📷 Cameras 🔭 Lenses 🎒 Accessories 🏷 Brands

Pentax K-3 Mark IIIvs KF

GearFrame · Updated March 2026

Pentax Pentax K-3 Mark III Pentax Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021) Starting from £1699 new Best for DSLR enthusiasts & outdoor photographers View Pentax K-3 Mark III
VS
Pentax KF Pentax KF (2022) Starting from £700 new Best for Landscape & Outdoor View KF

GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?

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.

Landscape & Outdoor — KF (2022): 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.

↓ Full specifications below

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

KF (2022)

  • 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

Quick take: The pentax k-3 mark iii has the highest resolution at 26mp; the kf is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.

Full specifications

Specification Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021)KF (2022)
Price £1,699 £700
Sensor 25.7MP APS-C BSI CMOS (AA-filterless) 24.2MP APS-C CMOS
Resolution 25.7MP 24.2MP
Video 4K/30p, 1080p/60p 1080p/60p
Autofocus SAFOX 13 phase-detect, 101-point (25 cross-type) SAFOX 13 phase-detect AF with 11 points
Stabilisation 5.5-stop 5-axis IBIS (Shake Reduction III) In-body Shake Reduction (SR II), up to 5.5 stops
Burst Rate 12fps 6fps
Battery Life 800 shots (CIPA) ~410 shots (CIPA)
Weight 820g body only 643g (body only)
Dimensions 134.5 × 103.5 × 73.5mm 131.0 × 101.0 × 76.0mm
Weather Sealed Yes Yes
Viewfinder Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 1.05× magnification Optical pentamirror, 0.95× magnification, ~100% coverage
Screen 3.2" tilting touchscreen 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots
Mount Pentax KF-mount Pentax KF-mount
Memory Cards Dual SD UHS-II Single SD UHS-I slot
Connectivity USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Genre Pentax K-3 Mark IIIKF
Landscape
9.0
8.5
Wildlife
9.0
7.5
Sports & Action
9.0
6.0
Portrait
7.0
7.5
Travel
7.0
8.0
Vlogging & Video
4.0
4.5
Casual
7.5
Street
6.0

GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →

⚡ Compare specs side by side Pentax K-3 Mark III prices → KF prices →

More comparisons with Pentax K-3 Mark III

Camera family history