Upgrade Guide
Pentax Pentax K-3 Mark III→Pentax WG-1000
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 WG-1000
-
Generation2 years newer (2023 vs 2021)
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution16MP (down from 26MP — optimised for low light)
-
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 | WG-1000 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -3.6 | ||
| Street | +0.2 | ||
| Travel | +0.5 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -4.6 | ||
| Filmmaking | — | ||
| Documentary | -2.3 | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Landscape | -2.4 | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Casual | +1.2 | ||
| Food | -2.0 | ||
| Macro | -2.0 | ||
| Architecture | -3.0 | ||
| Astrophotography | -4.2 | ||
| Underwater | — | ||
| Fun & simple | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Pentax K-3 Mark III | WG-1000 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,699 | £249 | |
| Released | 2021 | 2023 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 25.7MP APS-C BSI CMOS (AA-filterless) | 16.35MP 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS | |
| Resolution | 26MP | 16MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p | 1080p/30p | |
| Autofocus | SAFOX 13 phase-detect, 101-point (25 cross-type) | Contrast-detect AF | |
| Stabilisation | 5.5-stop 5-axis IBIS (Shake Reduction III) | No stabilisation | |
| Burst Rate | 12fps | 1fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | 800 shots (CIPA) | 300 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 820g (body only) | 220g (with battery and card) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 1.05× magnification | None (screen only) | |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed touchscreen | Fixed screen, no touch | |
| Mount | Pentax KF-mount | Fixed 4x zoom lens (27-108mm equivalent) | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II | Single SD |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See Pentax K-3 Mark III and WG-1000 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-1000 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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