• APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200
  • APS-C 369.0mm2
  • 20.9 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200
  • Detailed specifications
  • Pentax K-3
  • Nikon D500
Links
Prices: Compare Prices Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:   Nikon D300S
D300S vs D500
Successor: Pentax K-3 II
K-3 vs K-3 II 		 
General
Model Number: K-3 D500
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: Pro SLR Pro SLR
Currently Manufactured: No Yes
Retail Price: $1149.95 $1999.95
Street Price: $699.00 $1,598.45
Date Available: 2013-11-01 2016-03-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 43.7 oz (1,240 g)
includes batteries, kit lens 		30.2 oz (856 g)
includes batteries
Size: 5.2 x 3.9 x 3.1 in.
(132 x 100 x 77 mm) 		5.8 x 4.5 x 3.2 in.
(147 x 115 x 81 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer:    
Effective Megapixels: 24.4 20.9
Sensor Format: APS-C APS-C
Sensor size: 366.6mm2 (23.50mm x 15.60mm) 368.95mm2 (23.50mm x 15.70mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 3.91 microns 4.22 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.5x 1.5x
Aspect Ratio: 3:2 3:2
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: Optional None
Self-Cleaning: Yes Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: Yes No
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score: 80 83
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 23.7 24.0
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 13.4 14.0
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 1,216 1,324
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 6016 x 4000 (24.1 MP, 3:2),
4608 x 3072 (14.2 MP, 3:2),
3072 x 2048 (6.3 MP, 3:2),
1920 x 1280 (2.5 MP, 3:2) 		5568 x 3712 (20.7 MP, 3:2),
4176 x 2784 (11.6 MP, 3:2),
2784 x 1856 (5.2 MP, 3:2),
4272 x 2848 (12.2 MP, 3:2),
3200 x 2136 (6.8 MP, 3:2),
2128 x 1424 (3.0 MP, Other)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.30), 14-bit RAW (.PEF, .DNG), RAW+JPEG JPEG (EXIF 2.3), NEF (RAW), 12 or 14 bit, lossless compressed, compressed, or uncompressed, L/M/S; RAW+JPEG, TIFF
Continuous-mode frames/second: 7.1 10.2
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 1920x1080 (60i/​50i/​30p/​25p/​24p)
1280x720 (60p/​50p/​30p/​25p/​24p) 		3840x2160 (30p/​25p/​24p)
1920x1080 (60p/​50p/​30p/​25p/​24p)
1280x720 (60p/​50p)
Movie File Format: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (MOV), Motion JPEG (AVI) for interval movie record MOV (Video: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC; Audio: Stereo Linear PCM)
Composite Video Out: No No
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: n/a n/a
Video Usable as Viewfinder: n/a n/a
HD Video Out: Yes Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Pentax K (KA/KAF/KAF2/3) Nikon F
Lens: smc Pentax 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC DA WR n/a
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 27 - 203mm  
Focal Length (actual): 18 - 135mm  
Zoom Ratio: 7.50x  
Aperture Range: f/3.5 - f/22 (wide) / f/5.6 - f/40 (tele)  
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 40 cm to Infinity
15.7 in to Infinity 		 
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: 62.0mm n/a
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No No
Digital Zoom: No
Digital Zoom Values:   n/a
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: SAFOX 11 TTL phase-matching - 27 point (25 cross type focus points in the center) OVF: Nikon Advanced Multi-CAM 20K autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection fine-tuning, and 153 focus points (including 99 cross-type sensors and 15 sensors that support f/8), of which 55 (35 cross-type sensors and 9 f/8 sensors) are available for selection; ; Contrast-detect AF in Live View mode
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes No
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: Optical / LCD Optical / LCD
Viewfinder Type: SLR type; eye-level pentaprism, ~100% coverage, 0.95x mag., TBDmm eyepoint, -2.5 to +1.5 diopter SLR type: eye-level pentaprism, 100% coverage, 1.0x magnification (~0.67x 35mm eq.), 16mm eyepoint, -2 to +1 diopter
Focus Peaking: Yes No
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.63x 0.67x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.95x 1.00x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.2 3.2
Rear Display Resolution: 1,036,800 dots (345,600 px) 2,359,000 dots (589,750 px)
Touchscreen: No Yes
Articulating Screen: No Yes
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No No
Max Playback Zoom: 16.0x  
Top Deck Display: Yes Yes
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 51200 51200
Minimum ISO (native): 100 100
ISO Settings: Auto, 100-51200 (1, 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps) Auto, ISO 100 - 51200, expandable to Lo-1 ISO 50 to Hi-5 ISO 1,638,400
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Multi Auto WB, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent Light (D: Daylight Color, N:Daylight White, W:Cool White, L:Warm White), Tungsten Light, Flash, CTE, Manual (up to 3 settings), Color Temperature (up to 3 settings) Auto (3 types), Cloudy, Shade, Direct Sunlight, Flash, Fluorescent (7 types), Incandescent, Kelvin Color Temperature (2,500K-10,000K), Preset manual (up to 6); Fine tuning available.
Shutter Speed Range: 1/8000 - 30 sec 1/8000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: TTL open-aperture: Multi-segment with 86K-pixel RGB sensor, Center-weighted, Spot TTL exposure metering using RGB sensor with approximately 180K (180,000) pixels; Matrix: 3D color matrix metering III (type G, E, and D lenses), color matrix metering III (other CPU lenses); Center-weighted (weight of approximately 75% given to 8mm circle in center of frame. Diameter of circle can be changed to 6, 10, or 13mm, or weighting can be based on average of entire frame (non-CPU lenses use 8-mm circle); Spot: meters circle with diameter of about 3.5mm (about 2.5% of frame) centered on selected focus point (on center focus point when non-CPU lens is used); Highlight-weighted: Available with type G, E, and D lenses
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Sensitivity Priority, Shutter and Aperture Priority; Digital filters (capture): Extract Color, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Color, Unicolor Bold, Bold Monochrome; HDR: Auto, HDR1, HDR2, HDR3. N/A
Self Timer: 2 or 12 seconds 2/5/10/20s; 1-9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2, or 3 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer): Yes Yes
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes No
Flash Modes: P-TTL, Red-eye reduction, Slow-speed sync, Rear Curtain Sync. High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync also available with PENTAX dedicated external flash. Front curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync, slow rear-curtain sync, Auto FP High-Speed Sync supported
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): 13.0 m / 42.7 ft. n/a
Flash Range Description: Depends on lens n/a
Max Flash Sync: 1/180 1/250
Flash Exposure Compensation: -2 to +1 EV in 0.5EV steps -3 to +1 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot Shoe, PC Sync socket Hot Shoe, PC-sync Terminal
Built-In Wireless Flash Control: Full TTL exposure No
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC / SDXC XQD / SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support: UHS-I UHS-II
Other Memory:   Dual slots, XQD+SD
Dual Card Slots: Yes Yes
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: 14-bit RAW (.PEF, .DNG), RAW+JPEG NEF (RAW), 12 or 14 bit, lossless compressed, compressed, or uncompressed, L/M/S; RAW+JPEG, TIFF
Movie File Format: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (MOV), Motion JPEG (AVI) for interval movie record MOV (Video: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC; Audio: Stereo Linear PCM)
Included Memory: No memory included No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No Yes
NFC: No Yes
Bluetooth: No Yes
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: Yes Yes
Headphone Jack: Yes Yes
External Connections: USB 3.0 Super Speed USB 3.0 Super Speed,Bluetooth,WiFi
PictBridge Compliant: No Yes
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Optional Wired or IR Optional: wired or wireless
Connections (extended): Micro (Type D) HMDI, USB 3.0 Micro B, DC input, wired remote jack, 3.5mm external stereo mic jack, 3.5mm stereo headphone jack Type-C Mini HDMI with uncompressed video support, 10-pin Remote Terminal, PC Sync
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.79 <0.3
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 0.64  
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): Unlimited  
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot): 0.69 <0.3
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 7.1 10.2
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 75 200
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps): 7.1 10.2
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames): 24 200
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps): 7.1 10.2
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames): 25 27
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.14 seconds 0.17 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR): 1.01 seconds  
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR): 0.226 seconds 0.103 seconds
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.097 seconds 0.049 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash): 0.33 seconds  
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.096 seconds 0.049 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes): Full AF lag, Wide-area mode, OVF = 0.157s Live View: Center mode AF lag = 1.014s Wide-area mode AF lag = 1.005s Prefocused = 0.226s  
Startup Time: 0.9 seconds 0.3 seconds
Play -> Record Time: 0.6 seconds 0.2 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power: 2.3 seconds  
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):    
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 560 shots 1240 shots
Battery Life, Video:   50 minutes
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary D-LI90 Proprietary EN-EL15, optional MB-D17 battery grip
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary D-LI90 Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary EN-EL15 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: Yes Yes
Internal Charging Supported: No No
Software
Included Software: Software CD-ROM S-SW140 ViewNX-i, ViewNX-Movie Editor, Capture NX-D, Nikon Transfer 2, Picture Control Utility 2 downloads
OS Compatibility:   Windows 7/8/10, Mac OS X 10.9.5-10.11.5
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Image stabilization system also acts as a selectable AA filter, 8.3 fps full-res burst mode, new 27-point AF system, new 86,000 pixel RGB metering system, Full HD video up to 60i with H.264 encoding, dual SD card slots, freeze-proof, dust-proof, weather-resistant magnesium alloy construction, USB 3.0 port.