• APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200
  • 1 inch 116.2mm2
  • 20.2 megapixels
  • 24.00mm - 600.00mm (35mm eq.)

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Differences

Pentax K-3 advantages over Canon G3X

  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs 1 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 3.91 vs 2.41 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Fast startup
    ~0.90 vs 1.9 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Better color depth
    23.7 vs 21.4 bits
    Capture richer, more accurate colors
  • Higher effective ISO
    1,216 vs 521 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 560 vs 300 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Thinner
    77 mm vs 105 mm
    Thinner
  • Less shutter lag
    0.14 vs 0.41 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More pixels
    24.4 vs 20.2 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Optional anti-aliasing filter
    Optional vs Fixed
    Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    75 vs 9 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    7.1 fps vs 0.7 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/2000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 12800 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Canon G3X advantages over Pentax K-3

  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Integrated ND filter
    Yes vs No
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/2000 vs 1/180 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Higher-res screen
    540k vs 346k pixels
    More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    Unlimited vs 24 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Rear display
    Both provide
    Review photos on the back of the camera
  • Focus peaking
    Both provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • RAW file ability
    Both provide
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Manual focus
    Both provide
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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

Review Excerpt

  • 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

  • Good overall optical performance from the 24-600mm eq. lens; Very good image quality and high ISO performance for this class, especially with RAW; Lots of external controls; Comfortable grip; Shoots 1080/60p video; Includes both mic and headphone jack, Focus peaking for video; Clean HDMI.

  • No built-in EVF; Mediocre AF speeds; Sluggish burst rate with RAW/RAW+JPG and with servo AF; Below average battery life; No 4K video unlike competitors.

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D7100

Pentax K-3
Nikon D7100
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $695
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Longer stills battery life
Canon G3X
Nikon D7100
  • $749
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Less expensive
  • $695
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compared to Nikon D5300

Pentax K-3
Nikon D5300
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Fast startup
Canon G3X
Nikon D5300
  • $749
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Larger sensor

Compared to Panasonic FZ1000

Pentax K-3
Panasonic FZ1000
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $841
  • 1 inch
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Shoot 4K video
Canon G3X
Panasonic FZ1000
  • $749
  • 1 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $841
  • 1 inch
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compared to Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

Pentax K-3
Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $899
  • 1 inch
  • Shoot 4K video
  • In-camera panoramas
Canon G3X
Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)
  • $749
  • 1 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Touchscreen
  • $899
  • 1 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Shoot 4K video

Compared to Nikon D7200

Pentax K-3
Nikon D7200
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1043
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
Canon G3X
Nikon D7200
  • $749
  • 1 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
  • $1043
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder
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