• APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 819,200

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Differences

Pentax K-3 II advantages over Pentax KP

  • Less expensive
    $830 vs $999
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Built-in GPS
    GPS vs None
    Geotag your photos
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 720 vs 390 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • HDMI out
    HDMI out vs None
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    8.1 fps vs 7.1 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    60 vs 35 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    8.2 fps vs 7.0 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    22 vs 10 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Pentax KP advantages over Pentax K-3 II

  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Faster shutter
    1/24000 vs 1/8000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    819200 vs 51200 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
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • External Mic Jack
    Both provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Pentaprism viewfinder
    Both provide
    Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
  • 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
  • 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
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Pentax KP

Review Excerpt

  • 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

The Competition

Compared to Canon T6i

Pentax K-3 II
Canon T6i
  • $830
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
Pentax KP
Canon T6i
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen

Compared to Sony A68

Pentax K-3 II
Sony A68
  • $830
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • High resolution composite
  • $598
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas
Pentax KP
Sony A68
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • High resolution composite
  • $598
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas

Compared to Nikon D3400

Pentax K-3 II
Nikon D3400
  • $830
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $497
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup
Pentax KP
Nikon D3400
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $497
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup

Compared to Nikon D5600

Pentax K-3 II
Nikon D5600
  • $830
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1065
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Touchscreen
Pentax KP
Nikon D5600
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1065
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Touchscreen

Compared to Canon T7i

Pentax K-3 II
Canon T7i
  • $830
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Touchscreen
Pentax KP
Canon T7i
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Touchscreen
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