Canon 6D Mark II vs Pentax K-3 III

Cameras
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Canon 6D Mark II vs Pentax K-3 III

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35mm 861.6mm²
26.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 40,000

Go in depth with our full Canon 6D Mark II Review.
How does it shoot? Canon 6D Mark II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the 6D Mark II.
Compare Canon 6D Mark II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon 6D Mark II conclusion.

APS-C 361.2mm²
25.7 megapixels
ISO 100 - 1,600,000

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-3 III Review.
See real-world photos taken with the K-3 III.

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Differences

Canon 6D Mark II advantages over Pentax K-3 III

Less expensive
$1599 vs $2344
Save money for lenses or accessories
Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs none
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Larger sensor
35mm vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 5.67 vs 3.76 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

1200 vs 800 shots
Capture more photos
More cross-type AF points
45 vs 25
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
Bigger JPEG buffer
98 vs 30 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Pentax K-3 III advantages over Canon 6D Mark II

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
High resolution composite
Yes vs No
Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
Newer
4 years vs 7 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Higher-res screen
540k vs 347k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
More viewfinder magnification
1.05x vs 0.71x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
More AF points
101 vs 45
More AF points improve autofocus
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Optional anti-aliasing filter
Optional vs Fixed
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
Faster JPEG shooting
12.0 fps vs 6.5 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
1600000 vs 102400 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in Bluetooth
Both provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Top deck display
Both provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Pentaprism viewfinder
Both provide
Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-3 III User Reviews

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Buy the Canon 6D Mark II

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 24-105mm IS II USM lens
Kit with 24-105mm IS STM lens

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Buy the Pentax K-3 III

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 20-40mm F2.8-4 Lens
Kit with 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Lens

All K-3 III Deals

Review Excerpt

Great vari-angle touchscreen; Dual Pixel CMOS AF; Good image quality in most situations; Impressive performance for its class.
Disappointing dynamic range; No 4K video; Optical viewfinder comes up short; Narrow AF point coverage through viewfinder.
Read our Canon 6D Mark II Review

We haven’t finished our review of the Pentax K-3 III, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
See our Pentax K-3 III First Shots

The Competition

Compared to Canon 6D

Canon 6D Mark II

Canon 6D

$1332
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

$1499
35mm

Bigger pixels
Bigger JPEG buffer

Compare Canon 6D Mark II vs Canon 6D

Pentax K-3 III

Canon 6D

$1847
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1499
35mm

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Pentax K-3 III vs Canon 6D

Compared to Nikon D610

Canon 6D Mark II

Nikon D610

$1332
35mm

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$1198
35mm

Fast startup
More dynamic range

Compare Canon 6D Mark II vs Nikon D610

Pentax K-3 III

Nikon D610

$1847
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1198
35mm

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Pentax K-3 III vs Nikon D610

Compared to Nikon D750

Canon 6D Mark II

Nikon D750

$1332
35mm

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$1700
35mm

More dynamic range
Internal flash

Compare Canon 6D Mark II vs Nikon D750

Pentax K-3 III

Nikon D750

$1847
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1700
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Pentax K-3 III vs Nikon D750

Compared to Pentax KP

Canon 6D Mark II

Pentax KP

$1332
35mm

Larger sensor
Tilt-swivel screen

$999
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Canon 6D Mark II vs Pentax KP

Pentax K-3 III

Pentax KP

$1847
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$999
APS-C

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax K-3 III vs Pentax KP

Compared to Canon 90D

Canon 6D Mark II

Canon 90D

$1332
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$1099
APS-C

Less expensive
Shoot 4K video

Compare Canon 6D Mark II vs Canon 90D

Pentax K-3 III

Canon 90D

$1847
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1099
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Pentax K-3 III vs Canon 90D

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