• APS-C 332.3mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 12,800
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200

Buy From

Differences

Canon T6i advantages over Pentax K-3 II

  • Less expensive
    $599 vs $830*
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Tilt-swivel vs none
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Fast startup
    ~0.90 vs 1.2 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    Unlimited vs 60 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Pentax K-3 II advantages over Canon T6i

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs APS-C
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • High resolution composite
    Yes vs No
    Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
  • Higher effective ISO
    1,106 vs 919 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    13.6 vs 12.0 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • Built-in GPS
    GPS vs None
    Geotag your photos
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 720 vs 440 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • More cross-type AF points
    25 vs 19
    Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
  • Pentaprism viewfinder
    Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
    Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.63x vs 0.51x
    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
    27 vs 19
    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
    8.1 fps vs 4.8 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    8.2 fps vs 4.8 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    22 vs 6 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 25600 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
  • External Mic Jack
    Both provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • 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
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon T6i

Review Excerpt

  • Highest resolution Canon APS-C camera yet; Improved dynamic range over T5i; Good high ISO performance for its class; Very fast autofocus; Built-in Wi-Fi with NFC; Touchscreen tilt/swivel LCD.

  • Shallow buffer depth with RAW files; Below average battery life; No Servo AF in Live View; No 60p video frame rate.

  • Top-notch image quality; Spectacular detail from Pixel Shift Resolution; Better performance than K-3; Geotag images with no accessories; Great ergonomics in a compact body; Clever on-demand low-pass filtering; Broad sensitivity range; Large and bright viewfinder for an APS-C camera; Dual card slots

  • No built-in flash strobe; No wireless flash support out of the box; AstroTracer function can be finicky; AE Lock button is poorly located; Below-average battery life for a prosumer DSLR; Requires a different battery grip accessory than its predecessors

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D3400

Canon T6i
Nikon D3400
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Touchscreen
  • $497
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Larger sensor
Pentax K-3 II
Nikon D3400
  • $830
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $497
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup

Compared to Nikon D5500

Canon T6i
Nikon D5500
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • NFC
  • $697
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Fast startup
Pentax K-3 II
Nikon D5500
  • $830
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $697
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen

Compared to Sony A68

Canon T6i
Sony A68
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Lens selection
  • $598
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Pentax K-3 II
Sony A68
  • $830
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • High resolution composite
  • $598
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas

Compared to Canon T6

Canon T6i
Canon T6
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Touchscreen
  • $550
  • APS-C
  • Bigger pixels
  • Fast startup
Pentax K-3 II
Canon T6
  • $830
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $550
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup

Compared to Pentax KP

Canon T6i
Pentax KP
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Pentax K-3 II
Pentax KP
  • $830
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Built-in GPS
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
Compare Other Cameras?