Upgrade Guide
Pentax Pentax K-3 Mark III→Pentax Pentax K-1 Mark II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Situational
One clear hardware improvement over the Pentax K-3 Mark III. Worth it if that specific upgrade aligns with what you shoot.
What's new in the Pentax K-1 Mark II
-
Resolution36MP vs 26MP (+11MP)
Unchanged or similar
-
StabilisationIBIS not present in new body
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 | Pentax K-3 Mark III | Pentax K-1 Mark II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.1 | ||
| Street | -0.3 | ||
| Travel | -0.5 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -0.3 | ||
| Filmmaking | — | ||
| Documentary | -0.9 | ||
| Sports & Action | -1.5 | ||
| Landscape | +0.8 | ||
| Wildlife | -1.2 | ||
| Casual | -1.0 | ||
| Food | +0.6 | ||
| Macro | +0.4 | ||
| Architecture | +0.9 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.8 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Pentax K-3 Mark III | Pentax K-1 Mark II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,699 | £1,899 | |
| Released | 2021 | 2018 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 25.7MP APS-C BSI CMOS (AA-filterless) | 36.4MP full-frame CMOS (no AA filter) | |
| Resolution | 26MP | 36MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p | 1080p only, no 4K | |
| Autofocus | SAFOX 13 phase-detect, 101-point (25 cross-type) | SAFOX 12, 33-point DSLR phase-detect AF | |
| Stabilisation | 5.5-stop 5-axis IBIS (Shake Reduction III) | 5-axis Shake Reduction II (in-body) | |
| Burst Rate | 12fps | 4.4fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | 800 shots (CIPA) | 670 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 820g (body only) | 1010g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 1.05× magnification | Optical pentaprism, 0.7x magnification, 100% coverage | |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed touchscreen | Multi-axis tilting screen (up/down/side), no touchscreen | |
| Mount | Pentax KF-mount | Pentax KAF2 (K-mount) | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II | Dual SD (UHS-I) |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See Pentax K-3 Mark III and Pentax K-1 Mark II next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the Pentax K-1 Mark II against your specific genres — not just specs.
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