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Canon 5D MIII vs Pentax K-S1

Portability
55
Imaging
68
Features
74
Overall
70
Canon EOS 5D Mark III front
 
Pentax K-S1 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
70
Overall
65

Canon 5D MIII vs Pentax K-S1 Key Specs

Canon 5D MIII
(Full Review)
  • 22MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Increase to 102400)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 950g - 152 x 116 x 76mm
  • Released May 2012
  • Earlier Model is Canon 5D MII
  • Refreshed by Canon 5D MIV
Pentax K-S1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 558g - 121 x 93 x 70mm
  • Revealed August 2014
  • Successor is Pentax K-S2
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Canon 5D MIII vs Pentax K-S1 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Canon 5D MIII versus Pentax K-S1, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by companies Canon and Pentax. The resolution of the 5D MIII (22MP) and the K-S1 (20MP) is fairly well matched but the 5D MIII (Full frame) and K-S1 (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The 5D MIII was manufactured 3 years prior to the K-S1 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving right into a complete comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the 5D MIII matches up versus the K-S1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon 5D MIII over the Pentax K-S1

 5D MIII K-S1 
Display dimensions3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1040k921kSharper display (+119k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S1 over the Canon 5D MIII

 K-S1 5D MIII 
RevealedAugust 2014May 2012More modern by 27 months

Common features in the Canon 5D MIII and Pentax K-S1

 5D MIII K-S1 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Canon 5D MIII vs Pentax K-S1 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Canon 5D MIII offers outer 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-S1 has specifications of 121mm x 93mm x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") with a weight of 558 grams (1.23 lbs).

Check the Canon 5D MIII versus Pentax K-S1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use at that moment. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the 5D MIII against the K-S1.

Canon 5D MIII vs Pentax K-S1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the 5D MIII and K-S1 is 55 and 69 respectively.

Canon 5D MIII vs Pentax K-S1 top view buttons comparison

Canon 5D MIII vs Pentax K-S1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizes simply by checking a spec sheet. The pic here may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the 5D MIII and K-S1.

Clearly, each of these cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The 5D MIII featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Canon 5D MIII will give greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will help you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more aged 5D MIII is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Canon 5D MIII vs Pentax K-S1 sensor size comparison

Canon 5D MIII vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 5D MIII vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 5D MIII Portrait photography details
Pentax K-S1 Portrait photography details
80
has manual focus
MP count decent (22 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
77
you can focus manually
MP count good (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon 5D MIII Street photography info
Pentax K-S1 Street photography info
58
sensor size is great (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
above average ISO range (25,600)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (950g)
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition (558 grams)
great high ISO (51,200)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Canon 5D MIII Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-S1 Sports photography highlights
71
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
MP count decent (22MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (6.0 fps)
no image stabilization
69
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
sensor has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.4 fps)
terrible battery pack (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Canon 5D MIII Travel photography features
Pentax K-S1 Travel photography features
51
environment proof
MP count decent (22MP)
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (950 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
60
lighter than competition (558 grams)
MP count good (20MP)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (410 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon 5D MIII
Landscape photography with Pentax K-S1
73
has manual focus
change lenses (Canon EF mount)
screen is a decent size (3.2 inch)
MP count decent (22 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
two card slots
no image stabilization
does not have Timelapse function
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have low pass filter
great high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW formats
terrible battery pack (410 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 5D MIII Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-S1 Vlogging highlights
27
has face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone socket
does not have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (950g)
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (558 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have mic support
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Canon 5D MIII vs Pentax K-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 5D MIII and Pentax K-S1
 Canon EOS 5D Mark IIIPentax K-S1
General Information
Brand Name Canon Pentax
Model type Canon EOS 5D Mark III Pentax K-S1
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2012-05-22 2014-08-27
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 5+ Prime MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 36 x 24mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 864.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 22 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Max resolution 5760 x 3840 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 25600 51200
Max enhanced ISO 102400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Minimum enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 61 11
Cross type focus points 41 -
Lens
Lens mount type Canon EF Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 250 151
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3.2 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,040k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology Clear View II TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0fps 5.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, auto + redeye, on, on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/200 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Optional Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 950 gr (2.09 lbs) 558 gr (1.23 lbs)
Physical dimensions 152 x 116 x 76mm (6.0" x 4.6" x 3.0") 121 x 93 x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 81 78
DXO Color Depth rating 24.0 23.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.7 13.0
DXO Low light rating 2293 1061
Other
Battery life 950 pictures 410 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E6 D-LI109
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 SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Dual Single
Cost at release $2,780 $339