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Canon 20D vs Pentax K-3 III

Portability
59
Imaging
46
Features
39
Overall
43
Canon EOS 20D front
 
Pentax K-3 Mark III front
Portability
58
Imaging
72
Features
86
Overall
77

Canon 20D vs Pentax K-3 III Key Specs

Canon 20D
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 3200)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 770g - 144 x 106 x 72mm
  • Launched November 2004
  • Earlier Model is Canon 10D
  • Successor is Canon 30D
Pentax K-3 III
(Full Review)
  • 26MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600000
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 820g - 135 x 104 x 74mm
  • Revealed March 2021
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Canon 20D vs Pentax K-3 III Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Canon 20D vs Pentax K-3 III, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by companies Canon and Pentax. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the 20D (8MP) and K-3 III (26MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor size (APS-C).

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The 20D was launched 17 years prior to the K-3 III which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before going in to a in-depth comparison, below is a quick summary of how the 20D grades versus the K-3 III with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon 20D over the Pentax K-3 III

 20D K-3 III 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 III over the Canon 20D

 K-3 III 20D 
RevealedMarch 2021November 2004Newer by 199 months
Display dimension3.2"1.8"Larger display (+1.4")
Display resolution1620k118kSharper display (+1502k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon 20D and Pentax K-3 III

 20D K-3 III 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Canon 20D vs Pentax K-3 III Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and size. The Canon 20D has physical measurements of 144mm x 106mm x 72mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 770 grams (1.70 lbs) while the Pentax K-3 III has specifications of 135mm x 104mm x 74mm (5.3" x 4.1" x 2.9") along with a weight of 820 grams (1.81 lbs).

Contrast the Canon 20D vs Pentax K-3 III in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the 20D vs the K-3 III.

Canon 20D vs Pentax K-3 III size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the 20D and K-3 III is 59 and 58 respectively.

Canon 20D vs Pentax K-3 III top view buttons comparison

Canon 20D vs Pentax K-3 III Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reading through technical specs. The picture underneath will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the 20D and K-3 III.

As you have seen, both cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You can anticipate the Pentax K-3 III to give greater detail utilizing its extra 18 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged 20D is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Canon 20D vs Pentax K-3 III sensor size comparison

Canon 20D vs Pentax K-3 III Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 20D vs Pentax K-3 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon 20D
Portrait photography with Pentax K-3 III
47
manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
does not have liveview
manual exposure not available
sensor resolution low (8 megapixels)
83
manual focus
amazing MP (26 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon 20D Street photography factors
Pentax K-3 III Street photography factors
53
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
71
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
has touch focus
environment sealing
good high ISO (1,600,000)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Canon 20D as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-3 III as a Sports photography camera
44
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8MP)
79
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
amazing MP (26MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
environment sealing
has phase detect auto focus
not so great battery life (800 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Canon 20D as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-3 III as a Travel photography camera
46
has built in flash
sensor resolution low (8 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
64
environment sealing
has bluetooth
has touch focus
amazing MP (26MP)
not so great battery life (800 CIPA)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon 20D
Landscape photography with Pentax K-3 III
46
manual focus
swap lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
tiny screen (1.8")
does not have liveview
manual exposure not available
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8MP)
80
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
amazing MP (26 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
good high ISO (1,600,000)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
has dual storage slots
not so great battery life (800 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 20D as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-3 III as a Vlogging camera
9
can't shoot video
35
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
has mic jack
does not have selfie friendly display
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Canon 20D vs Pentax K-3 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 20D and Pentax K-3 III
 Canon EOS 20DPentax K-3 Mark III
General Information
Company Canon Pentax
Model type Canon EOS 20D Pentax K-3 Mark III
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2004-11-03 2021-03-31
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 22.5 x 15mm 23 x 15.5mm
Sensor surface area 337.5mm² 356.5mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 26 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 3504 x 2336 6192 x 4128
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600000
Maximum enhanced ISO 3200 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 101
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type Canon EF/EF-S Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 326 156
Focal length multiplier 1.6 1.6
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 1.8" 3.2"
Resolution of display 118k dot 1,620k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Red-eye reduction, Off Auto, Auto + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow- speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution None 3840x2160
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 770g (1.70 lbs) 820g (1.81 lbs)
Dimensions 144 x 106 x 72mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 2.8") 135 x 104 x 74mm (5.3" x 4.1" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 62 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.0 not tested
DXO Low light rating 721 not tested
Other
Battery life - 800 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (10 sec (2 sec with mirror lock-up)) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II supported in slot 1)
Storage slots 1 2
Pricing at release $1,300 $1,999