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Pentax K-3 Mark II was announced in 2015 and is an APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) DSLR camera with 24.35 Megapixel CMOS sensor. Its native ISO ranges from 100 to 51,200. The camera has a Fixed 3.2" screen with 1,037k dot resolution and built-in Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder. It has a built-in Sensor Shift in body image stabilization.
Pentax K-3 Mark II can capture video up to 1920 x 1080 resolution.
In this section we present pros and cons of Pentax K-3 Mark II.
And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:
Here we are comparing Pentax K-3 Mark II to its predecessor K-3 and displaying the major changes.
| UPGRADES | Pentax K-3 Mark II | vs | Pentax K-3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheaper | $1099/£769 (body only) | vs | $1299 / £1099 body only, $1699 / £1449 with 18-135 WR lens, $1599 / £1399 for limited edition silver body |
| Higher Sensor Resolution | 24.35 Megapixel | vs | 23.35 Megapixel |
| Average Metering | vs | ||
| Higher DxO Dynamic Range | 13.6 | vs | 13.4 |
| Built-in GPS | vs | ||
| Longer Battery Life | 720 shots | vs | 560 shots |
| DOWNGRADES | Pentax K-3 Mark II | vs | Pentax K-3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in Flash | vs | ||
| Lower DxO Low Light ISO | 1106 | vs | 1216 |
| Lower DxO Color Depth | 23.6 | vs | 23.7 |
For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Pentax K-3 Mark II vs K-3.
In 2021 Pentax K-3 Mark II was replaced by Pentax K-3 Mark III. Let us now have a look at some important differences between Pentax K-3 Mark II and its successor.
| UPGRADES | Pentax K-3 Mark III | vs | Pentax K-3 Mark II |
|---|---|---|---|
| Higher Sensor Resolution | 25.73 Megapixel | vs | 24.35 Megapixel |
| More Powerful Processor | PRIME V | vs | PRIME III |
| Max Image Resolution | 6192 x 4128 | vs | 6016 x 4000 |
| More Focus Points | 101 | vs | 27 |
| Touch-to-Focus | vs | ||
| Higher Image Stabilization Compensation | 5.5 stops | vs | 4.5 stops |
| Touch Screen | vs | ||
| Higher Resolution Screen | 1,620k dot | vs | 1,037k dot |
| Higher Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent) | 0.70x | vs | 0.63x |
| Higher Max Continuous Shooting | 12.0 fps | vs | 8.3 fps |
| Higher Flash Sync Speed | 1/200 sec | vs | 1/180 sec |
| Higher Video Resolution | 3840 x 2160 | vs | 1920 x 1080 |
| Built-in Microphone | Stereo | vs | Mono |
| Built-In Wi-Fi | vs | Optional | |
| Built-In Bluetooth | vs | ||
| Longer Battery Life | 800 shots | vs | 720 shots |
| DOWNGRADES | Pentax K-3 Mark III | vs | Pentax K-3 Mark II |
|---|---|---|---|
| More Expensive | $1999 (body only) | vs | $1099/£769 (body only) |
| Lower Native ISO | 1,600,000 | vs | 51,200 |
| Built-in GPS | vs | ||
| Heavier | 820 g (1.81 lb / 28.92 oz) | vs | 800 g (1.76 lb / 28.22 oz) |
For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Pentax K-3 Mark II vs K-3 Mark III.
Pentax K-3 Mark II has a 3.2" Fixed screen with 1,037k dot resolution.
Camera has a built-in Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder. It has a 100% coverage and 0.95x (0.63x 35mm equivalent) magnification.
Pentax K-3 Mark II features a 24.35 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with dimensions of 23.5 x 15.6 mm and a total area of 366.6 mm2. Its native ISO range is 100 - 51,200.
Here is a sensor size comparison chart where you can see how Pentax K-3 Mark II's APS-C sensor compares with other types of sensors:
| Sensor | Dimensions | Area | Aspect Ratio | Crop Factor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Medium Format | 44 x 33 mm | 1452 mm2 | 4:3 | 0.79x |
 | Full Frame | 36 x 24 mm | 864 mm2 | 3:2 | 1x |
 | APS-H | 27 x 18 mm | 486 mm2 | 3:2 | 1.3x |
 | APS-C | 23.5 x 15.6 mm | 366.6 mm2 | 3:2 | 1.5x |
 0.webp) | APS-C (Canon) | 22.3 x 14.9 mm | 332.3 mm2 | 3:2 | 1.6x |
 | Micro Four Thirds | 17.4 x 13 mm | 226.2 mm2 | 4:3 | 2x |
 | 1-inch | 13.2 x 8.8 mm | 116.2 mm2 | 3:2 | 2.7x |
 | 1/1.7-inch | 7.44 x 5.58 mm | 41.5 mm2 | 4:3 | 4.7x |
 | 1/2.3-inch | 6.17 x 4.55 mm | 28.1 mm2 | 4:3 | 5.6x |
Camera is equipped with PRIME III processor and can take pictures up to 6016 x 4000 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolutions like 4608 x 3072, 3072 x 2048, 1920 x 1080 with 3:2 aspect ratios.
Pentax K-3 Mark II has Pentax KAF2 lens mount. Due to APS-C sensor its crop factor (also called lens multiplier) is 1.5x. This means that a 35mm equivalent focal length of the mounted lens will be equal to its actual focal length times 1.5.
There is no optical low-pass filter (OLPF), also known as an anti-aliasing filter, in front of the sensor. This results in a slightly sharper image but may also introduce moiré patterns and aliasing artifacts when photographing subjects with fine, repetitive patterns or details.
The camera has a built-in Sensor Shift in-body image stabilization (IBIS) with 4.5 stops of compensation. This means that you are still getting vibration reduction when camera is paired with non-image stabilizied lenses. It also works with lenses with optical image stabilization and in combination can achieve even better compensation.
Pentax K-3 Mark II has a built-in GPS (Global Positioning System) technology which allows you to automatically tag the location where you took your photos. You can later categorize, organize, and search for photos based on location. This is very useful for travel and outdoor photographers for documenting the locations where images were captured.
Check out the cameras in our database that have built-in GPS.
Pentax K-3 Mark II has a USB 3.2 Gen 1x1 (5 GBit/sec) input for data transfer. There is a Mini HDMI connector for video signal output.
Pentax K-3 Mark II comes with D-LI90 battery pack with battery life of 720 shots.
The camera has Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) card slots.
Pentax K-3 Mark II's shutter speed can go up to 1/8000 sec. Camera can shoot continuously up to 8.3 fps.
Camera's exposure metering ranges from -3 to +20 EV and you can set the exposure compensation within the ±5 EV range. You can also do exposure lock, exposure bracketing and manual exposure adjustment.
Pentax K-3 Mark II has no built-in flash but an external flash may be connected via Hot Shoe or PC Terminal. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/180 sec.
Pentax K-3 Mark II has dimensions of 131 x 100 x 77 mm (5.16 x 3.94 x 3.03"). It weighs 800 g (1.76 lb / 28.22 oz) which is neither heavy nor lightweight.
131 mm (5.16")
100 mm (3.94")
100 mm (3.94")
77 mm (3.03")
Pentax K-3 Mark II dimensions
We give scores to the camera for different type of photography based on its features and specifications. Let us see how Pentax K-3 Mark II is suitable for six different types of photography.
Pentax K-3 Mark II gets a score of 87 and is EXCELLENT choice for Landscape photography.
Pentax K-3 Mark II gets a score of 74 and is GOOD choice for Sports photography.
Pentax K-3 Mark II gets a score of 70 and is GOOD choice for Wildlife photography.
Pentax K-3 Mark II gets a score of 82 and is GOOD choice for Portrait photography.
Pentax K-3 Mark II gets a score of 84 and is GOOD choice for Street photography.
Pentax K-3 Mark II gets a score of 83 and is GOOD choice for Travel photography.
We evaluate Pentax K-3 Mark II and give score of 75 out of 100. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.
We give Pentax K-3 Mark II a score of 71 for Sensor parameters.
We give Pentax K-3 Mark II a score of 84 for Photo parameters.
We give Pentax K-3 Mark II a score of 49 for Video parameters.
We give Pentax K-3 Mark II a score of 80 for Focusing parameters.
We give Pentax K-3 Mark II a score of 74 for Screen and Viewfinder parameters.
We give Pentax K-3 Mark II a score of 84 for Connectivity parameters.
We give Pentax K-3 Mark II a score of 73 for Battery, Storage and Physical parameters.
For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:
