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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax Q10

Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73
Pentax K-3 front
 
Pentax Q10 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
56
Overall
44

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax Q10 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
  • Introduced April 2014
  • Updated by Pentax K-3 II
Pentax Q10
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 34mm
  • Revealed September 2012
  • Older Model is Pentax Q
  • Replacement is Pentax Q7
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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax Q10 Overview

Here is a in depth assessment of the Pentax K-3 versus Pentax Q10, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both built by Pentax. There exists a substantial gap between the image resolutions of the K-3 (24MP) and Q10 (12MP) and the K-3 (APS-C) and Q10 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The K-3 was announced 20 months later than the Q10 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax Q10 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight into a in depth comparison, below is a brief summation of how the K-3 grades vs the Q10 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Pentax Q10

 K-3 Q10 
RevealedApril 2014September 2012Fresher by 20 months
Screen dimension3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k460kSharper screen (+577k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax Q10 over the Pentax K-3

 Q10 K-3 

Common features in the Pentax K-3 and Pentax Q10

 K-3 Q10 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax Q10 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera, you need to consider its weight and measurements. The Pentax K-3 enjoys external measurements of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) and the Pentax Q10 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax K-3 versus Pentax Q10 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select at that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the K-3 against the Q10.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax Q10 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the K-3 and Q10 is 59 and 92 respectively.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax Q10 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax Q10 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizing purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the K-3 and Q10.

Clearly, both of those cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The K-3 using its bigger sensor will make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Pentax K-3 will offer more detail with its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures much more aggressively. The more recent K-3 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax Q10 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax Q10 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax Q10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-3 Portrait photography info
Pentax Q10 Portrait photography info
79
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW files
48
you can focus manually
great flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
supports face detection focus
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-3 Street photography highlights
Pentax Q10 Street photography highlights
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
good ISO range (51,200)
fixed screen
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW files
lighter than others (200g)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax K-3
Sports photography with Pentax Q10
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proof
supports phase detect auto focus
bad battery life (560 shots)
36
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery life (270 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-3 Travel photography details
Pentax Q10 Travel photography details
60
weather proof
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
bad battery life (560 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
60
lighter than others (200 grams)
has built in flash
low battery life (270 CIPA)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-3 Landscape photography features
Pentax Q10 Landscape photography features
77
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3.2")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
good ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
has dual storage slots
bad battery life (560 CIPA)
54
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax Q mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery life (270 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K-3
Vlogging with Pentax Q10
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external microphone jack
screen isn't selfie friendly
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (200g)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic jack
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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax Q10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-3 and Pentax Q10
 Pentax K-3Pentax Q10
General Information
Make Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-3 Pentax Q10
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2014-04-10 2012-09-10
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Prime III -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 6016 x 4000 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 51200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 27 25
Cross focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF2 Pentax Q
Amount of lenses 151 8
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.2 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT LCD monitor TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 7.00 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, Trailing-curtain sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 secs 1/2000 secs
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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800 grams (1.76 pounds) 200 grams (0.44 pounds)
Dimensions 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") 102 x 58 x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 80 49
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 21.1
DXO Dynamic range score 13.4 10.9
DXO Low light score 1216 183
Other
Battery life 560 photographs 270 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI90 D-LI68
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Two Single
Price at release $639 $350