Pentax K-3 Mark IIIvs A7 V
Pentax
Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021)
Starting from £1699 new
Best for DSLR enthusiasts & outdoor photographers
View Pentax K-3 Mark III
VS
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.
Portrait, Wedding, Travel, Video — A7 V (2024): The definitive full-frame mirrorless. Hard to argue for anything else at this price.
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
A7 V (2024)
- A7 III or A7 IV owners ready for a meaningful upgrade
- Photographers who want one camera to cover everything
Quick take: The a7 v has the highest resolution at 33mp; 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) | A7 V (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,699 | £2,799 |
| Sensor | 25.7MP APS-C BSI CMOS (AA-filterless) | Full-frame BSI-CMOS 35mm, partially stacked |
| Resolution | 25.7MP | 33.0MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p | 4K 60fps 10-bit |
| Autofocus | SAFOX 13 phase-detect, 101-point (25 cross-type) | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition (human, animal, bird, insect, vehicle) |
| Stabilisation | 5.5-stop 5-axis IBIS (Shake Reduction III) | 5-axis IBIS, 8.0 stops |
| Burst Rate | 12fps | 10fps mechanical, 20fps electronic |
| Battery Life | 800 shots (CIPA) | 760 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 820g body only | 514g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 134.5 × 103.5 × 73.5mm | 131.3 × 96.4 × 70.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 1.05× magnification | EVF 0.90× 9.44M-dot |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.44M-dot |
| Mount | Pentax KF-mount | Sony E-Mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II | 2× SD UHS-II / CFexpress Type A |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 6GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Pentax K-3 Mark III | A7 V |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — |
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