Pentax
K-3 Mark III
APS-C DSLR flagship with optical viewfinder and weather sealing.
$1,999
Launch priceReleased Apr 2021
Pentax
K-50
Weather-sealed entry APS-C DSLR with IBIS and AA filter simulator at an accessible price.
$599
Launch priceReleased Jun 2013
K-3 Mark III is 7.8 years newer.
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Wins
K-3 Mark III
Wins
K-50
10 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- AK-3 Mark III has higher IBIS effectiveness (7 stops vs 3 stops)
- AK-3 Mark III has higher RAW buffer depth (120 frames vs 60 frames)
- AK-3 Mark III has higher Card slots (2 vs 1)
- AK-3 Mark III has higher Burst (electronic) (20 fps vs 11 fps)
- AK-3 Mark III has higher Resolution (25.7 MP vs 16.3 MP)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to shareK-3 Mark III
138 × 98 × 88 mm
520 g (1.15 lb / 18.34 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
K-50
129 × 97 × 70 mm
590 g (1.30 lb / 20.81 oz)
K-3 Mark III is 9mm wider, 2mm taller, and 18mm thicker than K-50.
K-3 Mark III is 70 g lighter than K-50.
Depth (front-to-back): 88mm K-3 Mark III · 70mm K-50
Sensor size, to scale
K-3 Mark III
23.5 × 15.6 mm · APS-C
367 mm² area
K-50
23.7 × 15.7 mm · APS-C
372 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
K-3 Mark III
✓ more lensesPentax K
70+
native lenses available
K-50
✓ 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
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 138, 98, 88
IBIS effectiveness
7 stops vs 3 stops — higher is better
Animal / bird AF
Only K-3 Mark III supports it
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only K-3 Mark III supports it
RAW buffer depth
120 frames vs 60 frames — higher is better
Card slots
2 vs 1 — higher is better
Touchscreen
Only K-3 Mark III supports it
Headphone jack (3.5mm)
Only K-3 Mark III supports it
Reasons to choose
K-50
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 129, 96.5, 70
AA filter
Only K-50 supports it
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓ISO max (native) — Both 25,600
- ✓AF points / zones — Both 101
- ✓AF frame coverage — Both 100 %
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓4K max frame rate — Both 60 fps
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
K-3 Mark III
Pros
- ✓Optical viewfinder
- ✓Weather sealed
- ✓IBIS in DSLR
Cons
- –DSLR system declining
- –APS-C
- –Limited video
K-50
Pros
- ✓Weather sealed entry
- ✓IBIS
- ✓AA filter simulator
- ✓Great used value
Cons
- –16MP sensor
- –DSLR platform
- –Limited video
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the K-3 Mark III and K-50 at major authorized retailers.
Pentax K-3 Mark III
Pentax K-50
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for wildlife, K-3 Mark III or K-50?
K-3 Mark III scores 10.0/10 versus 6.5/10 for K-50 — 20fps burst captures fleeting moments.
What's the resolution difference between the K-3 Mark III and K-50?
K-3 Mark III is 25.7 MP and K-50 is 16.3 MP, so the K-3 Mark III captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the K-3 Mark III and K-50 have in-body image stabilization?
K-3 Mark III has 7-stop in-body image stabilization, while K-50 has 3-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the K-3 Mark III or the K-50?
K-3 Mark III reaches 20 fps electronic. K-50 reaches 11 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the K-3 Mark III and K-50?
K-3 Mark III weighs 520 g and K-50 weighs 590 g, so the K-3 Mark III is 70 g lighter.
Do the K-3 Mark III and K-50 record 4K video?
K-3 Mark III: 4K up to 60p. K-50: 4K up to 60p.
Are the K-3 Mark III and K-50 weather sealed?
K-3 Mark III: Yes. K-50: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the K-3 Mark III and 640 shots for the K-50, giving the K-50 the edge.
How much does each cost?
K-3 Mark III launched at $1,999 and K-50 at $599. The K-50 is $1,400 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way K-3 Mark III vs K-50 vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.