Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,499
Launch priceReleased Oct 2021
Pentax
K-3 II
24MP APS-C DSLR with pixel shift resolution, GPS, and no AA filter for detail-focused work.
$1,099
Launch priceReleased Apr 2015
Z9 is 6.5 years newer.
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.
Wins
Z9
Wins
K-3 II
3 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- BK-3 II has higher Burst (mechanical) (6 fps vs 0 fps)
- AZ9 has higher RAW buffer depth (1000 frames vs 60 frames)
- AZ9 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 15 fps)
- AZ9 has higher AF points / zones (493 vs 101)
- AZ9 has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 60 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to share
Z9
149 × 150 × 91 mm
1160 g (2.56 lb / 40.92 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
K-3 II
132 × 102 × 78 mm
700 g (1.54 lb / 24.69 oz)
Z9 is 18mm wider, 48mm taller, and 13mm thicker than K-3 II.
Z9 is 460 g heavier than K-3 II.
Depth (front-to-back): 91mm Z9 · 78mm K-3 II
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
Z9
149 × 150 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
K-3 II
132 × 102 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
Z9
149 × 91 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
K-3 II
132 × 78 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Z9
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
K-3 II
23.5 × 15.6 mm · APS-C
367 mm² area
2.3× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
Z9
✓ more lensesNikon Z
90+
native lenses available
K-3 II
Pentax 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
Z9
AF low-light limit
-8.5 EV vs -3 EV — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Dogs…
Codecs
Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 149, 149.5, 90.5
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B / XQD, CFexpress Type B / XQD
RAW buffer depth
1000 frames vs 60 frames — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 15 fps — higher is better
AF points / zones
493 vs 101 — higher is better
Reasons to choose
K-3 II
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Burst (mechanical)
6 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds H.265, H.264
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 131.5, 101.5, 77.5
Card types
Adds SD UHS-II
Weight
700 g vs 1160 g — lower is better
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO max (native) — Both 25,600
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓Pre-Capture / Pre-Release — Both support pre-capture / pre-release
- ✓In-body stabilization (IBIS) — Both support in-body stabilization (ibis)
- ✓IBIS effectiveness — Both 6 stops
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
Z9
Pros
- ✓45MP stacked
- ✓8K 60p internal
- ✓120fps stills
- ✓Pro build
Cons
- –Heavy body
- –Expensive
- –Large files
K-3 II
Pros
- ✓Pixel shift hi-res
- ✓No AA filter
- ✓GPS built-in
- ✓Weather sealed
Cons
- –Superseded by K-3 III
- –DSLR
- –Limited video
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the Z9 and K-3 II at major authorized retailers.
Pentax K-3 II
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for landscape, Z9 or K-3 II?
Z9 scores 9.5/10 versus 5.0/10 for K-3 II — 45.7MP — excellent for prints up to 24×36".
What's the resolution difference between the Z9 and K-3 II?
Z9 is 45.7 MP and K-3 II is 24.4 MP, so the Z9 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Z9 and K-3 II have in-body image stabilization?
Z9 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while K-3 II has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Z9 or the K-3 II?
Z9 reaches 120 fps electronic. K-3 II reaches 15 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Z9 and K-3 II?
Z9 weighs 1160 g and K-3 II weighs 700 g, so the K-3 II is 460 g lighter.
Do the Z9 and K-3 II record 4K video?
Z9: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p. K-3 II: 4K up to 60p.
Are the Z9 and K-3 II weather sealed?
Z9: Yes. K-3 II: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 740 shots (CIPA) for the Z9 and 640 shots for the K-3 II, giving the Z9 the edge.
How much does each cost?
Z9 launched at $5,499 and K-3 II at $1,099. The K-3 II is $4,400 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way Z9 vs K-3 II vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Pentax press materials.