• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 224.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200

Buy From

Differences

Canon 310 HS advantages over Pentax K-3

  • Less expensive
    $260 vs $1150 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Thinner
    22 mm vs 77 mm
    Thinner
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos

Pentax K-3 advantages over Canon 310 HS

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs 1/2.3 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 3.91 vs 1.54 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • RAW file ability
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Fast startup
    ~0.90 vs 1.9 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 560 vs 210 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Manual focus
    Yes vs No
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • More dots on screen
    1037k vs 461k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Less shutter lag
    0.14 vs 0.38 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More pixels
    24.4 vs 12.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Longer exposure
    30 vs 15 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Bulb shutter
    Bulb vs No bulb
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    7.1 fps vs 3.5 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/2000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 3200 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Rear display
    Both provide
    Review photos on the back of the camera
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Neither provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Integrated ND filter
    Neither provide
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon 310 HS

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Pentax K-3
Body Only
  • Body Only
  • Kit with 18-135mm Lens
All K-3 Deals

Review Excerpt

  • Excellent 28-224mm zoom range; 3-inch LCD with 461K-dots; Full HD movie mode; Good print quality; Fun to shoot.

  • Odd button/switch positions; Moderate chromatic aberration; Soft corners; Dim flash results; Below-average battery life.

  • Read our Canon 310 HS Express Review

  • Top-notch image quality; Great ergonomics in a compact body; Unique on-demand low-pass filtering; Broad sensitivity range; Large and bright viewfinder for an APS-C camera; Dual card slots; Optional Wi-Fi remote control

  • AE Lock button is poorly located; Below-average battery life for a DSLR; Rather dated-looking menu system; Requires a different battery grip accessory than its predecessors; Less third-party support than some rivals

  • Read our Pentax K-3 Review

The Competition

Compared to Olympus Stylus-7040

Canon 310 HS
Olympus Stylus-7040
  • $250
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Shoots 24p video
  • More dots on screen
  • $206
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • More pixels

Compare Canon 310 HS vs Olympus Stylus-7040

Pentax K-3
Olympus Stylus-7040
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $206
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Thinner

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Olympus Stylus-7040

Compared to Samsung ST200F

Canon 310 HS
Samsung ST200F
  • $250
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Bigger pixels
  • HDMI out
  • $225
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Canon 310 HS vs Samsung ST200F

Pentax K-3
Samsung ST200F
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $225
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Samsung ST200F

Compared to Samsung WB30F

Canon 310 HS
Samsung WB30F
  • $250
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Bigger pixels
  • HDMI out
  • $265
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Canon 310 HS vs Samsung WB30F

Pentax K-3
Samsung WB30F
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $265
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Samsung WB30F

Compared to Nikon D7100

Canon 310 HS
Nikon D7100
  • $250
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Thinner
  • $690
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Canon 310 HS vs Nikon D7100

Pentax K-3
Nikon D7100
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $690
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Longer stills battery life

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Nikon D7100

Compared to Nikon D7200

Canon 310 HS
Nikon D7200
  • $250
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Thinner
  • $1016
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Canon 310 HS vs Nikon D7200

Pentax K-3
Nikon D7200
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1016
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Nikon D7200

Compare Other Cameras?