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Canon M3 vs Pentax K-01

Portability
85
Imaging
66
Features
76
Overall
70
Canon EOS M3 front
 
Pentax K-01 front
Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61

Canon M3 vs Pentax K-01 Key Specs

Canon M3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF-M Mount
  • 366g - 111 x 68 x 44mm
  • Launched February 2015
  • Replacement is Canon M6
Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Revealed May 2012
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Canon M3 vs Pentax K-01 Overview

The following is a in-depth assessment of the Canon M3 and Pentax K-01, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by manufacturers Canon and Pentax. There exists a large gap between the sensor resolutions of the M3 (24MP) and K-01 (16MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor size (APS-C).

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The M3 was unveiled 2 years after the K-01 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Canon M3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving into a detailed comparison, here is a brief overview of how the M3 matches up against the K-01 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon M3 over the Pentax K-01

 M3 K-01 
RevealedFebruary 2015May 2012Newer by 33 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k921kSharper display (+119k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Canon M3

 K-01 M3 

Common features in the Canon M3 and Pentax K-01

 M3 K-01 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size

Canon M3 vs Pentax K-01 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to travel with your camera, you should consider its weight and dimensions. The Canon M3 has got physical dimensions of 111mm x 68mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") along with a weight of 366 grams (0.81 lbs) while the Pentax K-01 has dimensions of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") along with a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon M3 and Pentax K-01 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the M3 compared to the K-01.

Canon M3 vs Pentax K-01 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the M3 and K-01 is 85 and 76 respectively.

Canon M3 vs Pentax K-01 top view buttons comparison

Canon M3 vs Pentax K-01 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to envision the difference between sensor dimensions just by checking specs. The picture here will help give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the M3 and K-01.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Canon M3 to give you extra detail having an extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The fresher M3 is going to have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Canon M3 vs Pentax K-01 sensor size comparison

Canon M3 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon M3 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon M3
Portrait photography with Pentax K-01
79
focusing manually
decent megapixels (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
74
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon M3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-01 as a Street photography camera
79
tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
boasts focus by touch
lack of image stabilization
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
heavier than competition in class (561 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon M3
Sports photography with Pentax K-01
61
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect autofocus
max frames per second low (4.2 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery (250 shots)
61
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great battery (540 per charge)
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon M3
Travel photography with Pentax K-01
73
boasts focus by touch
decent megapixels (24MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Timelapse function
bad battery (250 CIPA)
65
great battery (540 CIPA)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
heavier than competition in class (561 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon M3 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-01 Landscape photography features
68
focusing manually
swap lenses (Canon EF-M mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
decent megapixels (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
bad battery (250 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse function
80
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
great battery (540 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon M3 Vlogging info
Pentax K-01 Vlogging info
80
selfie friendly screen
has touchscreen
includes face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone port
lack of image stabilization
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic support
screen isn't selfie friendly
heavier than competition in class (561 grams)
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Canon M3 vs Pentax K-01 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon M3 and Pentax K-01
 Canon EOS M3Pentax K-01
General Information
Brand Name Canon Pentax
Model Canon EOS M3 Pentax K-01
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2015-02-06 2012-05-30
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip DIGIC 6 -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 332.3mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 6000 x 4000 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max boosted ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 49 81
Lens
Lens mounting type Canon EF-M Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 23 151
Crop factor 1.6 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.2fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps),1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 366g (0.81 lbs) 561g (1.24 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 68 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 79
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 11.8 12.9
DXO Low light score 1169 1135
Other
Battery life 250 images 540 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LP-E17 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $481 $899