Upgrade Guide
Pentax KF→Pentax K-3 II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the KF. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the K-3 II
-
Burst rate8.3fps vs 6fps
-
Battery life~720 shots (CIPA) vs ~410 shots (CIPA)
Unchanged or similar
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ResolutionSimilar (24MP)
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 | KF | K-3 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -0.1 | ||
| Street | -0.6 | ||
| Travel | -0.3 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +1.3 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Documentary | +0.4 | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.9 | ||
| Landscape | -0.3 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.3 | ||
| Casual | -1.2 | ||
| Food | -1.4 | ||
| Macro | -1.0 | ||
| Architecture | -0.5 | ||
| Astrophotography | +1.3 | ||
| Fun & simple | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | KF | K-3 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £849 | £185 used | |
| Released | 2022 | 2015 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS | 24.35MP APS-C CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 24MP | ↑ |
| Video | 1080p/60p | Full HD 1080/60i, 30p | |
| Autofocus | SAFOX 13 phase-detect AF with 11 points | SAFOX 11 phase-detect AF, 27 points (25 cross-type) | |
| Stabilisation | In-body Shake Reduction (SR II), up to 5.5 stops | Sensor-shift Shake Reduction, 4.5 stops | |
| Burst Rate | 6fps | 8.3fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~410 shots (CIPA) | ~720 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 643g (body only) | 785g (with battery) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentamirror, 0.95× magnification, ~100% coverage | Pentaprism, ~100%, 0.95x | |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating LCD, 1.04M dots (no touch) | 3.2" fixed LCD, 1.04M dots | |
| Mount | Pentax KF-mount | Pentax KAF2 (K-mount) | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual SD slots |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See KF and K-3 II 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 K-3 II against your specific genres — not just specs.
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