Canon SX40 HS vs Pentax K-3

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Canon SX40 HS vs Pentax K-3

Leave Feedback

1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
12.1 megapixels
24.00mm - 840.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon SX40 HS Review.
See real-world photos taken with the SX40 HS.

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 51,200

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-3 Review.
How does it shoot? Pentax K-3 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the K-3.
Compare Pentax K-3 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Pentax K-3 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Canon SX50
Compare SX40 HS vs SX50

Succeeded by the Pentax K-3 II
Compare K-3 vs K-3 II

Compare CANON SX50 vs PENTAX K-3 II

Buy From

Differences

Canon SX40 HS advantages over Pentax K-3

Less expensive
$430 vs $1150 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Higher max flash sync
1/2000 vs 1/180 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Faster JPEG shooting
10.3 fps vs 7.1 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos

Pentax K-3 advantages over Canon SX40 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.
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 2.6 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
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

560 vs 380 shots
Capture more photos
Thinner
77 mm vs 107 mm
Thinner
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
More dots on screen
1037k vs 230k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
Less shutter lag
0.14 vs 0.46 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
Bigger JPEG buffer
75 vs 8 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/3200 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
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
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
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities

Common Weaknesses

Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
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

Amazon
Adorama
Read SX40 HS User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-3 User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon SX40 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

Wide, long all-purpose zoom lens performs well; Very good image quality; Articulating LCD; Good grip; Excellent controls.
Rear scroll wheel is too sensitive; Low-res LCD; No lens hood included; Slow startup time; Slow cycle time.
Read our Canon SX40 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 Fujifilm HS10

Canon SX40 HS

Fujifilm HS10

$342
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
More telephoto lens reach

$500
1/2.3 inch

Slower slow-motion
RAW file ability

Compare Canon SX40 HS vs Fujifilm HS10

Pentax K-3

Fujifilm HS10

$699
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$500
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Fujifilm HS10

Compared to Canon SX30 IS

Canon SX40 HS

Canon SX30 IS

$342
1/2.3 inch

Shoots 24p video
Shoots 1080p video

$440
1/2.3 inch

More pixels
Higher extended ISO

Compare Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX30 IS

Pentax K-3

Canon SX30 IS

$699
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$440
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Canon SX30 IS

Compared to Sony HX100V

Canon SX40 HS

Sony HX100V

$342
1/2.3 inch

Bigger pixels
Shoots 24p video

$312
1/2.3 inch

Built-in GPS
Integrated ND filter

Compare Canon SX40 HS vs Sony HX100V

Pentax K-3

Sony HX100V

$699
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$312
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Sony HX100V

Compared to Nikon D7100

Canon SX40 HS

Nikon D7100

$342
1/2.3 inch

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Tiltable Screen

$690
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon SX40 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 SX40 HS

Nikon D7200

$342
1/2.3 inch

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Tiltable Screen

$1016
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon SX40 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?