We and our partners use cookies to give you the best online experience, including to personalise advertising and content. Data about your interaction with this site and the ads shown to you may be shared with companies involved in the delivery and/or personalisation of ads on this site and elsewhere online.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-5

5.18 in
4.04 in
Pentax K-3 Digital Camera
Pentax K-3
5.2 in
3.8 in
Pentax K-5 Digital Camera
Pentax K-5
Available colors
Editiorial reviews
34
4.3 out of 5
20 user ratings
5 stars
50 %
4 stars
45 %
3 stars
5 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
15
4.1 out of 5
8 user ratings
5 stars
50 %
4 stars
37 %
3 stars
12 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
User rating
43
4.3 out of 5
43 user ratings
5 stars
44 %
4 stars
41 %
3 stars
13 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
44
4.0 out of 5
44 user ratings
5 stars
36 %
4 stars
34 %
3 stars
27 %
2 stars
2 %
1 stars
0 %

Video Comparisons (1)

powered byYouTube

Full Comparison

Sensor

Pentax K-3Pentax K-3
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Image sensor formatAPS-CAPS-C
Sensor size0.93 in0.92 in
Sensor photo detectors25.0 Mpx17.0 Mpx
Effective pixels24.0 Mpx16.0 Mpx
Image ratio w:h3:23:2
Max resolution6016 x 4000 px4928 x 3264 px
Other resolutions
  • 4608x3072
  • 3072x2048
  • 1920x1080
  • 3936x2624
  • 3072x2048
  • 1728x1152
ProcessorPRIME IIIPRIME II

Image

Pentax K-3Pentax K-3
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5
ISO
  • 100
  • 51200
  • Auto
  • 100
  • 1600
  • Auto
ISO Autoyesyes
ISO minimum10080
ISO maximum5120051200
Maximum image resolution6016 x 4000 px4928 x 3264 px
White balance presets99
White balance modes
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Custom modes
  • Daylight
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Shade
  • Tungsten
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Custom modes
  • Daylight
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Manual
  • Shade
  • Tungsten
Custom white balanceyesyes
Supported image file formats
  • JPG
  • RAW
  • JPG
  • RAW
Photo effectsPastel
  • Muted
  • Pastel
  • Sepia
Image stabilizeryesno
Image stabilization typeSensor-shiftSensor-shift
Supported aspect ratios3:216:9
Uncompressed formatRAWRAW
HDRyesyes
AEB/HDR supportyesyes

Optics and focus

Pentax K-3Pentax K-3
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5
Lens mount
  • Pentax KA
  • Pentax KAF
  • Pentax KAF2
  • Pentax KAF3
  • Pentax KA
  • Pentax KAF
  • Pentax KAF2
Optical zoom0.15 x3.0 x
Magnification (Crop factor)1.5 x1.5 x
Maximum aperture1.83.5
AF assist (auto-focus assist light)LampLamp
Focus adjustmentAuto/ManualAuto
Contrast autofocusyesyes
Contrast adjustmentyesyes
Saturation adjustmentyesyes
Brightness adjustmentyesyes
Focal length multiplier1.5x1.5x
Autofocus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Selective
  • Single Auto Focus
  • Spot Auto Focus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
Auto Focus (AF) lockyesyes
Manual focusyesyes
Auto Focus (AF) assist beamyesyes
Number of focus points2711
Max number of AF points (incl. assistant)2711
Image stabiliserBuilt-inBuilt-in
Filter diameter2.05 in2.05 in
Phase detection autofocusyesyes

Screen and viewfinder

Pentax K-3Pentax K-3
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5
Screen size3.2 in3.0 in
Articulated LCDnono
Screen technologyLCDLCD
Screen dots1037000921000
Touch screennono
Field of view100.0 %170.0 %
Live viewyesyes
ViewfinderElectronicOptical
Viewfinder coverage100.0 %100.0 %
Viewfinder magnification0.95 x32.0 x
Separate info displayyesyes

Photography features

Pentax K-3Pentax K-3
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5
Shooting modes
  • Aperture priority
  • Manual
  • Sensitivity priority
  • Shutter priority
  • Aperture priority
  • Manual
  • Movie
  • Program
  • Shutter priority
Camera shutter typeElectronicElectronic
Minimum shutter speed30.0 s30.0 s
Maximum shutter speed1.0 s1.0 s
Shutter priorityyesyes
Aperture priorityyesyes
Manual exposure modeyesyes
Number of exposures33
Exposure compensation plus55
Exposure compensation minus-5-5
Expousure compensation steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
Auto exposure lockyesyes
AE EV steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
Continuous shootingyesyes
Self-timer delay
  • 2
  • 12
  • 2
  • 12
Histogramyesyes
AE frames
  • 2
  • 3
  • 5
  • 2
  • 3
  • 5
WB BracketingNoNo
Subject / scene modesnono
Flash sync speed1/180s1/180s
Built-in flashyesyes
Flash range1313
Flash modes
  • Auto
  • Flash OFF
  • Flash ON
  • Manual
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
External flash connectionHot shoeHot shoe
Flash metering systemP-TTLP-TTL
External flashyesyes
Continuous drive8.3 fps7.0 fps
Scene modes
  • Portrait
  • Landscape
  • Backlight
  • Portrait
  • Landscape
Self-timeryesyes
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
Manual settingsyesyes
Self-timer options
  • 2
  • 12
  • 2
  • 12
Speed (JPEG)8.3 fps7.0 fps
Speed (RAW)8.3 fps7.0 fps
Exposure bracketing0.3 - 3.0±EV0.3 - 2.0±EV

Videography features

Pentax K-3Pentax K-3
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5
Maximum resolution1920 x 1080 px1920 x 1080 px
Video recordingyesyes
Recording resolutions1280.0 px
  • 640 x 480
  • 1280 x 720
HD typeFull HDFull HD
Supported video file formats
  • AVC
  • AVI
  • H.264
  • MOV
  • MPEG-4
AVI
Analog signal format system
  • NTSC
  • PAL
  • NTSC
  • PAL
Camera playback
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Slide show
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Slide show
  • Thumbnails
Max resolution (highest frame rate)1280 x 7201280 x 720
Max frame rate (highest resolution)30.0 fps25.0 fps
Max frame rate (regardless of res.)60.0 fps30.0 fps
Motion JPEG frame rate60.0 fps25.0 fps

Audio features

Pentax K-3Pentax K-3
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5
Built-in microphoneyesyes
Microphone typeMonoStereo
Noise reductionyesyes

Design

Pentax K-3Pentax K-3
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5
Body typeSLRCompact
Body material
  • Magnesium
  • Stainless steel
  • Magnesium
  • Stainless steel
Colour of product
  • Black
  • Black,Grey
  • Silver
Black
Anti-dust systemyesyes
Environmentally sealedyesyes

Dimensions

Pentax K-3Pentax K-3
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5
Weight25.22 oz23.3 oz
Width5.18 in5.2 in
Height4.04 in3.8 in
Depth3.05 in2.9 in

Storage

Pentax K-3Pentax K-3
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5
Compatible memory cards
  • Eye-Fi
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
  • SD
  • SDHC
Dual memory card slotsyesyes
Memory slots21
Storage types
  • Dual SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Camera file system
  • DCF 2.0
  • Exif 2.3
  • RAW
  • DCF 2.0
  • Exif 2.21
  • RAW

Power

Pentax K-3Pentax K-3
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5
Power source typeBatteryBattery
Battery life (CIPA)720980
Battery life (max)6.0 h7.0 h
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Lithium-Ion
Number of batteries supported21
AC adapter includedyesyes

Connectivity

Pentax K-3Pentax K-3
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5
HDMIyesyes
HDMI connector typeMicroMini
USB connector typeMicro-USB BMini-USB B
USB version3.12.0
Microphone portyesyes
DC-in jackyesyes
Remote controlyesyes
PictBridgenono
NFCnono
Wireless network (Wi-Fi)nono
Firewirenono

Other features

Pentax K-3Pentax K-3
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5
Timelapse recordingyesyes
Orientation sensoryesyes
Energy Star certifiednono
Languages support
  • CZE
  • DAN
  • DEU
  • DUT
  • ENG
  • ESP
  • FIN
  • FRE
  • GRE
  • HUN
  • ITA
  • POL
  • POR
  • RUS
  • SWE
  • TUR
  • CHI
  • CHI
  • CZE
  • DAN
  • DEU
  • DUT
  • ENG
  • ESP
  • FIN
  • FRE
  • GRE
  • HUN
  • ITA
  • JPN
  • KOR
  • POL
  • POR
  • RUS
  • SWE
  • TUR
Image editing modes
  • Crop
  • Resizing
  • Rotating
  • Crop
  • Resizing
  • Rotating

Pros & Cons

Pros
      Cons

          Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-5 - User Opinions

          • hildred
            over 1 year ago
            Pentax K-5 has a 16.0MP APS-C (23.7 x 15.7 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Prime II processor. On the other hand, Pentax K-3 has a 24.0MP APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Prime III processor.
          • What's the difference between products? Share your opinion.

          Often compared with Pentax K-3

          Often compared with Pentax K-5