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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
59 Imaging
64 Features
85 Overall
72
Pentax K-3 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64 Imaging
57 Features
70 Overall
62

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Pentax K-3
(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
  • Revealed April 2014
  • Updated by Pentax K-3 II
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched November 2013
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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-500, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are offered by Pentax. There exists a sizable gap between the resolutions of the K-3 (24MP) and K-500 (16MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The K-3 was revealed 5 months after the K-500 so they are of a similar age. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the K-3 matches up vs the K-500 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary 

        

          

            
Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Pentax K-500

          

          

            
 K-3 K-500 
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k921kCrisper display (+116k dot)
          

        


        

          

            
Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Pentax K-3

          

          

            
 K-500 K-3 
          

        


        

          

            
Common features in the Pentax K-3 and Pentax K-500

          

          

            
 K-3 K-500 
LaunchedApril 2014November 2013Similar age
Focus manually  Dial precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen  Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display  Lack of Touch friendly display
          

        

        

	
	
	
	

        

          

            
Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

          

          

            
If you are going to carry around your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Pentax K-3 comes with external dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) and the Pentax K-500 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).
Take a look at the Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose at that time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the K-3 compared to the K-500.
Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison
Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-3 and K-500 is 59 and 64 respectively.
Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison          

        


        

          

            
Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

          

          

            
Normally, it is hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizes purely by going over a spec sheet. The image here should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the K-3 and K-500.
Clearly, both of the cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Pentax K-3 to offer extra detail because of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images a good deal more aggressively.

            Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison
          

        


        

          

            
Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

          

          

                      

          Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison        


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Photography Type Scores

          

        

        
Portrait Comparison
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography information
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography information
78
 has manual focus
 megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
 decent sensor size (APS-C)
 has face detect autofocus
 exports RAW files
74
 you can focus manually
 megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
 good sensor size (APS-C)
 supports face detect focus
 supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison
Pentax K-3 Street photography info
Pentax K-500 Street photography info
69
 image stabilization (Sensor based)
 decent sensor size (APS-C)
 exports RAW files
 weather proof
 very good high ISO (51,200)
 screen is fixed
68
 image stabilization (Sensor based)
 good sensor size (APS-C)
 supports RAW formats
 very good ISO range (51,600)
 no moving screen
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Sports Comparison
Sports photography with Pentax K-3
Sports photography with Pentax K-500
75
 great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
 image stabilization (Sensor based)
 megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
 decent sensor size (APS-C)
 has tracking focus
 weather proof
 supports phase detect autofocus
 terrible battery power (560 shots)
72
 maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
 image stabilization (Sensor based)
 megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
 good sensor size (APS-C)
 supports tracking focus
 good battery pack (710 CIPA)
 sensor has phase detect auto focus
 low frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison
Pentax K-3 Travel photography details
Pentax K-500 Travel photography details
60
 weather proof
 megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
 built-in flash
 terrible battery power (560 CIPA)
 doesn't feature selfie friendly display
67
 good battery pack (710 CIPA)
 megapixel count decent (16MP)
 has built in flash
 does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison
Pentax K-3 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography factors
77
 has manual focus
 switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
 pretty good screen size (3.2 inch)
 image stabilization (Sensor based)
 megapixel count good (24MP)
 decent sensor size (APS-C)
 no low pass filter
 very good high ISO (51,200)
 exports RAW files
 weather proof
 has double storage slots
 terrible battery power (560 CIPA)
79
 you can focus manually
 swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
 screen size is decent (3")
 image stabilization (Sensor based)
 megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
 good sensor size (APS-C)
 very good ISO range (51,600)
 supports RAW formats
 good battery pack (710 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison
Vlogging with Pentax K-3
Vlogging with Pentax K-500
34
 image stabilization (Sensor based)
 has face detect autofocus
 high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
 comes with microphone port
 doesn't feature selfie friendly display
30
 image stabilization (Sensor based)
 supports face detect focus
 high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
 does not contain selfie friendly screen
 missing microphone port
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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

          

          

                      


          

            Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-3 and Pentax K-500
 Pentax K-3Pentax K-500
General Information
Company Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax K-3 Pentax K-500
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2014-04-10 2013-11-27
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Prime III PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 16MP
Anti alias filter    
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Max resolution 6016 x 4000 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 51200 51600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images    
Autofocusing
Focus manually    
Autofocus touch    
Continuous autofocus    
Single autofocus    
Autofocus tracking    
Autofocus selectice    
Center weighted autofocus    
Autofocus multi area    
Live view autofocus    
Face detection focus    
Contract detection focus    
Phase detection focus    
Total focus points 27 11
Cross type focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF2 Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 151 151
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3.2 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch functionality    
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Expose Manually    
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance    
Image stabilization    
Inbuilt flash    
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe    
AE bracketing    
WB bracketing    
Max flash sync 1/180s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering    
Average metering    
Spot metering    
Partial metering    
AF area metering    
Center weighted metering    
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack    
Headphone jack    
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth    
NFC    
HDMI    
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional Optional
Physical
Environment seal    
Water proofing    
Dust proofing    
Shock proofing    
Crush proofing    
Freeze proofing    
Weight 800 gr (1.76 lbs) 646 gr (1.42 lbs)
Physical dimensions 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 80 79
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.4 13.1
DXO Low light rating 1216 1087
Other
Battery life 560 photos 710 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery ID D-LI90 4 x AA
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting    
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Two Single
Pricing at release $639 $600