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Nikon D810 vs Pentax K-3 III

Portability
54
Imaging
74
Features
78
Overall
75
Nikon D810 front
 
Pentax K-3 Mark III front
Portability
58
Imaging
71
Features
86
Overall
77

Nikon D810 vs Pentax K-3 III Key Specs

Nikon D810
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 12800 (Bump to 51200)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 980g - 146 x 123 x 82mm
  • Announced June 2014
  • Replaced the Nikon D800
  • Replacement is Nikon D850
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 Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 820g - 135 x 104 x 74mm
  • Launched March 2021
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Nikon D810 vs Pentax K-3 III Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Nikon D810 and Pentax K-3 III, both Advanced DSLR cameras by companies Nikon and Pentax. There is a significant difference among the resolutions of the D810 (36MP) and K-3 III (26MP) and the D810 (Full frame) and K-3 III (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizes.

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The D810 was announced 7 years earlier than the K-3 III which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before delving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a concise summary of how the D810 scores versus the K-3 III with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D810 over the Pentax K-3 III

 D810 K-3 III 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 III over the Nikon D810

 K-3 III D810 
LaunchedMarch 2021June 2014Newer by 82 months
Display resolution1620k1229kClearer display (+391k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Nikon D810 and Pentax K-3 III

 D810 K-3 III 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3.2"3.2"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Nikon D810 vs Pentax K-3 III Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera, you should factor in its weight and size. The Nikon D810 has got outer dimensions of 146mm x 123mm x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2") and a weight of 980 grams (2.16 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).

Check out the Nikon D810 and Pentax K-3 III in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Below is the front view size comparison of the D810 and the K-3 III.

Nikon D810 vs Pentax K-3 III size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the D810 and K-3 III is 54 and 58 respectively.

Nikon D810 vs Pentax K-3 III top view buttons comparison

Nikon D810 vs Pentax K-3 III Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions merely by viewing specs. The pic underneath will provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the D810 and K-3 III.

All in all, both of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The D810 using its larger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Nikon D810 will provide you with greater detail with its extra 10MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos far more aggressively. The more aged D810 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon D810 vs Pentax K-3 III sensor size comparison

Nikon D810 vs Pentax K-3 III Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D810 vs Pentax K-3 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D810 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-3 III as a Portrait photography camera
84
focusing manually
amazing sensor resolution (36MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
features face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
82
you can focus manually
MP count great (26MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon D810 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-3 III as a Street photography camera
56
large sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than others (980g)
70
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
supports focus via touch
weather proofing
good high ISO (1,600,000)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D810 Sports photography info
Pentax K-3 III Sports photography info
75
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
amazing sensor resolution (36MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
weather proof
great battery power (1,200 per charge)
supports phase detect autofocus
max frames per second low (5.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
79
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count great (26 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proofing
supports phase detect AF
terrible battery (800 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D810 Travel photography info
Pentax K-3 III Travel photography info
63
great battery power (1,200 shots)
weather proof
amazing sensor resolution (36 megapixels)
flash built-in
more heavy than others (980g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
64
weather proofing
has bluetooth
supports focus via touch
MP count great (26MP)
terrible battery (800 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D810 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-3 III Landscape photography highlights
80
focusing manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen is a decent size (3.2 inches)
amazing sensor resolution (36 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
does not have anti-alias filter
exports RAW formats
weather proof
great battery power (1,200 shots)
two card slots
lack of image stabilization
80
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count great (26MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
no low pass filter
good high ISO (1,600,000)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
has dual storage slots
terrible battery (800 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D810 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-3 III Vlogging factors
28
features face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external microphone socket
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than others (980g)
35
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
good video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with external microphone jack
display isn't selfie friendly
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Nikon D810 vs Pentax K-3 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D810 and Pentax K-3 III
 Nikon D810Pentax K-3 Mark III
General Information
Company Nikon Pentax
Model Nikon D810 Pentax K-3 Mark III
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2014-06-26 2021-03-31
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip EXPEED 4 -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor measurements 35.9 x 24mm 23 x 15.5mm
Sensor surface area 861.6mm² 356.5mm²
Sensor resolution 36MP 26MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 5:4 and 3:2 3:2
Maximum resolution 7360 x 4912 6192 x 4128
Maximum native ISO 12800 1600000
Maximum boosted ISO 51200 -
Min native ISO 64 100
RAW format
Min boosted ISO 32 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 51 101
Cross focus points 15 25
Lens
Lens mount Nikon F Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 309 156
Crop factor 1 1.6
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3.2 inch 3.2 inch
Display resolution 1,229k dot 1,620k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT-LCD (WRGB) -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash options Front-curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, redeye reduction, redeye reduction w/slow sync, slow rear-curtain 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
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs 1/200 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p) 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 data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Optional 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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 980 gr (2.16 pounds) 820 gr (1.81 pounds)
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 All around score 97 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 25.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 14.8 not tested
DXO Low light score 2853 not tested
Other
Battery life 1200 photos 800 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL15 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10, 20 secs for up to 9 shots) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, CompactFlash (UDMA compliant) Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II supported in slot 1)
Storage slots Two Two
Price at launch $1,999 $1,999