Pentax K-3 II vs Pentax K-500

On this page, we are evaluating the Pentax K-3 II and Pentax K-500, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are manufactured by Pentax. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the K-3 II (24MP) and K-500 (16MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor size (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The K-3 II was manufactured 18 months after the K-500 making them a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the K-3 II grades versus the K-500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax K-3 II & Pentax K-500. The entire galleries are provided at Pentax K-3 II Gallery & Pentax K-500 Gallery.

For those who are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Pentax K-3 II features physical dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) while the Pentax K-500 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Check out the Pentax K-3 II and Pentax K-500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing at the time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the K-3 II vs the K-500.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the K-3 II and K-500 is 59 and 64 respectively.

Generally, it can be hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizes only by reading through specs. The image underneath might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the K-3 II and K-500.

As you can plainly see, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You can anticipate the Pentax K-3 II to give you greater detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The newer K-3 II provides an edge in sensor tech.