lens owners who want the highest resolution DSLR before switching to mirrorless
- Landscape and wildlife photographers who value the optical viewfinder and outstanding battery life
- Professional photographers who need 45MP resolution without the price of a medium format system
- Photojournalists and event photographers with a large F-mount lens investment
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 d850 has the highest resolution at 46mp; the pentax k-3 mark iii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | D850 (2017) | Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,199 | £1,699 |
| Sensor | 45.7MP full-frame BSI-CMOS | 25.7MP APS-C BSI CMOS (AA-filterless) |
| Resolution | 45.7MP | 25.7MP |
| Video | 4K UHD/30p, 1080p/120p | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | 153-point AF system (99 cross-type) — Multi-CAM 20K | SAFOX 13 phase-detect, 101-point (25 cross-type) |
| Stabilisation | None (relies on VR lenses) | 5.5-stop 5-axis IBIS (Shake Reduction III) |
| Burst Rate | 9fps (7fps with tilt screen AF) | 12fps |
| Battery Life | ~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstanding | 800 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 915g body only | 820g body only |
| Dimensions | 146 × 124 × 78.5mm | 134.5 × 103.5 × 73.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism — 0.75× magnification, 100% coverage | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 1.05× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon F mount | Pentax KF-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots — XQD and SD UHS-II | Dual SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB 3.0, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | D850 | Pentax K-3 Mark III |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Sports & Action | — |
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