GoPro
HERO13 Black
Flagship GoPro with 1/1.9-inch sensor, 5.3K60 video, 4K120, HyperSmooth 6.0, HB-Series lens auto-detect, and 10m waterproofing.
$399
Released Sep 2024
Pentax
K-3 Mark III
APS-C DSLR flagship with optical viewfinder and weather sealing.
$1,999
Released Apr 2021
HERO13 Black is 3.4 years newer.
Wins
HERO13 Black
Wins
K-3 Mark III
6 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BK-3 Mark III has higher AF points / zones (101 vs 0)
- BK-3 Mark III has higher ISO max (native) (25,600 vs 6,400)
- AHERO13 Black has lower Weight (159 g vs 520 g)
- AHERO13 Black has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 60 fps)
- BK-3 Mark III has higher Card slots (2 vs 1)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
HERO13 Black
72 × 51 × 34 mm
159 g (0.35 lb / 5.61 oz)
K-3 Mark III
138 × 98 × 88 mm
520 g (1.15 lb / 18.34 oz)
HERO13 Black is 66mm narrower, 47mm shorter, and 54mm thinner than K-3 Mark III.
HERO13 Black is 361 g lighter than K-3 Mark III.
Depth (front-to-back): 34mm HERO13 Black · 88mm K-3 Mark III
Sensor size, to scale
K-3 Mark III
23.5 × 15.6 mm · APS-C
367 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
HERO13 Black: mount data unavailable
K-3 Mark III
✓ more lensesPentax K
70+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
HERO13 Black
Codecs
Adds H.265 (HEVC)
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 71.8, 50.8, 33.6
Card types
Adds microSD
Weight
159 g vs 520 g — lower is better
4K max frame rate
120 fps vs 60 fps — higher is better
Max video bit rate
200 Mbps vs 150 Mbps — higher is better
Resolution
27.6 MP vs 25.7 MP — higher is better
Reasons to choose
K-3 Mark III
AF points / zones
101 vs 0 — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Codecs
Adds H.265, H.264
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 138, 98, 88
Card types
Adds SD UHS-II
ISO max (native)
25,600 vs 6,400 — higher is better
Eye AF
Only K-3 Mark III supports it
Animal / bird AF
Only K-3 Mark III supports it
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓Burst (mechanical) — Both 8 fps
- ✓Burst (electronic) — Both 20 fps
- ✓Pre-Capture / Pre-Release — Both support pre-capture / pre-release
- ✓RAW buffer depth — Both 120 frames
- ✓IBIS effectiveness — Both 7 stops
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
HERO13 Black
Pros
- ✓5.3K60 and 4K120 video
- ✓1/1.9-inch sensor
- ✓HyperSmooth 6.0 + Burst Slo-Mo
- ✓10m waterproof
Cons
- –Small sensor vs Action 5 Pro
- –Fixed lens
- –Enduro battery not backward compatible
K-3 Mark III
Pros
- ✓Optical viewfinder
- ✓Weather sealed
- ✓IBIS in DSLR
Cons
- –DSLR system declining
- –APS-C
- –Limited video
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for portraits, HERO13 Black or K-3 Mark III?
K-3 Mark III scores 6.5/10 versus 2.0/10 for HERO13 Black — 25.7MP — solid resolution.
What's the resolution difference between the HERO13 Black and K-3 Mark III?
HERO13 Black is 27.6 MP and K-3 Mark III is 25.7 MP, so the HERO13 Black captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the HERO13 Black and K-3 Mark III have in-body image stabilization?
HERO13 Black does not have IBIS, while k-3 Mark III has 7-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the HERO13 Black or the K-3 Mark III?
HERO13 Black reaches 20 fps electronic. K-3 Mark III reaches 20 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the HERO13 Black and K-3 Mark III?
HERO13 Black weighs 159 g and K-3 Mark III weighs 520 g, so the HERO13 Black is 361 g lighter.
Do the HERO13 Black and K-3 Mark III record 4K video?
HERO13 Black: 4K up to 120p. K-3 Mark III: 4K up to 60p.
Are the HERO13 Black and K-3 Mark III weather sealed?
HERO13 Black: Yes. K-3 Mark III: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the HERO13 Black and 640 shots for the K-3 Mark III, giving the K-3 Mark III the edge.
How much does each cost?
HERO13 Black launched at $399 and K-3 Mark III at $1,999. The HERO13 Black is $1,600 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.