• APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200
  • 35mm 864.0mm2
  • 50.6 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 6400

Buy From

Differences

Pentax K-3 advantages over Canon 5DS R

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Less shutter lag
    0.14 vs 0.27 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Optional anti-aliasing filter
    Optional vs None
    Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    7.1 fps vs 4.8 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    75 vs 28 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    7.1 fps vs 4.9 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    24 vs 15 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 12800 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Canon 5DS R advantages over Pentax K-3

  • Larger sensor
    35mm vs APS-C
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Fast startup
    ~0.50 vs 0.9 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Higher effective ISO
    2,308 vs 1,216 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 700 vs 560 shots
    Capture more photos
  • More cross-type AF points
    41 vs 25
    Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.71x vs 0.63x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    50.6 vs 24.4 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • More AF points
    61 vs 27
    More AF points improve autofocus

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Top deck display
    Both provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • External Mic Jack
    Both provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Pentaprism viewfinder
    Both provide
    Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Dual card slots
    Both provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Neither provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • Top-notch image quality; Great ergonomics in a compact body; Unique on-demand low-pass filtering; Broad sensitivity range; Large and bright viewfinder for an APS-C camera; Dual card slots; Optional Wi-Fi remote control

  • AE Lock button is poorly located; Below-average battery life for a DSLR; Rather dated-looking menu system; Requires a different battery grip accessory than its predecessors; Less third-party support than some rivals

  • Phenomenal resolution and sharpness; Fine Detail Picture Style is like in-camera Unsharp Mask; Excellent print quality; Decent high ISO performance; Improved normalized dynamic range compared to 5D Mark III; Decent burst speed with good buffer depths; Built-in intervalometer & timelapse movie mode.

  • AF speed tested closer to consumer-level DSLRs; Dynamic range lower than competing models from Nikon & Sony; Lack of OLPF means subject to more aliasing artifacts with some subjects; No 60p video frame rate; No headphone jack; Timelapse video is only 1080p.

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D7100

Pentax K-3
Nikon D7100
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $695
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Longer stills battery life
Canon 5DS R
Nikon D7100
  • $1729
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $695
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup

Compared to Nikon D5300

Pentax K-3
Nikon D5300
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Fast startup
Canon 5DS R
Nikon D5300
  • $1729
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen

Compared to Nikon D810

Pentax K-3
Nikon D810
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $2363
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
Canon 5DS R
Nikon D810
  • $1729
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • More cross-type AF points
  • $2363
  • 35mm
  • Bigger pixels
  • Higher effective ISO

Compared to Canon 5DS

Pentax K-3
Canon 5DS
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1299
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Fast startup
Canon 5DS R
Canon 5DS
  • $1729
  • 35mm
  • Lacks anti-aliasing filter
  • $1299
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Has anti-aliasing filter

Compared to Nikon D7200

Pentax K-3
Nikon D7200
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1043
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
Canon 5DS R
Nikon D7200
  • $1729
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Larger sensor
  • $1043
  • APS-C
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • NFC
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