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 A6500
Quick take: The Pentax K-3 Mark III has the highest resolution at 26MP; the A6500 is the most affordable.
16 specs side by side·14 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
A6500 2016
Best for Travel, street & versatile everyday photography
£649
list price · used from £401 at eBay
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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.
A6500 — Travel, Street & Versatile Everyday Photography: 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)
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
A6500 (2016)
is the right camera for you if…
- 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
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | Pentax K-3 Mark IIIPentax · 2021 | A6500Sony · 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,699 | £649Best |
| Sensor | 25.7MP APS-C BSI CMOS (AA-filterless) | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 25.7MPBest | 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 | 12fpsBest | 11fps |
| Battery Life | 800 shots (CIPA)Best | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 820g (body only) | 453g (with battery and card)Best |
| 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" fixed touchscreen | 3.0" tilting 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 |
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
A6500
Portrait
6.6/10
6.6/10
Street
5.2/10
7.1/10
Travel
5.5/10
6.6/10
Wedding & Events
7.0/10
5.2/10
Filmmaking
5.4/10
5.1/10
Documentary
6.4/10
5.8/10
Sports & Action
6.8/10
6.6/10
Landscape
6.2/10
5.5/10
Wildlife
6.8/10
7.3/10
Casual
4.3/10
4.8/10
Food
5.4/10
6.3/10
Macro
4.9/10
5.7/10
Architecture
6.0/10
5.4/10
Astrophotography
6.5/10
5.3/10
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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