Canon 60Da vs Pentax K-3 II: A Hands-On Matchup of Two Advanced APS-C DSLRs

If you’re hunting for a capable advanced DSLR to upgrade your photography arsenal, the Canon EOS 60Da and Pentax K-3 II are two fascinating contenders worthy of serious consideration. Though they target slightly different niches and come from distinct design philosophies, both cameras have earned loyal followings among enthusiasts and pros alike. Having tested thousands of cameras in all kinds of shooting scenarios, I’m here to unravel how these two stack up head-to-head, covering everything from sensor nuances to ergonomics, autofocus prowess to shooting versatility.

Whether you shoot portraits, landscapes, wildlife, or you simply want the best bang for your buck, this comparison will help you pinpoint which model aligns with your needs - without the spin.

Getting a Feel for the Body: Size, Build, and Controls

Before we dive into specs, let’s talk about how these cameras feel in your hands. Size and ergonomics can make or break day-long photo shoots or those spontaneous travel snaps.

The Canon 60Da continues the EOS 60D lineage but with astrophotography tweaks (more on that later). It has a sturdy mid-size DSLR body, measuring roughly 145mm × 106mm × 79mm and weighing in at 755g with battery. The Pentax K-3 II is a similar class but a touch more compact and heavier at 131mm × 100mm × 77mm and 800g.

Despite Pentax being smaller, it feels denser and more “rock solid” thanks to its full weather sealing and magnesium alloy shell.

The Canon features a comfortable grip well-suited to larger hands, and the fully articulating rear screen is a joy when shooting awkward angles, macro, or video. The K-3 II sticks to a fixed 3.2-inch screen (still decently sized), prioritizing ruggedness over flexibility.

If you’re all about weather sealing, the Pentax outclasses here, boasting comprehensive environmental protection sealing against dust, moisture, and cold temperatures. The Canon 60Da also offers sealing, but less extensively.

Both cameras have typical advanced DSLR layouts with plenty of customizable buttons. However, Pentax incorporates a slightly more sophisticated control setup, with quicker access to ISO, white balance, and drive modes without diving into menus. More clubs for thumbs to work with here.

Bottom line: For rugged shooting and durability (especially outdoors), the Pentax wins. For more ergonomic flexibility and a friendlier grip, Canon’s 60Da suits longer handheld sessions better.

Sensors and Image Quality: Resolution, Dynamic Range, and Astrophotography

Sensor technology is the heart of image quality, so it’s where things get interesting between these two. The Canon 60Da sports an 18MP APS-C CMOS sensor measuring 22.3x14.9mm - the same basic sensor from the 60D but with specialized IR filtering to enhance hydrogen-alpha wavelengths. This makes it a niche beast for astrophotographers who want more vivid reds from nebulae without needing external filters.

Pentax’s K-3 II packs a 24MP APS-C CMOS sensor (23.5x15.6mm), without an anti-aliasing filter, which sharpens the image detail considerably at risk of moiré patterns under some conditions. The lack of a low-pass filter is a strong trade-off that many photographers appreciate for its resolution punch.

If you depend heavily on dynamic range for landscapes or wedding photography, Pentax again takes a slight lead here. This K-3 II sensor scores about 13.6 EV of dynamic range in DXOMark tests, compared to the Canon 60Da’s older sensor, which sits notably lower (though exact DXO figures for the Canon 60Da aren’t public). The Pentax’s newer sensor technology and Prime III processor help here.

Regarding ISO sensitivity, Pentax’s maximum native ISO of 51200 outshines Canon’s 6400 native, with decent noise control up to 6400. The Canon goes to 12800 boosted ISO but with noisier results.

When testing in the field, landscapes shot with the K-3 II reveal more vibrant, crisp detail, and smoother gradations in highlights and shadows. The Canon 60Da’s strength shines when capturing astrophotography scenes - vivid star clusters and deep reds are simply better thanks to that specialized filter.

Rear Screen and Viewfinder Experience

The rear LCD and viewfinder provide the interface between you and your subject, so usability and visibility matter.

Canon’s fully articulated 3-inch Clear View TFT LCD offers 1,040k-dot resolution, which is respectable but not the sharpest by 2024 standards. That articulating screen is critical for video shooters, macro shooters, or vloggers needing versatile framing.

Conversely, the Pentax K-3 II provides a fixed 3.2-inch screen with a very similar resolution (approx. 1,037k dots) but no articulation. You trade off flexibility for size and solid daylight visibility.

The viewfinder on the Pentax is noticeably better: 100% frame coverage and 0.64x magnification vs Canon’s 96% and 0.6x magnification. For precise composition, especially in professional work where you pan carefully or shoot portraits, Pentax’s optical viewfinder feels more immersive and reliable.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Coverage & Tracking

Let’s get to the nuts and bolts of autofocus - crucial for wildlife, sports, and any dynamic shooting.

The Canon 60Da uses a 9-point AF system with phase detection for stills, including face detection in live view. It’s decent but very much dated, especially relative to current AF tech.

The Pentax K-3 II leapfrogs here with a 27-point AF system, including 25 cross-type points, providing much wider coverage and better precision. Its AF tracking is superior and better suited for fast-moving subjects, say, birds in flight or sporting events.

Continuous autofocus is supported in both but more honed on the Pentax. For low-light focusing, the Pentax can push down to -3 EV, allowing some impressive accuracy in dim conditions.

In real-world fast-action scenarios, I found the Pentax locked focus faster and maintained subject tracking with far fewer misses, while the Canon sometimes hunted under lower contrast.

Burst Rates and Buffer Performance

Continuous shooting speed and buffer depth are key considerations for sports photographers and wildlife enthusiasts.

The Canon 60Da shoots at 5 fps, which is enough for casual action but may feel limiting for fast sports or birding sequences. Its buffer can struggle to keep up when shooting RAW at full speed.

Pentax K-3 II offers a more action-friendly 8.3 fps continuous shooting, nearly doubling frame rate, making it much more adept at capturing sequences - say a soccer goal celebration or a falcon’s dive.

Pentax also handles its buffer better, letting you shoot bursts longer without slowdowns.

Weather Sealing and Durability: Taking It Outside

Both cameras emphasize durable construction, but the K-3 II goes a step further with its full weather sealing.

While the Canon 60Da has some sealing, Pentax markets the K-3 II as rugged enough for serious outdoor assignments, including rain and light snow. This makes it valuable for landscape, wildlife, and adventure photographers who can't afford equipment failures mid-shoot.

Video Capabilities: More Than Just Stills

Canon 60Da offers full HD 1080p recording at 24, 25, and 29.97 fps, with H.264 compression. It supports 720p at high frame rates for smooth slow-mo (up to 59.94 fps). It includes a microphone input but lacks a headphone jack for audio monitoring. The articulating screen aids touchscreen-free framing from tricky angles.

The Pentax K-3 II also shoots 1080p video but supports 60i/50i interlaced or progressive 24p/30p formats and adds in 720p at up to 60p. It offers both microphone and headphone jacks - welcome for videographers monitoring sound on location.

While neither can compete with modern mirrorless for autofocus smoothness in video or 4K capability, Pentax’s video features cater better to hybrid shooters needing professional audio control.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

Canon’s LP-E6 battery impresses with approximately 1100 shots per charge under CIPA standards, great for long days without breaks.

Pentax’s D-LI90 battery yields about 720 shots per charge - still respectable, but not as marathon.

Storage-wise, the Canon utilizes one SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot. The Pentax doubles down with dual SD slots, allowing for overflow or backup - a mature feature for pros and workflow-conscious shooters.

Connectivity wise, the Canon 60Da supports “Eye-Fi Connected” wireless via compatible cards, but no Bluetooth or NFC. Pentax offers optional wireless adapters. Both cameras have USB ports (Pentax moves to USB 3.0, faster than Canon’s USB 2.0) and full HDMI output.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Canon’s EF and EF-S mount boasts an undeniably vast collection of over 320 current and legacy lenses covering everything from budget primes to pro-grade L-series zooms and specialty optics.

Pentax’s KAF2 mount has around 150 lenses, spanning pentaxian classics to modern WR (weather-resistant) glass. The Pentax ecosystem is smaller but prides itself on affordable high-quality primes and many rugged lenses tailored to their weather-sealed bodies.

If lens variety and future-proofing matter big time, Canon’s system leads by a wide margin.

Real-World Performance Across Genres

Let’s talk shoot scenarios, because specs tell you so much - but actual usage tells the whole story.

Portraits

• Canon 60Da: Good skin tone rendering, faithful colors. Falters slightly with its older 9-point AF and lack of eye tracking. Bokeh is smooth but lens-dependent.
• Pentax K-3 II: Offers more precise focus, especially with many cross-type points, rendering sharp eyes consistently. No low-pass filter brings extra detail but may introduce moiré on clothing patterns.

Landscapes

• Pentax’s dynamic range and resolution advantage make it the better bet here. Weather sealing and dual slots are a must for outdoor durability and long shoots.
• Canon’s 60Da is still good but feels dated in highlight recovery and resolution, though its articulating screen helps creative angles.

Wildlife and Sports

• Pentax’s faster burst rate, superior AF tracking, and rugged body give it a definitive edge.
• Canon works but may frustrate if you chase fast action regularly.

Street Photography

• Canon’s lighter weight and articulating screen aid street candidness.
• Pentax is more robust but less discreet with its fixed screen and chunkier feel.

Macro

• Canon’s articulating screen and accurate live view AF give it a slight edge for precise macro focusing.
• Pentax’s sensor stabilization helps hand-holding, though you give up flexibility with its fixed screen.

Night and Astro

• Canon’s specialized hydrogen-alpha enhanced sensor wins hands down here.
• Pentax is good but not optimized for astrophotography.

Video and Travel

• For casual video, Canon’s articulating screen and decent codec make it easier to use.
• Pentax’s pro audio jacks and ruggedness suit serious hybrid shooters.
• Both fairly portable, but Canon edges portability.

Professional Use

• Pentax’s dual card slots, superior AF, weather sealing, and higher resolution better meet pro demands.
• Canon 60Da serves better as a specialized astrophotography tool or enthusiast's DSLR within Canon’s EF lens ecosystem.

Canon 60Da front Canon 60Da screen back Pentax K 3 II front

Price vs. Performance: How Do They Stack?

At market prices, the Pentax K-3 II often retails at around $829 body-only, while the Canon 60Da comes in at a hefty $1499, largely due to its astrophotography niche.

Considering Pentax offers a newer sensor, better autofocus, faster shooting, weather sealing, dual card slots, and 24MP resolution at nearly half the price, it’s a compelling value choice for typical photography applications.

The Canon 60Da’s price premium is justified mainly if astrophotography or specialized Canon EF lens compatibility is your priority.

Breaking It Down by Photography Genre

To visually summarize the pros and cons, here’s a breakdown of how each camera fares across genres:

• Portrait: Pentax leads due to focus and resolution.
• Landscape: Pentax wins on dynamic range/weather sealing.
• Wildlife: Pentax’s AF/tracking is superior.
• Sports: Pentax clear advantage with fps and AF.
• Street: Canon’s articulated screen adds discretion.
• Macro: Tie - Canon’s screen vs Pentax’s stabilization.
• Night/Astro: Canon specialized tech shines.
• Video: Pentax edges with pro audio features.
• Travel: Canon’s lighter size and screen wins.
• Professional: Pentax’s robust features suit pros.

Pros and Cons Recap

Canon 60Da

Pros:

• Specialized sensor for hydrogen-alpha astrophotography
• Fully articulated screen for versatile shooting
• Excellent battery life
• Robust Canon EF/EF-S lens ecosystem
• Friendly grip and handling for extended use

Cons:

• Older 18MP sensor with lower dynamic range
• Slower 9-point AF system, no AF tracking
• Single SD card slot only
• No headphone jack for video monitoring
• Higher price point for dated core features

Pentax K-3 II

Pros:

• Modern 24MP sensor without optical low-pass filter
• Superior 27-point AF system with tracking and face detection
• Fast 8.3 fps continuous shooting
• Fully weather sealed, rugged body
• Dual SD card slots for workflow security
• Sensor-based stabilization
• Built-in GPS
• Microphone and headphone jacks for video
• Reasonably priced

Cons:

• Fixed rear screen limits framing flexibility
• Smaller and less extensive lens ecosystem
• Lower battery life compared to Canon
• No specialized astrophotography features

Final Verdict: Which DSLR Suits You Best?

The Canon EOS 60Da is a specialized tool crafted mostly for astrophotographers or Canon loyalists who want a functional, articulated screen DSLR with stellar hydrogen-alpha sensitivity. It's a solid performer with a great grip and lens system but feels somewhat dated for general photography given its older sensor and AF tech - especially at its price.

The Pentax K-3 II is a much more versatile, capable camera for serious enthusiasts and professionals. It excels in dynamic range, autofocus, burst shooting, durability, and value. It’s a rugged workhorse suited for a wide variety of photography genres - landscapes, wildlife, sports, and even hybrid video work - minus a specialized astrophotography tweak.

If your passion lies in star gazing and capturing deep space scenes without fiddling with filters, go Canon 60Da. If you want an all-around advanced DSLR with modern autofocus, better resolution, high frame rate, and professional features at a considerable saving, the Pentax K-3 II is the clear choice.

Thanks for reading my hands-on breakdown - the next step? Try holding both if you can, rent ’em briefly, and consider your main shooting style. Each camera has its happy place, and I hope this guide steered you closer to yours. Happy shooting!