Pentax K-3 Mark IIIvs A1 II
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 II (2025)
Starting from £6500 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & high-resolution studio work
View A1 II
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 Sports, Wildlife & High-Resolution Studio Work — A1 II (2025): The most complete camera ever made — 50MP, 30fps, 8K, and the world's best EVF in a single flagship body.
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 II (2025)
- Professional sports and wildlife photographers who need 30fps, 50MP, and the best AF available
- Commercial and advertising photographers who demand 50MP resolution alongside pro video specs
- Photojournalists who need a single body capable of handling every assignment
- Sony system shooters ready to invest in the absolute best
Quick take: The a1 ii 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 II (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,699 | £6,500 |
| Sensor | 25.7MP APS-C BSI CMOS (AA-filterless) | 50.1MP full-frame stacked BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 25.7MP | 50.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p | 8K/30p, 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/240p super slow-motion |
| Autofocus | SAFOX 13 phase-detect, 101-point (25 cross-type) | AI subject recognition — human, animal, bird, insect, vehicle, aircraft, train |
| Stabilisation | 5.5-stop 5-axis IBIS (Shake Reduction III) | 8.5-stop IBIS (with in-lens OSS) |
| Burst Rate | 12fps | 30fps electronic (with full AF/AE), 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | 800 shots (CIPA) | ~530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 820g body only | 743g body only |
| Dimensions | 134.5 × 103.5 × 73.5mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 1.05× magnification | EVF 0.9× 9.44M-dot — the highest resolution EVF available |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 2.1M dots |
| Mount | Pentax KF-mount | Sony E-mount (full-frame) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 6GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI full-size |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Pentax K-3 Mark III | A1 II |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with Pentax K-3 Mark III
Camera family history