Nikon D3200 vs Pentax K-1

Pentax K-1 advantages over Nikon D3200

• Focus peaking
  Peaker vs Non-peaker
  Your camera will highlight what's in focus
• Larger sensor
  35mm 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
• Bigger pixels
  ~ 4.88 vs 3.86 microns
  Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
• Tiltable Screen
  Tiltable vs Fixed
  Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
• High resolution composite
  Yes vs No
  Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
• Built-in Wi-Fi
  Wi-Fi vs None
  Share your photos wirelessly
• Higher effective ISO

  Higher effective ISO

  Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

  Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

  You can learn more at our glossary entry.

  Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.

  K-1 test data on DxO Mark D3200 test data on DxO Mark
  3,280 vs 1,131 iso
  Take photos in low light with less noise
• More dynamic range

  More dynamic range

  Cameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.

  Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.

  Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.

  K-1 test data on DxO Mark D3200 test data on DxO Mark
  14.6 vs 13.2 evs
  Retain detail in highlight and shadows
• Built-in GPS
  GPS vs None
  Geotag your photos
• 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

  760 vs 540 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 1
  Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
• Pentaprism viewfinder
  Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
  Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
• Newer
  9 years vs 13 years old
  Newer cameras often support more advanced features
• Less shutter lag
  0.09 vs 0.28 sec
  Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
• More viewfinder magnification
  0.70x vs 0.53x
  Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
• More pixels
  36.4 vs 24.2 megapixels
  Higher resolution photos
• Dual card slots
  Yes vs No
  Gives you more storage flexibility
• More AF points
  33 vs 11
  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
  4.6 fps vs 4.0 fps
  Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
• Faster RAW shooting
  4.6 fps vs 4.0 fps
  Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
• Bigger RAW buffer
  17 vs 12 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
  204800 vs 12800 ISO
  Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility