Cameraegg Compare logoCameraegg

Pentax

K-3 Mark III

APS-C DSLR flagship with optical viewfinder and weather sealing.

$1,999

Launch price

Released Apr 2021

Check Price on AmazonCheck Price on B&H
Full specs →
vs

Pentax

KF

Updated K-70 with modern connectivity and the same rugged Pentax philosophy.

$849

Launch price

Released Nov 2022

Check Price on AmazonCheck Price on B&H
Full specs →

KF is 1.5 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

6categories

K-3 Mark III

★ Wildlife★ Travel

Wins

0categories

KF

★ Wildlife★ Travel

12 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

K-3 Mark III wins 5 categories·KF wins 0 categories
  • 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

K-3 Mark IIIKF
Resolution25.7 MP24.2 MP
SensorAPS-CAPS-C
ISO max25,60025,600
Burst20 fps15 fps
4K60 fps60 fps
IBIS7-stop6-stop
Weight520 g520 g
Battery640 shots640 shots

Size and weight, to scale

K-3 Mark III

138 × 98 × 88 mm

520 g (1.15 lb / 18.34 oz)

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

KF

138 × 98 × 88 mm

520 g (1.15 lb / 18.34 oz)

K-3 Mark III and KF share virtually identical body dimensions.

K-3 Mark III and KF weigh the same.

Depth (front-to-back): 88mm K-3 Mark III · 88mm KF

Sensor size, to scale

K-3 Mark III

23.5 × 15.6 mm · APS-C

367 mm² area

KF

23.5 × 15.6 mm · APS-C

367 mm² area

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

K-3 Mark III

✓ more lenses

Pentax K

70+

native lenses available

30 first-party40 third-party

KF

✓ more lenses

Pentax K

70+

native lenses available

30 first-party40 third-party

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

Use caseK-3 Mark IIIKF
Portrait
6.5Good
6.5Good
Sports & Action
6.5Good
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
6.0Good
6.0Good
Landscape
5.0Fair
5.0Fair
Travel
8.5Excellent
8.5Excellent
Wildlife
10.0Excellent✓ wins
9.0Excellent
Vlogging
7.0Good
7.0Good

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

KF

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

KF

Pros

  • ✓Weather sealed
  • ✓IBIS
  • ✓Affordable DSLR

Cons

  • –DSLR platform
  • –No 4K
  • –Niche ecosystem

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the K-3 Mark III and KF at major authorized retailers.

Pentax K-3 Mark III

Check Price on AmazonCheck Price on B&H

Pentax KF

Check Price on AmazonCheck Price on B&H

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

K-3 Mark III
KF
Resolution
25.7 MP✓+6%
24.2 MP
Sensor type
APS-C CMOS
APS-C CMOS
Sensor size
23.5 × 15.6 mm
23.5 × 15.6 mm
AA filter
No
No
K-3 Mark III
KF
Processor
Image processor
Image processor
K-3 Mark III
KF
ISO min (native)
100
100
ISO max (native)
25,600
25,600
ISO max (expanded)
102,400
102,400
K-3 Mark III
KF
Shutter type
Mechanical + Electronic
Mechanical + Electronic
Max mechanical speed
1/8000 sec
1/8000 sec
Max electronic speed
1/16000 sec
1/16000 sec

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for wildlife, K-3 Mark III or KF?

K-3 Mark III scores 10.0/10 versus 9.0/10 for KF — 20fps burst captures fleeting moments.

What's the resolution difference between the K-3 Mark III and KF?

K-3 Mark III is 25.7 MP and KF 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 KF have in-body image stabilization?

K-3 Mark III has 7-stop in-body image stabilization, while KF has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the K-3 Mark III or the KF?

K-3 Mark III reaches 20 fps electronic. KF reaches 15 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the K-3 Mark III and KF?

Both bodies weigh roughly 520 g.

Do the K-3 Mark III and KF record 4K video?

K-3 Mark III: 4K up to 60p. KF: 4K up to 60p.

Are the K-3 Mark III and KF weather sealed?

K-3 Mark III: Yes. KF: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the K-3 Mark III and 640 shots for the KF, giving the KF the edge.

How much does each cost?

K-3 Mark III launched at $1,999 and KF at $849. The KF is $1,150 less.

Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.

Add any camera to get a three-way K-3 Mark III vs KF vs X comparison.

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed July 2026.