Pentax
Pentax K-3 Mark III 2021
Best for DSLR enthusiasts & outdoor photographers
£1699
list price · used from £856 at eBay
Decision tools · Compare
Pentax K-3 Mark III vs A1 II
Quick take: The A1 II has the highest resolution at 50MP; the Pentax K-3 Mark III is the most affordable.
16 specs side by side·15 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.
Sony
A1 II 2024
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & high-resolution studio work
£5699
new today at Clifton Cameras
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
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.
A1 II — Professional Sports, Wildlife & High-Resolution Studio Work: 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)
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
A1 II (2024)
is the right camera for you if…
- 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
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | Pentax K-3 Mark IIIPentax · 2021 | A1 IISony · 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,699Best | £5,699 |
| Sensor | 25.7MP APS-C BSI CMOS (AA-filterless) | 50.1MP full-frame stacked BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 25.7MP | 50.1MPBest |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p | 8K/30p, 4K/120p 10-bit, S-Log3 |
| 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 mechanicalBest |
| Battery Life | 800 shots (CIPA)Best | ~530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 820g (body only) | 743g (body only)Best |
| 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" fixed 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 |
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
A1 II
Portrait
6.6/10
9.0/10
Street
5.2/10
6.6/10
Travel
5.5/10
6.6/10
Wedding & Events
7.0/10
8.7/10
Filmmaking
5.4/10
8.2/10
Documentary
6.4/10
8.3/10
Sports & Action
6.8/10
9.3/10
Landscape
6.2/10
8.0/10
Wildlife
6.8/10
9.2/10
Casual
4.3/10
5.3/10
Food
5.4/10
8.5/10
Macro
4.9/10
8.1/10
Architecture
6.0/10
8.4/10
Astrophotography
6.5/10
7.2/10
Vlogging & Video
—
6.6/10
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 →
Next
More comparisons with Pentax K-3 Mark III
Camera family history