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Canon 5D vs Pentax K-3 III

Portability
55
Imaging
55
Features
41
Overall
49
Canon EOS 5D front
 
Pentax K-3 Mark III front
Portability
58
Imaging
71
Features
86
Overall
77

Canon 5D vs Pentax K-3 III Key Specs

Canon 5D
(Full Review)
  • 13MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 895g - 152 x 113 x 75mm
  • Revealed November 2005
  • New Model is Canon 5D MII
Pentax K-3 III
(Full Review)
  • 26MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Introduced March 2021
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Canon 5D vs Pentax K-3 III Overview

The following is a thorough comparison of the Canon 5D vs Pentax K-3 III, both Advanced DSLR cameras by brands Canon and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the 5D (13MP) and K-3 III (26MP) and the 5D (Full frame) and K-3 III (APS-C) come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The 5D was revealed 16 years before the K-3 III which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before going in to a in depth comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the 5D matches up against the K-3 III for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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

 5D K-3 III 

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

 K-3 III 5D 
IntroducedMarch 2021November 2005Newer by 187 months
Screen sizing3.2"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.7")
Screen resolution1620k230kCrisper screen (+1390k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

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

 5D K-3 III 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Canon 5D vs Pentax K-3 III Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Canon 5D enjoys external dimensions of 152mm x 113mm x 75mm (6.0" x 4.4" x 3.0") along with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 III has specifications of 135mm x 104mm x 74mm (5.3" x 4.1" x 2.9") with a weight of 820 grams (1.81 lbs).

See the Canon 5D vs Pentax K-3 III in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the 5D versus the K-3 III.

Canon 5D vs Pentax K-3 III size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 5D and K-3 III is 55 and 58 respectively.

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

Canon 5D vs Pentax K-3 III Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to see the gap in sensor dimensions merely by seeing specs. The picture below may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the 5D and K-3 III.

All in all, both of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The 5D having a bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Pentax K-3 III will provide greater detail because of its extra 13 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged 5D will be behind in sensor technology.

Canon 5D vs Pentax K-3 III sensor size comparison

Canon 5D vs Pentax K-3 III Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 5D vs Pentax K-3 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 5D Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-3 III Portrait photography advice
65
focusing manually
good megapixels (13 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
doesn't have liveview
82
focusing manually
amazing sensor resolution (26 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon 5D Street photography details
Pentax K-3 III Street photography details
56
great sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
no moving screen
no image stabilization
70
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
supports focus via touch
weather sealing
above average high ISO (1,600,000)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon 5D
Sports photography with Pentax K-3 III
55
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
good megapixels (13MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
environment sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
terrible battery (800 shots)
79
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
amazing sensor resolution (26 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
weather sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
terrible battery pack (800 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon 5D
Travel photography with Pentax K-3 III
49
environment sealing
good megapixels (13 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse function
terrible battery (800 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
64
weather sealing
supports bluetooth
supports focus via touch
amazing sensor resolution (26 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (800 CIPA)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 5D Landscape photography info
Pentax K-3 III Landscape photography info
54
focusing manually
switch lenses (Canon EF mount)
good megapixels (13MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
tiny screen (2.5")
doesn't have liveview
no image stabilization
terrible battery (800 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
80
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
amazing sensor resolution (26MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
above average high ISO (1,600,000)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
two card slots
terrible battery pack (800 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 5D Vlogging advice
Pentax K-3 III Vlogging advice
9
no video shooting
35
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with external microphone socket
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Canon 5D vs Pentax K-3 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 5D and Pentax K-3 III
 Canon EOS 5DPentax K-3 Mark III
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Pentax
Model type Canon EOS 5D Pentax K-3 Mark III
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2005-11-12 2021-03-31
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Digic II -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor measurements 36 x 24mm 23 x 15.5mm
Sensor surface area 864.0mm² 356.5mm²
Sensor resolution 13 megapixels 26 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Peak resolution 4368 x 2912 6192 x 4128
Highest native ISO 3200 1600000
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 101
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type Canon EF Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 250 156
Crop factor 1 1.6
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5" 3.2"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 1,620 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT liquid-crystal color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 96% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options External 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
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/200 secs 1/200 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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
Highest video resolution None 3840x2160
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 895g (1.97 lb) 820g (1.81 lb)
Dimensions 152 x 113 x 75mm (6.0" x 4.4" x 3.0") 135 x 104 x 74mm (5.3" x 4.1" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1368 not tested
Other
Battery life 800 pictures 800 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BP-511A D-LI90
Self timer Yes (10 sec (2 sec with mirror lock-up)) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II supported in slot 1)
Card slots 1 2
Cost at release $2,780 $1,999