Pentax
Pentax K-3 Mark III 2021
Best for DSLR enthusiasts & outdoor photographers
£1050
used today at eBay
Decision tools · Compare
Pentax K-3 Mark III vs KF
Quick take: The Pentax K-3 Mark III has the highest resolution at 26MP; the KF is the most affordable.
Where the Pentax K-3 Mark III wins
- Resolution: 25.7MP
- Burst Rate: 12fps
- Battery Life: 800 shots (CIPA)
- Portrait: 6.6 vs 6.1
- Wedding & Events: 7.0 vs 5.0
Where the KF wins
- Cheaper new: £849 vs £1,050
- Weight: 643g (body only)
- Food: 5.9 vs 5.4
- Macro: 5.4 vs 4.9
16 specs side by side·16 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
- Pentax K-3 Mark III 134 × 104 × 74 mm · 820 g
- KF 131 × 101 × 76 mm · 684 g
The KF is 3 mm narrower, 3 mm shorter, 2 mm deeper and 136 g lighter than the Pentax K-3 Mark III.
Drawn to scale from the makers' dimensions (W × H × D). Front shown, depth on the slanted edge.
Verdictwhich should you buy?
Pentax K-3 Mark III — Dslr Enthusiasts & Outdoor Photographers: The finest APS-C DSLR ever made — class-leading weather sealing, optical viewfinder, 5-axis IBIS, and extraordinary build for photographers committed to DSLR.
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
Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021)
is the right camera for you if…
- 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)
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 | Pentax K-3 Mark IIIPentax · 2021 | KFPentax · 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,050 used | £849Best |
| Sensor | 25.7MP APS-C BSI CMOS (AA-filterless) | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS |
| Resolution | 25.7MPBest | 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 | 12fpsBest | 6fps |
| Battery Life | 800 shots (CIPA)Best | ~410 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 820g (body only) | 643g (body only)Best |
| 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" fixed touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating LCD, 1.04M dots (no touch) |
| 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 |
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-3 Mark III
KF
Portrait
6.6/10
6.1/10
Street
5.2/10
5.5/10
Travel
5.3/10
5.3/10
Wedding & Events
7.0/10
5.0/10
Filmmaking
5.4/10
—
Documentary
6.4/10
5.0/10
Sports & Action
6.8/10
5.3/10
Landscape
6.2/10
6.1/10
Wildlife
6.8/10
6.0/10
Casual
4.1/10
4.3/10
Food
5.4/10
5.9/10
Macro
4.9/10
5.4/10
Architecture
6.0/10
6.0/10
Astrophotography
6.5/10
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 →
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Camera family history