Upgrade Guide
Pentax K-3 II→Pentax WG-8
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Situational
One clear hardware improvement over the K-3 II. Worth it if that specific upgrade aligns with what you shoot.
What's new in the WG-8
-
Generation7 years newer (2022 vs 2015)
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution20MP (down from 24MP — optimised for low light)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | K-3 II | WG-8 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -2.8 | ||
| Street | +0.5 | ||
| Travel | +1.0 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -3.8 | ||
| Documentary | -0.9 | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Landscape | -1.8 | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Casual | +2.3 | ||
| Food | -1.0 | ||
| Macro | -1.4 | ||
| Architecture | -2.3 | ||
| Astrophotography | -3.9 | ||
| Filmmaking | — | ||
| Underwater | — | ||
| Fun & simple | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | K-3 II | WG-8 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £185 used | £479 | |
| Released | 2015 | 2022 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.35MP APS-C CMOS | 20MP 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 20MP | ↓ |
| Video | Full HD 1080/60i, 30p | 4K | |
| Autofocus | SAFOX 11 phase-detect AF, 27 points (25 cross-type) | Contrast-detect AF | |
| Stabilisation | Sensor-shift Shake Reduction, 4.5 stops | No stabilisation | |
| Burst Rate | 8.3fps | 1fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~720 shots (CIPA) | 340 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 785g (with battery) | 242g (with battery and card) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | Pentaprism, ~100%, 0.95x | None (screen only) | |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed LCD, 1.04M dots | Fixed screen, no touch | |
| Mount | Pentax KAF2 (K-mount) | Fixed zoom lens | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD slots | Single SD (FlashAir compatible) + 27MB internal buffer |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See K-3 II and WG-8 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the WG-8 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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