• APS-C 323.4mm2
  • 12.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 16.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 12,800

Buy From

Differences

Canon T3 advantages over Pentax K-01

  • Less expensive
    $600 vs $900 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Fast startup
    ~0.30 vs 2.4 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 700 vs 500 shots
    Capture more photos
  • More telephoto lens reach
    88 mm vs 61 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Less shutter lag
    0.31 vs 0.80 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • Wider angle kit lens
    29 mm vs 61 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    17 vs 9 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Pentax K-01 advantages over Canon T3

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs APS-C
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Higher effective ISO
    1,135 vs 755 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    12.9 vs 11.0 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • Thinner
    58 mm vs 77 mm
    Thinner
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More dots on screen
    921k vs 230k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • More pixels
    16.3 vs 12.2 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    5.9 fps vs 2.9 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 6400 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • 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
  • 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
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • Well-considered ergonomics and control layout; Solid build; Good image quality; Great battery life; High-def movie capture.

  • Frame rate and burst depth not the best, especially for raw; Weak flash for an SLR; No sensor cleaning function; No spot metering.

  • Very good image quality and excellent high ISO performance. Premium build quality. In-body image stabilization. Lots of creative features. Full HD movie capture with manual exposure control.

  • Barely any smaller than a standard SLR, but lacks viewfinder and phase-detect autofocus. Contrast-detect AF is slow and unreliable. Body design is clumsy and uncomfortable. Very slow raw burst shooting.

The Competition

Compared to Sony DSLR-A230

Canon T3
Sony DSLR-A230
  • $199
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
Pentax K-01
Sony DSLR-A230
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compared to Nikon D3100

Canon T3
Nikon D3100
  • $199
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Higher effective ISO
Pentax K-01
Nikon D3100
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compared to Fujifilm X-Pro1

Canon T3
Fujifilm X-Pro1
  • $199
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Lens selection
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Pentax K-01
Fujifilm X-Pro1
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • In-camera panoramas

Compared to Samsung NX20

Canon T3
Samsung NX20
  • $199
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Bigger pixels
  • $400
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Tiltable Screen
Pentax K-01
Samsung NX20
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $400
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Tiltable Screen

Compared to Sony A37

Canon T3
Sony A37
  • $199
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Pentax K-01
Sony A37
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Eye-level viewfinder
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