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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-70

Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73
Pentax K-3 front
 
Pentax K-70 front
Portability
62
Imaging
67
Features
81
Overall
72

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-70 Key Specs

Pentax K-3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Launched April 2014
  • Renewed by Pentax K-3 II
Pentax K-70
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 102400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 688g - 126 x 93 x 74mm
  • Introduced June 2016
  • Successor is Pentax KF
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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-70 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Pentax K-3 versus Pentax K-70, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are manufactured by Pentax. The resolution of the K-3 (24MP) and the K-70 (24MP) is pretty close and they enjoy the exact same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The K-3 was released 3 years before the K-70 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax K-70 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a in depth comparison, below is a brief summation of how the K-3 scores against the K-70 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Pentax K-70

 K-3 K-70 
Screen dimension3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k921kSharper screen (+116k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K-70 over the Pentax K-3

 K-70 K-3 
IntroducedJune 2016April 2014More modern by 26 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Pentax K-3 and Pentax K-70

 K-3 K-70 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-70 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera, you should factor its weight and proportions. The Pentax K-3 offers outside measurements of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) while the Pentax K-70 has measurements of 126mm x 93mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.9") having a weight of 688 grams (1.52 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax K-3 versus Pentax K-70 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the K-3 vs the K-70.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-70 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the K-3 and K-70 is 59 and 62 respectively.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-70 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-70 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizes merely by looking through technical specs. The picture underneath will provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the K-3 and K-70.

As you can tell, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the same exact megapixels so you should expect comparable quality of photos though you will want to take the release date of the cameras into account. The more aged K-3 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-70 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-70 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-3 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-70 Portrait photography details
79
manual focus
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
exports RAW formats
80
focusing manually
MP count good (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-3 Street photography info
Pentax K-70 Street photography info
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
great high ISO (51,200)
no moving screen
71
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
good ISO range (102,400)
more heavy than others in class (688 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-70 as a Sports photography camera
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery power (560 shots)
72
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
weather proof
supports phase detect autofocus
max frames per second low (6.0 fps)
low battery life (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-3 Travel photography details
Pentax K-70 Travel photography details
60
weather sealing
good MP (24MP)
has built in flash
terrible battery power (560 shots)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
64
weather proof
MP count good (24MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
low battery life (410 CIPA)
more heavy than others in class (688 grams)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax K-3
Landscape photography with Pentax K-70
77
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
great high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
2 card slots
terrible battery power (560 shots)
78
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
good ISO range (102,400)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
low battery life (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-70 as a Vlogging camera
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone support
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
71
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with microphone jack
more heavy than others in class (688g)
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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-3 and Pentax K-70
 Pentax K-3Pentax K-70
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax K-3 Pentax K-70
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2014-04-10 2016-06-08
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Prime III PRIME MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 6016 x 4000 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 51200 102400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 27 11
Cross type focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF2 Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 151 151
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3.2 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,037k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x 0.63x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter speed 8.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in 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, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 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) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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) 688 gr (1.52 lbs)
Dimensions 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") 126 x 93 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 80 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1216 not tested
Other
Battery life 560 photographs 410 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI90 -
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 12 secs, continuous)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I compatible)
Storage slots Two One
Price at release $639 $649