Samsung Galaxy NX vs Pentax K-3

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Samsung Galaxy NX vs Pentax K-3

APS-C 369.0mm²
20.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Samsung Galaxy NX Review.
How does it shoot? Samsung Galaxy NX in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the Galaxy NX.
Compare Samsung Galaxy NX image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Samsung Galaxy NX conclusion.

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

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-3 Review.
How does it shoot? Pentax K-3 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the K-3.
Compare Pentax K-3 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Pentax K-3 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Pentax K-3 II
Compare K-3 vs K-3 II
Compare Samsung Galaxy NX vs Pentax K-3 II

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Differences

Samsung Galaxy NX advantages over Pentax K-3

Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Thinner
25 mm vs 77 mm
Thinner
Lighter weight
718g vs 1240g
Lighter weight
Higher-res screen
922k vs 346k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
More viewfinder magnification
0.69x vs 0.63x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Faster JPEG shooting
8.2 fps vs 7.1 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos

Pentax K-3 advantages over Samsung Galaxy NX

Lens selection
Excellent vs Limited
Better lens selection gives you more options
Less expensive
$1150 vs $1400 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Fast startup
~0.90 vs 2.7 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
K-3 test data on DxO Mark Galaxy NX test data on DxO Mark

1,216 vs 910 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

560 vs 440 shots
Capture more photos
More telephoto lens reach
203 mm vs 84 mm
Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Less shutter lag
0.14 vs 0.33 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More pixels
24.4 vs 20.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Optional anti-aliasing filter
Optional vs Fixed
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
Bigger JPEG buffer
75 vs 15 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
51200 vs 25600 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
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
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
Tiltable Screen
Neither provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-3 User Reviews

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Buy the Samsung Galaxy NX

Kit with 18-55mm Lens

Kit with 18-55mm Lens
Body Only

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Buy the Pentax K-3

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 18-135mm Lens

Review Excerpt

Read our Samsung Galaxy NX Review

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
Read our Pentax K-3 Review

The Competition

Compared to Fujifilm X-E1

Samsung Galaxy NX

Fujifilm X-E1

$8000
APS-C

Touchscreen
Built-in Wi-Fi

$1299
APS-C

Lens selection
External Mic Jack

Compare Samsung Galaxy NX vs Fujifilm X-E1

Pentax K-3

Fujifilm X-E1

$699
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

$1299
APS-C

Bigger pixels
In-camera panoramas

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Fujifilm X-E1

Compared to Nikon D7100

Samsung Galaxy NX

Nikon D7100

$8000
APS-C

Focus peaking
Touchscreen

$695
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Samsung Galaxy NX vs 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

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Nikon D7100

Compared to Nikon D7200

Samsung Galaxy NX

Nikon D7200

$8000
APS-C

Focus peaking
Touchscreen

$1043
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Samsung Galaxy NX vs 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

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Nikon D7200

Compared to Fujifilm X-E2S

Samsung Galaxy NX

Fujifilm X-E2S

$8000
APS-C

Touchscreen
Built-in Bluetooth

$1250
APS-C

Lens selection
External Mic Jack

Compare Samsung Galaxy NX vs Fujifilm X-E2S

Pentax K-3

Fujifilm X-E2S

$699
APS-C

Lens selection
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1250
APS-C

Bigger pixels
In-camera panoramas

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Fujifilm X-E2S

Compared to Leica CL

Samsung Galaxy NX

Leica CL

$8000
APS-C

Built-in Bluetooth
Built-in GPS

$3195
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Top deck display

Compare Samsung Galaxy NX vs Leica CL

Pentax K-3

Leica CL

$699
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Longer stills battery life

$3195
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Leica CL

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