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Pentax K-3 III vs Sigma SD9

Portability
58
Imaging
72
Features
86
Overall
77
Pentax K-3 Mark III front
 
Sigma SD9 front
Portability
54
Imaging
39
Features
27
Overall
34

Pentax K-3 III vs Sigma SD9 Key Specs

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
Sigma SD9
(Full Review)
  • 3MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sigma SA Mount
  • 950g - 152 x 120 x 79mm
  • Announced November 2002
  • Renewed by Sigma SD10
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Pentax K-3 III vs Sigma SD9 Overview

Lets look closer at the Pentax K-3 III vs Sigma SD9, both Advanced DSLR cameras by rivals Pentax and Sigma. There exists a huge gap among the image resolutions of the K-3 III (26MP) and SD9 (3MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The K-3 III was launched 18 years after the SD9 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the K-3 III scores vs the SD9 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 III over the Sigma SD9

 K-3 III SD9 
AnnouncedMarch 2021November 2002Newer by 224 months
Screen dimensions3.2"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.4")
Screen resolution1620k130kClearer screen (+1490k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sigma SD9 over the Pentax K-3 III

 SD9 K-3 III 

Common features in the Pentax K-3 III and Sigma SD9

 K-3 III SD9 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Pentax K-3 III vs Sigma SD9 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and size. The Pentax K-3 III features outside dimensions of 135mm x 104mm x 74mm (5.3" x 4.1" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 820 grams (1.81 lbs) while the Sigma SD9 has specifications of 152mm x 120mm x 79mm (6.0" x 4.7" x 3.1") and a weight of 950 grams (2.09 lbs).

See the Pentax K-3 III vs Sigma SD9 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the K-3 III versus the SD9.

Pentax K-3 III vs Sigma SD9 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-3 III and SD9 is 58 and 54 respectively.

Pentax K-3 III vs Sigma SD9 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-3 III vs Sigma SD9 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to picture the difference in sensor dimensions simply by seeing technical specs. The picture below may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-3 III and SD9.

As you can tell, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You should expect the Pentax K-3 III to show more detail utilizing its extra 23 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more modern K-3 III should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax K-3 III vs Sigma SD9 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-3 III vs Sigma SD9 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-3 III vs Sigma SD9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-3 III Portrait photography factors
Sigma SD9 Portrait photography factors
83
focusing manually
high MP (26MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
47
manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no liveview
low megapixels (3 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-3 III as a Street photography camera
Sigma SD9 as a Street photography camera
71
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
boasts touch to focus
environment sealing
very good high ISO (1,600,000)
no articulating screen
43
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition (950g)
maximum ISO low (400)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-3 III Sports photography info
Sigma SD9 Sports photography info
79
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
high MP (26 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
low battery life (800 per charge)
36
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no liveview
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (3 megapixels)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-3 III Travel photography features
Sigma SD9 Travel photography features
64
environment sealing
connects via bluetooth
boasts touch to focus
high MP (26 megapixels)
low battery life (800 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
29
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (950g)
low megapixels (3MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax K-3 III
Landscape photography with Sigma SD9
80
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3.2")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
high MP (26 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
very good high ISO (1,600,000)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
has double storage slots
low battery life (800 shots)
41
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sigma SA mount)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is small (1.8 inch)
no liveview
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (3 megapixels)
maximum ISO low (400)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K-3 III
Vlogging with Sigma SD9
35
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
includes external mic port
display isn't selfie friendly
9
no video shooting
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Pentax K-3 III vs Sigma SD9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-3 III and Sigma SD9
 Pentax K-3 Mark IIISigma SD9
General Information
Company Pentax Sigma
Model Pentax K-3 Mark III Sigma SD9
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2021-03-31 2002-11-26
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS (Foveon X3)
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23 x 15.5mm 20.7 x 13.8mm
Sensor area 356.5mm² 285.7mm²
Sensor resolution 26MP 3MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Maximum resolution 6192 x 4128 2268 x 1512
Maximum native ISO 1600000 400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 101 -
Cross focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 Sigma SA
Amount of lenses 156 76
Crop factor 1.6 1.7
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.2" 1.8"
Display resolution 1,620 thousand dots 130 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 98%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.77x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 12.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/200 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 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 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 820g (1.81 pounds) 950g (2.09 pounds)
Physical dimensions 135 x 104 x 74mm (5.3" x 4.1" x 2.9") 152 x 120 x 79mm (6.0" x 4.7" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 800 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI90 -
Self timer Yes Yes (10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II supported in slot 1) Compact Flash Type I or II
Card slots 2 1
Price at launch $1,999 $3,001