• 35mm 861.6mm2
  • 36.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 204,800
  • 35mm 861.6mm2
  • 42.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 32,000

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Differences

Pentax K-1 advantages over Sony A7R III

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Fast startup
    ~1.20 vs 1.7 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Built-in GPS
    GPS vs None
    Geotag your photos
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Less shutter lag
    0.09 vs 0.25 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • Optional anti-aliasing filter
    Optional vs None
    Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
  • Higher extended ISO
    204800 vs 102400 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Sony A7R III advantages over Pentax K-1

  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Lighter weight
    657g vs 1015g
    Lighter weight
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.78x vs 0.70x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    42.4 vs 36.4 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    9.9 fps vs 4.6 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    9.2 fps vs 4.6 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    30 vs 17 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos

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
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Tiltable Screen
    Both provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Both provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • External Mic Jack
    Both provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • 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
  • Headphone jack
    Both provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • 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
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Internal flash
    Neither provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash

User reviews

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Review Excerpt

  • Unlocks the full potential of full-frame Pentax lenses; Excellent image quality; Great ergonomics and build; Very compact for full-frame; Decent performance; Fast autofocus with great low-light capabilities; Very wide sensitivity range; Bright, accurate viewfinder; Articulated LCD; Stabilization, Wi-Fi and GPS in-camera

  • No built-in flash strobe; Quite heavy compared to APS-C flagships; Somewhat soft images and blown highlights by default in JPEG mode; Warm Auto white balance indoors; Slow startup and buffer clearing; Small top-deck status display; Weak viewfinder illumination; Below-average battery life for DSLR

  • Read our Pentax K-1 Review

  • Fantastic image quality; Improved dynamic range over its predecessor; Very good high ISO performance; Much improved real-world AF performance; Class-leading burst rates, even with RAW; Improved 5-axis in-body image stabilization; Better 4K video quality; 1080/120fps video; Dual card slots; Significantly better battery life.

  • Expensive; Menus still confusing; UHS-II support only on one card slot; No optical low-pass filter means greater risk of moire; No built-in flash; Buffer clearing still slow despite UHS-II support.

  • Read our Sony A7R III Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon 5DS

Pentax K-1
Canon 5DS
  • $1800
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1299
  • 35mm
  • Fast startup
  • More cross-type AF points

Compare Pentax K-1 vs Canon 5DS

Sony A7R III
Canon 5DS
  • $2248
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1299
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Lens selection

Compare Sony A7R III vs Canon 5DS

Compared to Canon 5DS R

Pentax K-1
Canon 5DS R
  • $1800
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1699
  • 35mm
  • Fast startup
  • More cross-type AF points

Compare Pentax K-1 vs Canon 5DS R

Sony A7R III
Canon 5DS R
  • $2248
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1699
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Lens selection

Compare Sony A7R III vs Canon 5DS R

Compared to Sony A7R II

Pentax K-1
Sony A7R II
  • $1800
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • High resolution composite
  • $2898
  • 35mm
  • Shoot 4K video
  • In-camera panoramas

Compare Pentax K-1 vs Sony A7R II

Sony A7R III
Sony A7R II
  • $2248
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Touchscreen
  • $2898
  • 35mm
  • In-camera panoramas

Compare Sony A7R III vs Sony A7R II

Compared to Pentax K-1 II

Pentax K-1
Pentax K-1 II
  • $1800
  • 35mm
  • $1747
  • 35mm
  • Higher extended ISO

Compare Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-1 II

Sony A7R III
Pentax K-1 II
  • $2248
  • 35mm
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Touchscreen
  • $1747
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive

Compare Sony A7R III vs Pentax K-1 II

Compared to Nikon Z7 II

Pentax K-1
Nikon Z7 II
  • $1800
  • 35mm
  • High resolution composite
  • Built-in GPS
  • $2330
  • 35mm
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-1 vs Nikon Z7 II

Sony A7R III
Nikon Z7 II
  • $2248
  • 35mm
  • High resolution composite
  • NFC
  • $2330
  • 35mm
  • Top deck display
  • Newer

Compare Sony A7R III vs Nikon Z7 II

Compare Other Cameras?