• APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200
  • 35mm 861.6mm2
  • 50.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 32,000
  • Detailed specifications
  • Pentax K-3
  • Sony Alpha ILCE-A1
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 A1
Alternate Model Number(s):   ILCE-1
Camera Format: Pro SLR Compact System Camera
Currently Manufactured: No Yes
Retail Price: $1149.95 $6500.00
Street Price: $699.00 $6,498.00
Date Available: 2013-11-01 2021-03-01
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 43.7 oz (1,240 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
26.0 oz (737 g)
includes batteries
Size: 5.2 x 3.9 x 3.1 in.
(132 x 100 x 77 mm)
5.1 x 3.8 x 3.2 in.
(129 x 97 x 81 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer:   Sony
Effective Megapixels: 24.4 50.1
Sensor Format: APS-C 35mm
Sensor size: 366.6mm2 (23.50mm x 15.60mm) 861.6mm2 (35.90mm x 24.00mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 3.91 microns 4.16 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.5x 1.0x
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 Yes
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)
8640 x 5760 (49.8 MP, 3:2),
5616 x 3744 (21.0 MP, 3:2),
4320 x 2880 (12.4 MP, 3:2),
7680 x 5760 (44.2 MP, 4:3),
4992 x 3744 (18.7 MP, 4:3),
3840 x 2880 (11.1 MP, 4:3),
8760 x 4864 (42.6 MP, Other),
5616 x 3160 (17.7 MP, 16:9),
4320 x 2432 (10.5 MP, 16:9),
5760 x 5760 (33.2 MP, 1:1),
3744 x 3744 (14.0 MP, 1:1),
2880 x 2880 (8.3 MP, 1:1)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.30), 14-bit RAW (.PEF, .DNG), RAW+JPEG JPEG, HEIF, Compressed RAW, Lo, RAW (14-bit ARW 2.3), RAW+JPEG, RAW+HEIF
Continuous-mode frames/second: 7.1 30.0
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 1920x1080 (60i/​50i/​30p/​25p/​24p)
1280x720 (60p/​50p/​30p/​25p/​24p)
7680x4320 (30p/​25p/​24p)
3840x2160 (120p/​100p/​60p/​50p/​30p/​25p/​24p)
1920x1080 (60p/​50p/​30p/​25p/​24p)
1920x1080 (1p/​2p/​3p/​4p/​6p/​8p/​12p/​15p/​25p/​30p/​50p/​60p/​100p/​120p/​200p/​240p)
Movie File Format: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (MOV), Motion JPEG (AVI) for interval movie record XAVC S (Long GOP, H.264 MP4); XAVC HS (Long GOP, H.265 HEVC); XAVC S-I (All-Intra, H.264 MP4)
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) Sony E
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: Yes
Digital Zoom Values:   Up to 4x; up to 2x Clear Image Digital Zoom
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: SAFOX 11 TTL phase-matching - 27 point (25 cross type focus points in the center) Fast Hybrid 4D AF: 759 points (PDAF), 425 points (contrast-detection AF); Wide (759 points (PDAF), 425 points (CDAF))/Zone/Center/Flexible Spot (S/M/L)/Expanded Flexible Spot/Tracking (Wide/Zone/Center/Flexible Spot (S/M/L)/Expanded Flexible Spot); Touch 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: 0.64" 9.44M-dot QXGA color OLED, 100% coverage, 0.90x magnification, 60/120/240fps refresh rates, -4.0 to +3.0 diopter, 25mm eyepoint from the eyepiece lens
Focus Peaking: Yes Yes
EVF Resolution: n/a 9,437,184 dots (3,145,728 pixels)
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.63x 0.90x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.95x 0.90x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.2 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 1,036,800 dots (345,600 px) 1,440,000 dots (360,000 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 No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 51200 32000
Minimum ISO (native): 100 100
ISO Settings: Auto, 100-51200 (1, 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps) AUTO, ISO 100 - 32000, expandable to ISO 50 - 102400
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 (with Priority), Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent (4 settings), Flash, Underwater, Custom, Color Temp./ Filter (2500-9900K with 15-step Magenta/Green compensation)
Shutter Speed Range: 1/8000 - 30 sec 1/32000 - 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 1200-zone Evaluative Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot, Spot Standard/Large, Entire Screen Avg., Highlight
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. Picture Effect: Posterization (Color), Posterization (B/W), Pop Color, Retro Photo, Partial Color (R/G/B/Y), High Contrast Monochrome, Toy Camera (Normal / Cool / Warm / Green / Magenta), Soft High-key; HDR: Auto Exposure Difference, Exposure difference Level (1-6 EV at 1.0 EV step)
Self Timer: 2 or 12 seconds 2, 5, 10; 3/5 shots after 2/5/10 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer): 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. Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Hi-speed Sync, Wireless; Red-eye reduction: On/Off
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 1/400s (1/500s APS-C crop mode)
Flash Exposure Compensation: -2 to +1 EV in 0.5EV steps +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot Shoe, PC Sync socket Multi Interface Hot Shoe with Digital Audio Interface, Sync Terminal
Built-In Wireless Flash Control: Full TTL exposure No
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC / SDXC SD / SDHC / SDXC / CFexpress
UHS Support: UHS-I UHS-II
Other Memory:   2x CFexpress Type A+SD UHS-II
Dual Card Slots: Yes Yes
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: 14-bit RAW (.PEF, .DNG), RAW+JPEG RAW (14-bit ARW 2.3), RAW+JPEG, RAW+HEIF
Movie File Format: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (MOV), Motion JPEG (AVI) for interval movie record XAVC S (Long GOP, H.264 MP4); XAVC HS (Long GOP, H.265 HEVC); XAVC S-I (All-Intra, H.264 MP4)
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 2.0 High Speed,USB 3.0 Super Speed,Ethernet,Bluetooth,WiFi
PictBridge Compliant: No No
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Optional Wired or IR Optional via IR, USB, Ethernet or 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 USB-C (USB 3.2 10Gbps), Type-D Micro HDMI, 1000Base-T Ethernet, 3.5mm Microphone and Headphone Jacks, Sync Terminal
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 30.0
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 75 165
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps): 7.1 20.0
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames): 24 155
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps): 7.1  
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):   530 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 560 shots 430 shots
Battery Life, Video:   150 minutes
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary D-LI90 Proprietary
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeable NP-FZ100 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary D-LI90 Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary NP-FZ100 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 Capture One Express (for Sony) free download; Sony Imaging Edge Remote, Viewer and Edit
OS Compatibility:   Windows, macOS
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.