Pentax K-3 Mark IIIvs A1
Pentax
Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021)
Starting from £1699 new
Best for DSLR enthusiasts & outdoor photographers
View Pentax K-3 Mark III
Sony
A1 (2021)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Professional sport, wildlife, portrait & hybrid shooting
View A1
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.
Professional Sport, Wildlife, Portrait & Hybrid Shooting — A1 (2021): 50MP, 30fps, 8K — the Sony A1 is the most complete professional camera ever made.
Who should buy what
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
A1 (2021)
- Professional photographers who need resolution and speed without compromise
- Sports and wildlife photographers demanding the absolute fastest Sony
- Studio and fashion photographers who also shoot sport or events
- A9 III or A7R V owners who want a single body that does everything
Quick take: The a1 has the highest resolution at 50mp; the pentax k-3 mark iii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021) | A1 (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,699 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 25.7MP APS-C BSI CMOS (AA-filterless) | 50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 25.7MP | 50.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p | 8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | SAFOX 13 phase-detect, 101-point (25 cross-type) | Real-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points |
| Stabilisation | 5.5-stop 5-axis IBIS (Shake Reduction III) | IBIS — up to 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 12fps | 30fps electronic with full AF/AE |
| Battery Life | 800 shots (CIPA) | ~430 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 820g body only | 737g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 134.5 × 103.5 × 73.5mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 1.05× magnification | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Pentax KF-mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Pentax K-3 Mark III | A1 |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Wedding | — |
More comparisons with Pentax K-3 Mark III
Camera family history