Pentax
K-3 Mark III Monochrome
Monochrome-only APS-C DSLR with 25.7MP sensor, IBIS, optical viewfinder, and weather sealing.
$2,199
Launch priceReleased Apr 2024
Pentax
K-70
Weather-sealed APS-C DSLR with IBIS and AA filter simulator.
$649
Launch priceReleased Jun 2016
K-3 Mark III Monochrome is 7.8 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
K-3 Mark III Monochrome
Wins
K-70
6 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- AK-3 Mark III Monochrome has higher RAW buffer depth (120 frames vs 10 frames)
- AK-3 Mark III Monochrome has higher AF points / zones (101 vs 11)
- BK-70 has higher ISO max (native) (204,800 vs 25,600)
- AK-3 Mark III Monochrome has higher Card slots (2 vs 1)
- AK-3 Mark III Monochrome has higher EVF resolution (3,690,000 vs 2,360,000)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to shareK-3 Mark III Monochrome
135 × 104 × 74 mm
820 g (1.81 lb / 28.92 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
K-70
126 × 93 × 74 mm
688 g (1.52 lb / 24.27 oz)
K-3 Mark III Monochrome is 1mm thinner than K-70 but it is also 9mm wider and 11mm taller.
K-3 Mark III Monochrome is 132 g heavier than K-70.
Depth (front-to-back): 74mm K-3 Mark III Monochrome · 74mm K-70
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
K-3 Mark III Monochrome
135 × 104 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
K-70
126 × 93 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
K-3 Mark III Monochrome
135 × 74 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
K-70
126 × 74 mm
Sensor size, to scale
K-3 Mark III Monochrome
23.5 × 15.6 mm · APS-C
367 mm² area
K-70
23.5 × 15.6 mm · APS-C
367 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
K-3 Mark III Monochrome
✓ more lensesPentax K
70+
native lenses available
K-70
✓ 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
K-3 Mark III Monochrome
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 134.5, 103.5, 73.5
Card types
Adds SD UHS-II
RAW buffer depth
120 frames vs 10 frames — higher is better
AF points / zones
101 vs 11 — higher is better
Codecs
Adds H.265
Card slots
2 vs 1 — higher is better
Touchscreen
Only K-3 Mark III Monochrome supports it
EVF resolution
3,690,000 vs 2,360,000 — higher is better
Reasons to choose
K-70
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 125.5, 93, 74
Card types
Adds SD, SDHC, SDXC
ISO max (native)
204,800 vs 25,600 — higher is better
EVF magnification
0.95 × vs 0.78 × — higher is better
Weight
688 g vs 820 g — lower is better
IBIS effectiveness
6 stops vs 5.5 stops — 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
- ✓Pre-Capture / Pre-Release — Both support pre-capture / pre-release
- ✓4K max frame rate — Both 60 fps
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
K-3 Mark III Monochrome
Pros
- ✓Dedicated monochrome sensor
- ✓Optical viewfinder
- ✓IBIS in a DSLR
- ✓Weather sealed
Cons
- –Black-and-white only
- –DSLR platform
- –Limited video
K-70
Pros
- ✓Weather sealed entry
- ✓IBIS in DSLR
- ✓Unique features
Cons
- –DSLR
- –24MP dated
- –Limited video
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the K-3 Mark III Monochrome and K-70 at major authorized retailers.
Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome
Pentax K-70
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 video, K-3 Mark III Monochrome or K-70?
K-3 Mark III Monochrome scores 6.0/10 versus 4.5/10 for K-70 — 4K recording.
What's the resolution difference between the K-3 Mark III Monochrome and K-70?
K-3 Mark III Monochrome is 25.7 MP and K-70 is 24.2 MP, so the K-3 Mark III Monochrome captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the K-3 Mark III Monochrome and K-70 have in-body image stabilization?
K-3 Mark III Monochrome has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization, while K-70 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the K-3 Mark III Monochrome or the K-70?
K-3 Mark III Monochrome reaches 20 fps electronic. K-70 reaches 15 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the K-3 Mark III Monochrome and K-70?
K-3 Mark III Monochrome weighs 820 g and K-70 weighs 688 g, so the K-70 is 132 g lighter.
Do the K-3 Mark III Monochrome and K-70 record 4K video?
K-3 Mark III Monochrome: 4K up to 60p. K-70: 4K up to 60p.
Are the K-3 Mark III Monochrome and K-70 weather sealed?
K-3 Mark III Monochrome: Yes. K-70: Yes.
How much does each cost?
K-3 Mark III Monochrome launched at $2,199 and K-70 at $649. The K-70 is $1,550 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way K-3 Mark III Monochrome vs K-70 vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed August 2026.
Product images courtesy of Pentax press materials.