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Nikon Z6 II vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
61
Imaging
77
Features
89
Overall
81
Nikon Z6 Mark II front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Nikon Z6 II vs Pentax K-3 II Key Specs

Nikon Z6 II
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Increase to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 705g - 134 x 101 x 70mm
  • Introduced October 2020
  • Earlier Model is Nikon Z6
Pentax K-3 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Released April 2015
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-3
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Nikon Z6 II vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Nikon Z6 II and Pentax K-3 II, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Nikon and Pentax. The image resolution of the Z6 II (25MP) and the K-3 II (24MP) is pretty similar but the Z6 II (Full frame) and K-3 II (APS-C) use different sensor sizes.

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The Z6 II was revealed 5 years later than the K-3 II and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Nikon Z6 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a short view of how the Z6 II matches up versus the K-3 II when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon Z6 II over the Pentax K-3 II

 Z6 II K-3 II 
ReleasedOctober 2020April 2015More recent by 67 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution2100k1037kCrisper screen (+1063k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Nikon Z6 II

 K-3 II Z6 II 

Common features in the Nikon Z6 II and Pentax K-3 II

 Z6 II K-3 II 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen sizing3.2"3.2"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Nikon Z6 II vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Nikon Z6 II features exterior dimensions of 134mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.8") with a weight of 705 grams (1.55 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 II has dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Compare the Nikon Z6 II and Pentax K-3 II in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the Z6 II compared to the K-3 II.

Nikon Z6 II vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the Z6 II and K-3 II is 61 and 59 respectively.

Nikon Z6 II vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z6 II vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reading specs. The graphic underneath will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the Z6 II and K-3 II.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The Z6 II using its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Nikon Z6 II will deliver extra detail because of its extra 1 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The newer Z6 II provides a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon Z6 II vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Nikon Z6 II vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z6 II vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon Z6 II
Portrait photography with Pentax K-3 II
86
you can focus manually
MP count amazing (25 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW files
79
has manual focus
resolution is good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon Z6 II
Street photography with Pentax K-3 II
78
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
includes touch to focus
environment sealing
above average ISO range (51,200)
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
above average ISO range (51,200)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Nikon Z6 II as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Sports photography camera
82
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count amazing (25 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
provides tracking autofocus
environment sealing
has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery life (410 shots)
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
environment proofing
has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery power (720 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon Z6 II Travel photography factors
Pentax K-3 II Travel photography factors
66
environment sealing
has bluetooth
includes touch to focus
MP count amazing (25MP)
terrible battery life (410 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
56
environment proofing
resolution is good (24MP)
terrible battery power (720 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon Z6 II
Landscape photography with Pentax K-3 II
82
you can focus manually
change lenses (Nikon Z mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count amazing (25MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
above average ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
two card slots
terrible battery life (410 CIPA)
78
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no low pass filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
two card slots
terrible battery power (720 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon Z6 II Vlogging features
Pentax K-3 II Vlogging features
36
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
has external mic socket
screen isn't selfie friendly
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone socket
display is not selfie friendly
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Nikon Z6 II vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z6 II and Pentax K-3 II
 Nikon Z6 Mark IIPentax K-3 II
General Information
Brand Nikon Pentax
Model type Nikon Z6 Mark II Pentax K-3 II
Type Pro Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2020-10-14 2015-04-23
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime III
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor measurements 35.9 x 23.9mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 858.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 25 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 6048 x 4024 6016 x 4000
Highest native ISO 51200 51200
Highest boosted ISO 204800 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Lowest boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 273 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon Z Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 15 151
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3.2" 3.2"
Display resolution 2,100k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 3,690k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.8x 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 14.0 frames per second 8.3 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Front-curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync, slow rear-curtain sync, off Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync (available with dedicated external flash)
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/200 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 144 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 144 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 144 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 120p / 144 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 100p / 144 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 56 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 56 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 28 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 28 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 28 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 705 gr (1.55 lb) 800 gr (1.76 lb)
Dimensions 134 x 101 x 70mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.8") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 1106
Other
Battery life 410 photographs 720 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 secs) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage CFexpress Type B / XQD Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 2 2
Retail cost $1,997 $829