• 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 Z50
Links
Prices: Compare Prices Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:    
Successor: Pentax K-3 II
K-3 vs K-3 II
 
General
Model Number: K-3 Z50
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: Pro SLR Compact System Camera
Currently Manufactured: No Yes
Retail Price: $1149.95 $999.95
Street Price: $699.00 $856.95
Date Available: 2013-11-01 2019-11-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 43.7 oz (1,240 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
18.8 oz (533 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
Size: 5.2 x 3.9 x 3.1 in.
(132 x 100 x 77 mm)
5.0 x 3.7 x 2.4 in.
(127 x 94 x 60 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 No
Sensor shift image stabilization: Yes No
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No Yes
DxO Sensor Score: 80  
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 23.7  
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 13.4  
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 1,216  
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),
5568 x 3128 (17.4 MP, 16:9),
4176 x 2344 (9.8 MP, 16:9),
2784 x 1560 (4.3 MP, 16:9),
3712 x 3712 (13.8 MP, 1:1),
2784 x 2784 (7.8 MP, 1:1),
1856 x 1856 (3.4 MP, 1:1)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.30), 14-bit RAW (.PEF, .DNG), RAW+JPEG JPEG (EXIF 2.31), .NEF (RAW), 12 or 14 bit; RAW+JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 7.1 11.0
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 (120p/​100p/​60p/​50p/​30p/​25p/​24p)
Movie File Format: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (MOV), Motion JPEG (AVI) for interval movie record MOV, MP4 (Video: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC; Audio: Stereo Linear PCM, AAC)
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 Z
Lens: smc Pentax 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC DA WR Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 27 - 203mm 24 - 75mm
Focal Length (actual): 18 - 135mm 16 - 50mm
Zoom Ratio: 7.50x 3.10x
Aperture Range: f/3.5 - f/22 (wide) / f/5.6 - f/40 (tele) f/3.5 (wide) / f/6.3 (tele) - f/16
Integrated ND Filter: No
Normal Focus Range: 40 cm to Infinity
15.7 in to Infinity
20 cm to Infinity
7.9 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: 62.0mm 46.0mm
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No Yes
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) Hybrid Phase/Contrast Detect AF with 209 PDAF points; Pinpoint, Single-Point, Dynamic-area AF, Wide-area AF (S/L), Auto-area AF; Face and Eye-detect AF
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: Optical / LCD EVF / LCD
Viewfinder Type: SLR type; eye-level pentaprism, ~100% coverage, 0.95x mag., TBDmm eyepoint, -2.5 to +1.5 diopter EVF: 2.36M-dot XGA OLED, 100% coverage, 1.02x magnification, 20mm eyepoint, -3 to +3 diopter, eye sensor
Focus Peaking: Yes Yes
EVF Resolution: n/a 2,360,000 dots
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.63x 0.68x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.95x 1.02x
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) 1,036,800 dots (345,600 px)
Touchscreen: No Yes
Articulating Screen: No Yes
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No Yes
Max Playback Zoom: 16.0x  
Top Deck Display: Yes No
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 204,800
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 (2 types), Cloudy, Shade, Direct Sunlight, Flash, Fluorescent (7 types), Incandescent, Kelvin Color Temperature (2,500K-10,000K), Preset manual; Fine tuning available.
Shutter Speed Range: 1/8000 - 30 sec 1/4000 - 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 Matrix metering; Center-weighted (weight of approximately 75% given to 8mm circle in center of frame or weighting can be based on average of entire frame; Spot: meters circle with diameter of about 3.5mm (about 2.5% of frame) centered on selected focus point; Highlight-weighted
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. Custom: U1, U2; Scene Modes: Autumn Colors, Beach / Snow, Blossom, Candlelight, Child, Close-up, Dusk / Dawn, Food, Landscape, Night Landscape, Night Portrait, Party / Indoor, Pet Portrait, Portrait, Sports, Sunset; Special Effects: Night Vision, Super Vivid, Pop, Photo Illustration, Toy Camera Effect, Miniature Effect, Selective Color, Silhouette, High Key, Low Key
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  
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes Yes
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. Fill flash, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Red-eye reduction with slow sync, Rear-curtain sync, Auto, Auto with red-eye reduction, Auto slow sync, Auto slow sync with red-eye reduction, Flash off; Auto FP High-Speed sync supported
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): 13.0 m / 42.7 ft. 7.0 m / 23.0 ft.
Flash Range Description: Depends on lens GN=7m/22ft at ISO 100; range depends on lens aperture
Max Flash Sync: 1/180 1/200
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
Built-In Wireless Flash Control: Full TTL exposure No
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC / SDXC SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support: UHS-I UHS-I
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: Yes No
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: 14-bit RAW (.PEF, .DNG), RAW+JPEG .NEF (RAW), 12 or 14 bit; RAW+JPEG
Movie File Format: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (MOV), Motion JPEG (AVI) for interval movie record MOV, MP4 (Video: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC; Audio: Stereo Linear PCM, AAC)
Included Memory: No memory included No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No Yes
NFC: No No
Bluetooth: No Yes
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: Yes Yes
Headphone Jack: Yes No
External Connections: USB 3.0 Super Speed USB 2.0 High Speed,Bluetooth,WiFi
PictBridge Compliant: No Yes
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Optional Wired or IR Wi-Fi/Bluetooth
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 Micro (Type-D) HDMI, Micro-B USB 2.0, 3.5mm Stereo Microphone Jack (plug-in power supported)
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.79  
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  
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 7.1 11.0
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 75  
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps): 7.1 11.0
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames): 24  
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps): 7.1 11.0
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames): 25  
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.14 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  
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.097 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash): 0.33 seconds  
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.096 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  
Play -> Record Time: 0.6 seconds  
Flash cycle time, full power: 2.3 seconds  
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):   320 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 560 shots 280 shots
Battery Life, Video:   75 minutes
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary D-LI90 Proprietary EN-EL25
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary D-LI90 Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary EN-EL25 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: Yes Yes
Internal Charging Supported: No Yes
Software
Included Software: Software CD-ROM S-SW140  
OS Compatibility:    
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.