Pentax K-3 Mark IIIvs A6500
Pentax
Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021)
Starting from £1699 new
Best for DSLR enthusiasts & outdoor photographers
View Pentax K-3 Mark III
Sony
A6500 (2016)
Starting from £649 new
Best for Travel, street & versatile everyday photography
View A6500
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.
Travel, Street & Versatile Everyday Photography — A6500 (2016): The first Sony APS-C with IBIS — the A6500 added in-body stabilisation, touch AF, and a far deeper buffer to the A6300's already strong formula.
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
A6500 (2016)
- Travel photographers who want IBIS in a compact weather-sealed E-mount body
- A6300 owners who need the stabilisation or touch AF the A6300 lacked
- Street and documentary photographers who want a capable compact with weather sealing
- Sony E-mount shooters looking for a capable used body at an accessible price
Quick take: The pentax k-3 mark iii has the highest resolution at 26mp; the a6500 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021) | A6500 (2016) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,699 | £649 |
| Sensor | 25.7MP APS-C BSI CMOS (AA-filterless) | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 25.7MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p | 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | SAFOX 13 phase-detect, 101-point (25 cross-type) | 425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection |
| Stabilisation | 5.5-stop 5-axis IBIS (Shake Reduction III) | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 12fps | 11fps |
| Battery Life | 800 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 820g body only | 453g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 134.5 × 103.5 × 73.5mm | 120.0 × 66.9 × 53.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 1.05× magnification | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Pentax KF-mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Pentax K-3 Mark III | A6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | — | |
| Wildlife | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Street | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history