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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K100D S

Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73
Pentax K-3 front
 
Pentax K100D Super front
Portability
65
Imaging
45
Features
38
Overall
42

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K100D S 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
  • Announced April 2014
  • Successor is Pentax K-3 II
Pentax K100D S
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 129 x 91 x 71mm
  • Revealed June 2007
  • Superseded the Pentax K100D
  • New Model is Pentax K200D
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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K100D S Overview

Lets look much closer at the Pentax K-3 versus Pentax K100D S, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and they are both sold by Pentax. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the K-3 (24MP) and K100D S (6MP) but they come with the exact same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The K-3 was released 6 years later than the K100D S and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax K100D S being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a complete comparison, below is a simple summation of how the K-3 scores versus the K100D S in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Pentax K100D S

 K-3 K100D S 
RevealedApril 2014June 2007More recent by 83 months
Screen dimension3.2"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.7")
Screen resolution1037k210kCrisper screen (+827k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K100D S over the Pentax K-3

 K100D S K-3 

Common features in the Pentax K-3 and Pentax K100D S

 K-3 K100D S 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K100D S Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera, you will need to factor its weight and proportions. The Pentax K-3 has outer measurements of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) and the Pentax K100D S has measurements of 129mm x 91mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.8") having a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Check the Pentax K-3 versus Pentax K100D S in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the K-3 and the K100D S.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K100D S size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the K-3 and K100D S is 59 and 65 respectively.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K100D S top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K100D S Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to visualise the difference in sensor measurements purely by looking through a spec sheet. The visual below may give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the K-3 and K100D S.

As you can see, both of those cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Pentax K-3 to provide you with more detail as a result of its extra 18 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs much more aggressively. The younger K-3 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K100D S sensor size comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K100D S Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K100D S Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K100D S as a Portrait photography camera
79
manual focus
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
51
has manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no liveview feature
low megapixels (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K100D S as a Street photography camera
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
above average high ISO (51,200)
screen is fixed
64
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax K-3
Sports photography with Pentax K100D S
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
has phase detect AF
bad battery pack (560 CIPA)
47
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K-3
Travel photography with Pentax K100D S
60
weather proofing
good MP (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
bad battery pack (560 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly display
45
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
low megapixels (6MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-3 Landscape photography features
Pentax K100D S Landscape photography features
77
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
no anti-alias filter
above average high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
two card slots
bad battery pack (560 shots)
52
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
no liveview feature
low megapixels (6MP)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K-3
Vlogging with Pentax K100D S
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has microphone socket
does not offer selfie friendly display
9
can't record video
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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K100D S Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-3 and Pentax K100D S
 Pentax K-3Pentax K100D Super
General Information
Company Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-3 Pentax K100D Super
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2014-04-10 2007-06-28
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Prime III -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 6 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Max resolution 6016 x 4000 3008 x 2008
Max native ISO 51200 3200
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 27 11
Cross focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF2 Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 151 151
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3.2 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 96%
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) -
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 reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/180 seconds
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) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format 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 None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800 grams (1.76 pounds) 646 grams (1.42 pounds)
Dimensions 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") 129 x 91 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 80 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 1216 not tested
Other
Battery life 560 photographs -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI90 4 x AA
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card
Storage slots Two One
Launch cost $639 $520