Clicky

Canon 5D MIII vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
55
Imaging
68
Features
74
Overall
70
Canon EOS 5D Mark III front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Canon 5D MIII vs Pentax K-3 II Key Specs

Canon 5D MIII
(Full Review)
  • 22MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Increase to 102400)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 950g - 152 x 116 x 76mm
  • Revealed May 2012
  • Older Model is Canon 5D MII
  • Updated by Canon 5D MIV
Pentax K-3 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Introduced April 2015
  • Old Model is Pentax K-3
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Canon 5D MIII vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Canon 5D MIII and Pentax K-3 II, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by companies Canon and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the 5D MIII (22MP) and the K-3 II (24MP) is pretty similar but the 5D MIII (Full frame) and K-3 II (APS-C) have different sensor measurements.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The 5D MIII was launched 3 years earlier than the K-3 II which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a quick summary of how the 5D MIII matches up against the K-3 II in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon 5D MIII over the Pentax K-3 II

 5D MIII K-3 II 
Screen resolution1040k1037kClearer screen (+3k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Canon 5D MIII

 K-3 II 5D MIII 
IntroducedApril 2015May 2012More modern by 35 months

Common features in the Canon 5D MIII and Pentax K-3 II

 5D MIII K-3 II 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3.2"3.2"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Canon 5D MIII vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Canon 5D MIII has got outside dimensions of 152mm x 116mm x 76mm (6.0" x 4.6" x 3.0") with a weight of 950 grams (2.09 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 II has dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Examine the Canon 5D MIII and Pentax K-3 II in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose during that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the 5D MIII versus the K-3 II.

Canon 5D MIII vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 5D MIII and K-3 II is 55 and 59 respectively.

Canon 5D MIII vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Canon 5D MIII vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be hard to picture the contrast between sensor sizes just by reviewing specs. The image below will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the 5D MIII and K-3 II.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The 5D MIII featuring a bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Pentax K-3 II will offer extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more aged 5D MIII is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Canon 5D MIII vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Canon 5D MIII vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 5D MIII vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 5D MIII Portrait photography features
Pentax K-3 II Portrait photography features
80
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (22MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
has face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
79
has manual focus
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Street Comparison

Canon 5D MIII as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Street photography camera
58
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
good ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
heavier than competitors in class (950 grams)
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
great ISO range (51,200)
screen does not articulate
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Sports Comparison

Canon 5D MIII Sports photography information
Pentax K-3 II Sports photography information
71
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
megapixel count decent (22MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
has tracking focus
environment proofing
has phase detect AF
slow fps (6.0 fps)
no image stabilization
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
environment sealing
has phase detect AF
bad battery power (720 per charge)
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Travel Comparison

Canon 5D MIII as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Travel photography camera
51
environment proofing
megapixel count decent (22 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than competitors in class (950g)
screen is not selfie friendly
56
environment sealing
good MP (24 megapixels)
bad battery power (720 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Landscape Comparison

Canon 5D MIII Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-3 II Landscape photography highlights
73
has manual focus
change lenses (Canon EF mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inch)
megapixel count decent (22 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
has dual storage slots
no image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse function
78
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
great ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
2 card slots
bad battery power (720 CIPA)
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Vlogging Comparison

Canon 5D MIII Vlogging info
Pentax K-3 II Vlogging info
27
has face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has mic jack
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
heavier than competitors in class (950g)
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic support
display is not selfie friendly
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Canon 5D MIII vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 5D MIII and Pentax K-3 II
 Canon EOS 5D Mark IIIPentax K-3 II
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Pentax
Model type Canon EOS 5D Mark III Pentax K-3 II
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2012-05-22 2015-04-23
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 5+ Prime III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 36 x 24mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 864.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 22 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Full resolution 5760 x 3840 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 25600 51200
Max boosted ISO 102400 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Min boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 61 27
Cross type focus points 41 25
Lens
Lens support Canon EF Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 250 151
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3.2" 3.2"
Display resolution 1,040k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology Clear View II TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s 8.3 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync (available with dedicated external flash)
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/200 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25, 23.976 fps fps), 1280 x 720 (59.94, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Optional Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS Optional BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 950 gr (2.09 lbs) 800 gr (1.76 lbs)
Physical dimensions 152 x 116 x 76mm (6.0" x 4.6" x 3.0") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 81 80
DXO Color Depth rating 24.0 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.7 13.6
DXO Low light rating 2293 1106
Other
Battery life 950 shots 720 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E6 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash Type I (UDMA compatible), SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Two Two
Retail price $2,780 $829