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Pentax K-3 vs Sony A99 II

Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
85
Overall
73
Pentax K-3 front
 
Sony Alpha A99 II front
Portability
57
Imaging
77
Features
92
Overall
83

Pentax K-3 vs Sony A99 II 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
  • Refreshed by Pentax K-3 II
Sony A99 II
(Full Review)
  • 42MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Push to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 849g - 143 x 104 x 76mm
  • Revealed September 2016
  • Replaced the Sony A99
Photography Glossary

Pentax K-3 vs Sony A99 II Overview

The following is a thorough overview of the Pentax K-3 vs Sony A99 II, both Advanced DSLR cameras by brands Pentax and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the K-3 (24MP) and A99 II (42MP) and the K-3 (APS-C) and A99 II (Full frame) enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The K-3 was announced 3 years before the A99 II which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a brief view of how the K-3 scores against the A99 II with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Sony A99 II

 K-3 A99 II 
Display sizing3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Sony A99 II over the Pentax K-3

 A99 II K-3 
RevealedSeptember 2016April 2014Newer by 29 months
Display typeFully articulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1229k1037kClearer display (+192k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Pentax K-3 and Sony A99 II

 K-3 A99 II 
Manually focus More precise focus
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Pentax K-3 vs Sony A99 II Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you have to take into account 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") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) while the Sony A99 II has measurements of 143mm x 104mm x 76mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.0") along with a weight of 849 grams (1.87 lbs).

Examine the Pentax K-3 vs Sony A99 II in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have at that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the K-3 vs the A99 II.

Pentax K-3 vs Sony A99 II size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-3 and A99 II is 59 and 57 respectively.

Pentax K-3 vs Sony A99 II top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Sony A99 II Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to see the difference in sensor dimensions purely by looking through a spec sheet. The image here may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the K-3 and A99 II.

Clearly, both the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The K-3 with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony A99 II will render more detail with its extra 18 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively. The more aged K-3 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax K-3 vs Sony A99 II sensor size comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Sony A99 II Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-3 vs Sony A99 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-3 Portrait photography factors
Sony A99 II Portrait photography factors
79
manual focus
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW files
86
you can focus manually
great megapixels (42MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
has face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-3 as a Street photography camera
Sony A99 II as a Street photography camera
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
above average ISO range (51,200)
no articulating screen
76
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-3 Sports photography features
Sony A99 II Sports photography features
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
terrible battery life (560 shots)
82
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great megapixels (42MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
has tracking focus
weather sealing
supports phase detect AF
not so great battery (490 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K-3
Travel photography with Sony A99 II
60
environment sealing
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
terrible battery life (560 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
70
weather sealing
connects via bluetooth
great megapixels (42MP)
selfie friendly screen
not so great battery (490 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-3 Landscape photography info
Sony A99 II Landscape photography info
78
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
two card slots
terrible battery life (560 shots)
82
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great megapixels (42 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
no low pass filter
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
two card slots
not so great battery (490 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A99 II as a Vlogging camera
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone socket
display isn't selfie friendly
78
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with mic socket
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Pentax K-3 vs Sony A99 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-3 and Sony A99 II
 Pentax K-3Sony Alpha A99 II
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax K-3 Sony Alpha A99 II
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2014-04-10 2016-09-19
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Prime III Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 42 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 6016 x 4000 7952 x 5304
Max native ISO 51200 25600
Max boosted ISO - 102400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Minimum boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 27 399
Cross type focus points 25 79
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF2 Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 151 143
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully articulated
Screen sizing 3.2 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x 0.78x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames per sec 12.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual Off, auto, fill, slow sync, redeye reduction, rear sync, high-speed sync, wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180s 1/250s
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) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 800 grams (1.76 lb) 849 grams (1.87 lb)
Dimensions 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") 143 x 104 x 76mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 80 92
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 25.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.4 13.4
DXO Low light rating 1216 2317
Other
Battery life 560 photographs 490 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack NP-FM500H lithium-ion battery & charger
Battery ID D-LI90 -
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC/MS Duo slots
Card slots Two Two
Cost at launch $639 $3,198