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Pentax K-1 Mark II vs K-3 II
Quick take: The Pentax K-1 Mark II has the highest resolution at 36MP; the K-3 II is the most affordable.
16 specs side by side·13 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
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.
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Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | Pentax K-1 Mark IIPentax · 2018 | K-3 IIPentax · 2015 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,899 | £185 usedBest |
| Sensor | 36.4MP full-frame CMOS (no AA filter) | 24.35MP APS-C CMOS |
| Resolution | 36.4MPBest | 24.4MP |
| Video | 1080p only, no 4K | Full HD 1080/60i, 30p |
| Autofocus | SAFOX 12, 33-point DSLR phase-detect AF | SAFOX 11 phase-detect AF, 27 points (25 cross-type) |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis Shake Reduction II (in-body) | Sensor-shift Shake Reduction, 4.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 4.4fps | 8.3fpsBest |
| Battery Life | 670 shots (CIPA) | ~720 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 1010g (with battery and card) | 785g (with battery)Best |
| Dimensions | — | 131.5 × 102.5 × 77.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 0.7x magnification, 100% coverage | Pentaprism, ~100%, 0.95x |
| Screen | Multi-axis tilting screen (up/down/side), no touchscreen | 3.2" fixed LCD, 1.04M dots |
| Mount | Pentax KAF2 (K-mount) | Pentax KAF2 (K-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD (UHS-I) | Dual SD slots |
| Connectivity | USB, HDMI, Wi-Fi | USB 3.0, micro HDMI, mic + headphone, cable switch, PC sync, GPS |
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
Pentax K-1 Mark II
K-3 II
Portrait
6.7/10
6.0/10
Street
4.9/10
4.9/10
Travel
4.9/10
5.0/10
Wedding & Events
6.7/10
6.3/10
Documentary
5.5/10
5.4/10
Sports & Action
5.3/10
6.2/10
Landscape
7.0/10
5.8/10
Wildlife
5.6/10
6.3/10
Casual
3.3/10
3.1/10
Food
6.0/10
4.5/10
Macro
5.3/10
4.4/10
Architecture
6.9/10
5.5/10
Astrophotography
7.3/10
6.1/10
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 →
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