Pentax
K-3 Mark III
APS-C DSLR flagship with optical viewfinder and weather sealing.
$1,999
Released Apr 2021
Pentax
K-70
Weather-sealed APS-C DSLR with IBIS and AA filter simulator.
$649
Released Jun 2016
K-3 Mark III is 4.8 years newer.
Wins
K-3 Mark III
Wins
K-70
12 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- AK-3 Mark III has higher RAW buffer depth (120 frames vs 60 frames)
- AK-3 Mark III has higher EVF resolution (3,690,000 vs 2,360,000)
- AK-3 Mark III has higher Burst (mechanical) (8 fps vs 6 fps)
- AK-3 Mark III has higher Burst (electronic) (20 fps vs 15 fps)
- AK-3 Mark III has higher IBIS effectiveness (7 stops vs 6 stops)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
K-3 Mark III
138 × 98 × 88 mm
520 g (1.15 lb / 18.34 oz)
K-70
138 × 98 × 88 mm
520 g (1.15 lb / 18.34 oz)
K-3 Mark III and K-70 share virtually identical body dimensions.
K-3 Mark III and K-70 weigh the same.
Depth (front-to-back): 88mm K-3 Mark III · 88mm K-70
Sensor size, to scale
K-3 Mark III
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
✓ 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
RAW buffer depth
120 frames vs 60 frames — higher is better
EVF resolution
3,690,000 vs 2,360,000 — higher is better
Burst (mechanical)
8 fps vs 6 fps — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
20 fps vs 15 fps — higher is better
IBIS effectiveness
7 stops vs 6 stops — higher is better
Resolution
25.7 MP vs 24.2 MP — higher is better
Reasons to choose
K-70
No major advantages on measured specs.
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
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
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-70
Pros
- ✓Weather sealed entry
- ✓IBIS in DSLR
- ✓Unique features
Cons
- –DSLR
- –24MP dated
- –Limited video
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for wildlife, K-3 Mark III or K-70?
K-3 Mark III scores 10.0/10 versus 9.0/10 for K-70 — 20fps burst captures fleeting moments.
What's the resolution difference between the K-3 Mark III and K-70?
K-3 Mark III is 25.7 MP and K-70 is 24.2 MP, so the K-3 Mark III captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the K-3 Mark III and K-70 have in-body image stabilization?
K-3 Mark III has 7-stop in-body image stabilization, while k-70 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the K-3 Mark III or the K-70?
K-3 Mark III reaches 20 fps electronic. K-70 reaches 15 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the K-3 Mark III and K-70?
Both bodies weigh roughly 520 g.
Do the K-3 Mark III and K-70 record 4K video?
K-3 Mark III: 4K up to 60p. K-70: 4K up to 60p.
Are the K-3 Mark III and K-70 weather sealed?
K-3 Mark III: Yes. K-70: 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-70, giving the K-70 the edge.
How much does each cost?
K-3 Mark III launched at $1,999 and K-70 at $649. The K-70 is $1,350 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.