Canon 1D Mark IV vs Pentax K-3 II

Cameras
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Canon 1D Mark IV vs Pentax K-3 II

APS-H 518.9mm²
16.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Canon 1D Mark IV Review.
See real-world photos taken with the 1D Mark IV.

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 51,200

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-3 II Review.
How does it shoot? Pentax K-3 II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the K-3 II.
Compare Pentax K-3 II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Pentax K-3 II conclusion.

Succeeded by the Pentax K-3 III
Compare K-3 II vs K-3 III
Compare Canon 1D Mark IV vs Pentax K-3 III

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Differences

Canon 1D Mark IV advantages over Pentax K-3 II

Larger sensor
APS-H vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 5.70 vs 3.91 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~0.40 vs 1.2 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
1D Mark IV test data on DxO Mark K-3 II test data on DxO Mark

1,320 vs 1,106 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

1500 vs 720 shots
Capture more photos
More cross-type AF points
39 vs 25
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
More AF points
45 vs 27
More AF points improve autofocus
Faster JPEG shooting
9.9 fps vs 8.1 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
102400 vs 51200 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Pentax K-3 II advantages over Canon 1D Mark IV

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
High resolution composite
Yes vs No
Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
More dynamic range

More dynamic range

Cameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.

Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.

Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
K-3 II test data on DxO Mark 1D Mark IV test data on DxO Mark

13.6 vs 11.9 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
Newer
9 years vs 14 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Lighter weight
785g vs 1390g
Lighter weight
More viewfinder magnification
0.63x vs 0.58x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
24.4 vs 16.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
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

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
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-3 II User Reviews

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Review Excerpt

Read our Canon 1D Mark IV Full Review

Top-notch image quality; Spectacular detail from Pixel Shift Resolution; Better performance than K-3; Geotag images with no accessories; Great ergonomics in a compact body; Clever on-demand low-pass filtering; Broad sensitivity range; Large and bright viewfinder for an APS-C camera; Dual card slots
No built-in flash strobe; No wireless flash support out of the box; AstroTracer function can be finicky; AE Lock button is poorly located; Below-average battery life for a prosumer DSLR; Requires a different battery grip accessory than its predecessors
Read our Pentax K-3 II Review

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D3X

Canon 1D Mark IV

Nikon D3X

$2795
APS-H

Less expensive
More cross-type AF points

$2500
35mm

Larger sensor
Fast startup

Compare Canon 1D Mark IV vs Nikon D3X

Pentax K-3 II

Nikon D3X

$830
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$2500
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Pentax K-3 II vs Nikon D3X

Compared to Nikon D3S

Canon 1D Mark IV

Nikon D3S

$2795
APS-H

External Mic Jack
Shoots 1080p video

$5200
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon 1D Mark IV vs Nikon D3S

Pentax K-3 II

Nikon D3S

$830
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$5200
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Pentax K-3 II vs Nikon D3S

Compared to Nikon D4

Canon 1D Mark IV

Nikon D4

$2795
APS-H

More cross-type AF points
Less shutter lag

$4500
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon 1D Mark IV vs Nikon D4

Pentax K-3 II

Nikon D4

$830
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$4500
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Pentax K-3 II vs Nikon D4

Compared to Canon T6i

Canon 1D Mark IV

Canon T6i

$2795
APS-H

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$549
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Canon 1D Mark IV vs Canon T6i

Pentax K-3 II

Canon T6i

$830
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$549
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Pentax K-3 II vs Canon T6i

Compared to Pentax KP

Canon 1D Mark IV

Pentax KP

$2795
APS-H

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$999
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon 1D Mark IV vs Pentax KP

Pentax K-3 II

Pentax KP

$830
APS-C

Less expensive
Built-in GPS

$999
APS-C

Tiltable Screen
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Pentax K-3 II vs Pentax KP

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