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Nikon D800E vs Pentax K-3 III

Portability
54
Imaging
72
Features
80
Overall
75
Nikon D800E front
 
Pentax K-3 Mark III front
Portability
58
Imaging
71
Features
86
Overall
77

Nikon D800E vs Pentax K-3 III Key Specs

Nikon D800E
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Raise to 25600)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 900g - 146 x 123 x 82mm
  • Revealed June 2012
  • Previous Model is Nikon D700
Pentax K-3 III
(Full Review)
  • 26MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Launched March 2021
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Nikon D800E vs Pentax K-3 III Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Nikon D800E versus Pentax K-3 III, both Advanced DSLR cameras by competitors Nikon and Pentax. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the D800E (36MP) and K-3 III (26MP) and the D800E (Full frame) and K-3 III (APS-C) offer different sensor sizing.

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The D800E was brought out 9 years earlier than the K-3 III and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before we go right into a detailed comparison, here is a simple view of how the D800E matches up against the K-3 III when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D800E over the Pentax K-3 III

 D800E K-3 III 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 III over the Nikon D800E

 K-3 III D800E 
LaunchedMarch 2021June 2012Fresher by 107 months
Display resolution1620k921kSharper display (+699k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Nikon D800E and Pentax K-3 III

 D800E K-3 III 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3.2"3.2"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Nikon D800E vs Pentax K-3 III Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to think about its weight and proportions. The Nikon D800E offers outer dimensions of 146mm x 123mm x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2") with a weight of 900 grams (1.98 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 III has measurements of 135mm x 104mm x 74mm (5.3" x 4.1" x 2.9") and a weight of 820 grams (1.81 lbs).

See the Nikon D800E versus Pentax K-3 III in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use at the time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the D800E vs the K-3 III.

Nikon D800E vs Pentax K-3 III size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the D800E and K-3 III is 54 and 58 respectively.

Nikon D800E vs Pentax K-3 III top view buttons comparison

Nikon D800E vs Pentax K-3 III Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to imagine the gap in sensor sizing purely by checking out technical specs. The visual underneath might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the D800E and K-3 III.

As you can tell, both of those cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The D800E featuring a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Nikon D800E will produce extra detail having its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will help you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older D800E will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Nikon D800E vs Pentax K-3 III sensor size comparison

Nikon D800E vs Pentax K-3 III Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D800E vs Pentax K-3 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D800E as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-3 III as a Portrait photography camera
83
manual focus
megapixel count fantastic (36MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
comes with face detect focus
exports RAW formats
82
focusing manually
megapixel count excellent (26MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon D800E as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-3 III as a Street photography camera
59
great sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
70
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
boasts touch to focus
weather proofing
great ISO range (1,600,000)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D800E Sports photography information
Pentax K-3 III Sports photography information
73
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
megapixel count fantastic (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
79
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count excellent (26MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
low battery pack (800 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D800E Travel photography details
Pentax K-3 III Travel photography details
66
environment proof
megapixel count fantastic (36MP)
flash built-in
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
64
weather proofing
supports bluetooth
boasts touch to focus
megapixel count excellent (26 megapixels)
low battery pack (800 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D800E Landscape photography info
Pentax K-3 III Landscape photography info
79
manual focus
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inches)
megapixel count fantastic (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
no low pass filter
exports RAW formats
environment proof
2 card slots
lack of image stabilization
80
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count excellent (26 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
great ISO range (1,600,000)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
2 card slots
low battery pack (800 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D800E Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-3 III Vlogging highlights
30
comes with face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes microphone support
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
35
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
includes microphone support
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Nikon D800E vs Pentax K-3 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D800E and Pentax K-3 III
 Nikon D800EPentax K-3 Mark III
General Information
Brand Nikon Pentax
Model Nikon D800E Pentax K-3 Mark III
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2012-06-11 2021-03-31
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed 3 -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor measurements 35.9 x 24mm 23 x 15.5mm
Sensor area 861.6mm² 356.5mm²
Sensor resolution 36MP 26MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 5:4 and 3:2 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 7360 x 4912 6192 x 4128
Maximum native ISO 6400 1600000
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 51 101
Cross focus points 15 25
Lens
Lens mount Nikon F Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 309 156
Crop factor 1 1.6
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3.2 inches 3.2 inches
Screen resolution 921 thousand dots 1,620 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with 170 degrees wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain, High-speed sync 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
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps) 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 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 900g (1.98 lb) 820g (1.81 lb)
Physical dimensions 146 x 123 x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2") 135 x 104 x 74mm (5.3" x 4.1" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 96 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 25.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 14.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 2979 not tested
Other
Battery life 900 images 800 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL15 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec, 1 to 9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2 or 3 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I), SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I compliant Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II supported in slot 1)
Card slots 2 2
Cost at release $2,389 $1,999