Pentax K-3 Mark IIIvs A7R 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
A7R II (2015)
Starting from £799 new
Best for Portrait, landscape & studio photography
View A7R 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.
Portrait, Landscape & Studio Photography — A7R II (2015): The A7R II transformed the A7R series — adding IBIS, 4K video, BSI sensor tech, and phase-detect AF in one generation. A landmark Sony camera.
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
A7R II (2015)
- Landscape and architecture photographers who want 42MP with IBIS for handheld shooting
- Portrait and studio photographers who need high resolution with improved AF reliability
- Sony FE system users who want a capable high-resolution body at a used price
- A7R I owners who need the stabilisation, 4K, and improved AF the original lacked
Quick take: The a7r ii has the highest resolution at 42mp; the a7r ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021) | A7R II (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,699 | £799 |
| Sensor | 25.7MP APS-C BSI CMOS (AA-filterless) | 42.4MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS Exmor R |
| Resolution | 25.7MP | 42.4MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p | 4K/30p (S35 or full-frame), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | SAFOX 13 phase-detect, 101-point (25 cross-type) | 399 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect AF points, face detection |
| Stabilisation | 5.5-stop 5-axis IBIS (Shake Reduction III) | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 4.5 stops (first A7R with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 12fps | 5fps |
| Battery Life | 800 shots (CIPA) | ~290 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 820g body only | 625g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 134.5 × 103.5 × 73.5mm | 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 1.05× magnification | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots (no touch) |
| Mount | Pentax KF-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Pentax K-3 Mark III | A7R II |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Sports & Action | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Architecture | — |
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