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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-7

Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73
Pentax K-3 front
 
Pentax K-7 front
Portability
60
Imaging
54
Features
69
Overall
60

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-7 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
  • Introduced April 2014
  • Successor is Pentax K-3 II
Pentax K-7
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 2000 (Increase to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 750g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Introduced October 2009
  • Refreshed by Pentax K-5
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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-7 Overview

Below is a extended overview of the Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-7, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras and they are both designed by Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the K-3 (24MP) and K-7 (15MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor size (APS-C).

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The K-3 was brought out 4 years later than the K-7 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the K-3 scores vs the K-7 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Pentax K-7

 K-3 K-7 
IntroducedApril 2014October 2009More recent by 56 months
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k921kClearer screen (+116k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K-7 over the Pentax K-3

 K-7 K-3 

Common features in the Pentax K-3 and Pentax K-7

 K-3 K-7 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-7 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to think about its weight and volume. The Pentax K-3 has outer measurements of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-7 has sizing of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs).

Look at the Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-7 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the K-3 and the K-7.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-7 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-3 and K-7 is 59 and 60 respectively.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-7 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-7 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to see the difference between sensor measurements only by reviewing a spec sheet. The visual underneath will help offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the K-3 and K-7.

Clearly, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Pentax K-3 to offer extra detail having its extra 9MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The newer K-3 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-7 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax K-3
Portrait photography with Pentax K-7
79
has manual focus
good MP (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focus
exports RAW formats
72
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (15 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Pentax K-3 Street photography details
Pentax K-7 Street photography details
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
good high ISO (51,200)
no moving screen
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-3 Sports photography info
Pentax K-7 Sports photography info
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
environment proof
comes with phase detect auto focus
bad battery power (560 shots)
69
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (15 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
weather proof
supports phase detect AF
low frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-3 Travel photography details
Pentax K-7 Travel photography details
60
environment proof
good MP (24MP)
flash built-in
bad battery power (560 CIPA)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
64
weather proof
sensor resolution is decent (15MP)
built-in flash
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax K-3
Landscape photography with Pentax K-7
77
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3.2 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
good high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
has dual storage slots
bad battery power (560 per charge)
77
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (15MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-3 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-7 Vlogging highlights
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone jack
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
25
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic support
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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-3 and Pentax K-7
 Pentax K-3Pentax K-7
General Information
Company Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-3 Pentax K-7
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2014-04-10 2009-10-02
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Prime III Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Max resolution 6016 x 4000 4672 x 3104
Max native ISO 51200 2000
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 27 11
Cross focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF2 Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 151 151
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3.2" 3"
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT LCD monitor TFT color LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 13.00 m
Flash modes 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, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 1536 x 1024 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800 gr (1.76 lb) 750 gr (1.65 lb)
Physical dimensions 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 80 61
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score 13.4 10.6
DXO Low light score 1216 536
Other
Battery life 560 photos 980 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI90 D-LI90
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/MMC
Card slots 2 One
Pricing at release $639 $599