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Nikon D780 vs Pentax K-3 III

Portability
57
Imaging
77
Features
89
Overall
81
Nikon D780 front
 
Pentax K-3 Mark III front
Portability
58
Imaging
72
Features
86
Overall
77

Nikon D780 vs Pentax K-3 III Key Specs

Nikon D780
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Boost to 204800)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 840g - 144 x 116 x 76mm
  • Revealed January 2020
  • Older Model is Nikon D750
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 Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 820g - 135 x 104 x 74mm
  • Released March 2021
Photography Glossary

Nikon D780 vs Pentax K-3 III Overview

Here is a detailed assessment of the Nikon D780 vs Pentax K-3 III, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by competitors Nikon and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the D780 (25MP) and the K-3 III (26MP) is relatively similar but the D780 (Full frame) and K-3 III (APS-C) come with different sensor size.

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The D780 was introduced 14 months prior to the K-3 III which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before delving through a in depth comparison, below is a brief overview of how the D780 grades vs the K-3 III with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D780 over the Pentax K-3 III

 D780 K-3 III 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution2359k1620kCrisper screen (+739k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 III over the Nikon D780

 K-3 III D780 
ReleasedMarch 2021January 2020Fresher by 14 months

Common features in the Nikon D780 and Pentax K-3 III

 D780 K-3 III 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen dimension3.2"3.2"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Nikon D780 vs Pentax K-3 III Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera often, you should factor its weight and proportions. The Nikon D780 features outside dimensions of 144mm x 116mm x 76mm (5.7" x 4.6" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 840 grams (1.85 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 III has measurements of 135mm x 104mm x 74mm (5.3" x 4.1" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 820 grams (1.81 lbs).

Check the Nikon D780 vs Pentax K-3 III in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use at the time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the D780 versus the K-3 III.

Nikon D780 vs Pentax K-3 III size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D780 and K-3 III is 57 and 58 respectively.

Nikon D780 vs Pentax K-3 III top view buttons comparison

Nikon D780 vs Pentax K-3 III Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizing simply by going over specs. The visual underneath will offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the D780 and K-3 III.

All in all, the two cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The D780 using its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Pentax K-3 III will offer extra detail using its extra 1MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The older D780 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon D780 vs Pentax K-3 III sensor size comparison

Nikon D780 vs Pentax K-3 III Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D780 vs Pentax K-3 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon D780
Portrait photography with Pentax K-3 III
86
you can focus manually
high megapixels (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW formats
83
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is excellent (26MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon D780 Street photography features
Pentax K-3 III Street photography features
71
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
weather proofing
good high ISO (51,200)
lack of image stabilization
71
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
offers focus by touch
environment proof
very good high ISO (1,600,000)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D780 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-3 III Sports photography advice
82
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
high megapixels (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
great battery (2,260 per charge)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
lack of image stabilization
79
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is excellent (26 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
not so great battery power (800 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon D780
Travel photography with Pentax K-3 III
71
great battery (2,260 per charge)
weather proofing
has bluetooth
boasts touch to focus
high megapixels (25MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
64
environment proof
has bluetooth
offers focus by touch
sensor resolution is excellent (26 megapixels)
not so great battery power (800 shots)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D780 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-3 III Landscape photography advice
81
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is decent (3.2")
high megapixels (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
good high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
great battery (2,260 per charge)
has dual storage slots
lack of image stabilization
80
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is excellent (26MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
very good high ISO (1,600,000)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
has double storage slots
not so great battery power (800 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D780 Vlogging advice
Pentax K-3 III Vlogging advice
32
screen is touchscreen
provides face detect focus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
includes microphone jack
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
35
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
includes external microphone port
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Nikon D780 vs Pentax K-3 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D780 and Pentax K-3 III
 Nikon D780Pentax K-3 Mark III
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Pentax
Model type Nikon D780 Pentax K-3 Mark III
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2020-01-07 2021-03-31
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor measurements 35.9 x 23.9mm 23 x 15.5mm
Sensor surface area 858.0mm² 356.5mm²
Sensor resolution 25MP 26MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 6048 x 4024 6192 x 4128
Maximum native ISO 51200 1600000
Maximum boosted ISO 204800 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Minimum boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 51 101
Cross type focus points 15 25
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 309 156
Focal length multiplier 1 1.6
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3.2 inches 3.2 inches
Screen resolution 2,359 thousand dot 1,620 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 900s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes no built-in flash 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
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/200s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 120p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 100p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 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
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 840 grams (1.85 pounds) 820 grams (1.81 pounds)
Dimensions 144 x 116 x 76mm (5.7" x 4.6" x 3.0") 135 x 104 x 74mm (5.3" x 4.1" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 2260 shots 800 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL15b D-LI90
Self timer Yes Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible) Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II supported in slot 1)
Storage slots Dual Dual
Cost at launch $2,297 $1,999