• APS-C 357.3mm2
  • 20.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 16,000
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200

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Differences

Sony A3000 advantages over Pentax K-3

  • Less expensive
    $400 vs $1150 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Lighter weight
    616g vs 1240g
    Lighter weight

Pentax K-3 advantages over Sony A3000

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Fast startup
    ~0.90 vs 2.2 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Higher effective ISO
    1,216 vs 1,068 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More telephoto lens reach
    203 mm vs 83 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • HDMI out
    HDMI out vs None
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Higher-res screen
    346k vs 77k pixels
    More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
  • Less shutter lag
    0.14 vs 0.28 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.63x vs 0.47x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    24.4 vs 20.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Optional anti-aliasing filter
    Optional vs Fixed
    Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    7.1 fps vs 3.5 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    75 vs 11 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 16000 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Focus peaking
    Both provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • 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
  • 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

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Pentax K-3

Review Excerpt

  • Absolutely incredible value; Includes a stabilized kit lens; More versatile than a fixed-lens bridge camera; Comfortable body with good ergonomics; Great image quality; Good autofocus performance; Decent battery life.

  • Feels a bit plasticky; Slow burst shooting with limited buffer; Sluggish to power on or switch modes; Low-res EVF and LCD monitor; Can't review images using EVF; No video output; Weak flash; Battery charges in-camera.

  • 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

The Competition

Compared to Pentax K-01

Sony A3000
Pentax K-01
  • $500
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
Pentax K-3
Pentax K-01
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Fast startup
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to Nikon D7100

Sony A3000
Nikon D7100
  • $500
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $810
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup
Pentax K-3
Nikon D7100
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $810
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Longer stills battery life

Compared to Nikon D7200

Sony A3000
Nikon D7200
  • $500
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $1016
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup
Pentax K-3
Nikon D7200
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1016
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Built-in Wi-Fi

Compared to Sigma sd Quattro

Sony A3000
Sigma sd Quattro
  • $500
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • On-sensor phase detect
  • HDMI out
Pentax K-3
Sigma sd Quattro
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • On-sensor phase detect
  • More dots on screen

Compared to Canon EOS M5

Sony A3000
Canon EOS M5
  • $500
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $787
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • Tiltable Screen
Pentax K-3
Canon EOS M5
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
  • $787
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • Tiltable Screen
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