Panasonic
Lumix S5 II
Phase-detect L-mount hybrid with 6K open gate and strong video tools.
$1,999
Launch priceReleased Jan 2023
Pentax
K-3 Mark III
APS-C DSLR flagship with optical viewfinder and weather sealing.
$1,999
Launch priceReleased Apr 2021
Lumix S5 II is 1.7 years newer.
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Wins
Lumix S5 II
Wins
K-3 Mark III
6 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- ALumix S5 II has higher AF points / zones (779 vs 101)
- ALumix S5 II has higher ISO max (native) (51,200 vs 25,600)
- BK-3 Mark III has higher Battery life (CIPA) (640 shots vs 370 shots)
- ALumix S5 II has higher RAW buffer depth (200 frames vs 120 frames)
- ALumix S5 II has higher Burst (electronic) (30 fps vs 20 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to share
Lumix S5 II
134 × 102 × 90 mm
740 g (1.63 lb / 26.10 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
K-3 Mark III
138 × 98 × 88 mm
520 g (1.15 lb / 18.34 oz)
Lumix S5 II is 4mm narrower than K-3 Mark III but it is also 4mm taller and 2mm thicker.
Lumix S5 II is 220 g heavier than K-3 Mark III.
Depth (front-to-back): 90mm Lumix S5 II · 88mm K-3 Mark III
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
Lumix S5 II
134 × 102 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
K-3 Mark III
138 × 98 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
Lumix S5 II
134 × 90 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
K-3 Mark III
138 × 88 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Lumix S5 II
35.6 × 23.8 mm · Full Frame
847 mm² area
K-3 Mark III
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
Lumix S5 II: 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
Lumix S5 II
AF low-light limit
-6 EV vs -3 EV — lower is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 134.3, 102.3, 90.1
AF points / zones
779 vs 101 — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds Face, Eye, Car…
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Internal RAW video
Only Lumix S5 II supports it
Codecs
Adds MOV, MP4
RAW buffer depth
200 frames vs 120 frames — higher is better
Reasons to choose
K-3 Mark III
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 138, 98, 88
Subject recognition
Adds Bird, Vehicle
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only K-3 Mark III supports it
Battery life (CIPA)
640 shots vs 370 shots — higher is better
Weight
520 g vs 740 g — lower is better
IBIS effectiveness
7 stops vs 5 stops — higher is better
Resolution
25.7 MP vs 24.2 MP — higher is better
EVF resolution
3,690,000 vs 3,680,000 — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓AF frame coverage — Both 100 %
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓4K max frame rate — Both 60 fps
- ✓In-body stabilization (IBIS) — Both support in-body stabilization (ibis)
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
Lumix S5 II
Pros
- ✓Phase-detect AF finally
- ✓6K open gate
- ✓IBIS
- ✓Great value
Cons
- –24MP resolution
- –L-mount size
- –AF still behind Canon/Sony
K-3 Mark III
Pros
- ✓Optical viewfinder
- ✓Weather sealed
- ✓IBIS in DSLR
Cons
- –DSLR system declining
- –APS-C
- –Limited video
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the Lumix S5 II and K-3 Mark III at major authorized retailers.
Panasonic Lumix S5 II
Pentax K-3 Mark III
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for wildlife, Lumix S5 II or K-3 Mark III?
K-3 Mark III scores 10.0/10 versus 6.5/10 for Lumix S5 II — 20fps burst captures fleeting moments.
What's the resolution difference between the Lumix S5 II and K-3 Mark III?
Lumix S5 II is 24.2 MP and K-3 Mark III is 25.7 MP, so the K-3 Mark III captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Lumix S5 II and K-3 Mark III have in-body image stabilization?
Lumix S5 II has 5-stop in-body image stabilization, while K-3 Mark III has 7-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Lumix S5 II or the K-3 Mark III?
Lumix S5 II reaches 30 fps electronic. K-3 Mark III reaches 20 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Lumix S5 II and K-3 Mark III?
Lumix S5 II weighs 740 g and K-3 Mark III weighs 520 g, so the K-3 Mark III is 220 g lighter.
Do the Lumix S5 II and K-3 Mark III record 4K video?
Lumix S5 II: 6K Open Gate (max), 4K up to 60p. K-3 Mark III: 4K up to 60p.
Are the Lumix S5 II and K-3 Mark III weather sealed?
Lumix S5 II: Yes. K-3 Mark III: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 370 shots (CIPA) for the Lumix S5 II and 640 shots for the K-3 Mark III, giving the K-3 Mark III the edge.
How much does each cost?
Both launched at $1,999.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way Lumix S5 II vs K-3 Mark III vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed July 2026.
Product images courtesy of Panasonic and Pentax press materials.