• APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200
  • APS-C 332.3mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

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Differences

Pentax K-3 II advantages over Canon EOS M50

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Limited
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • 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
  • Fast startup
    ~1.20 vs 1.6 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Built-in GPS
    GPS vs None
    Geotag your photos
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 720 vs 235 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • 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
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    60 vs 36 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    22 vs 10 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light

Canon EOS M50 advantages over Pentax K-3 II

  • Less expensive
    $649 vs $830*
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Tilt-swivel vs none
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • 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
  • Thinner
    58 mm vs 77 mm
    Thinner
  • Newer
    7 years vs 10 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Higher-res screen
    540k vs 346k pixels
    More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    10.0 fps vs 8.1 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    10.0 fps vs 8.2 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Focus peaking
    Both provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • 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

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon EOS M50

Review Excerpt

  • 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

  • Comfortable ergonomics and solid build; Versatile EVF and tilt-swivel, touch-screen LCD; Good image quality; Great performance for its class; New C-RAW format saves on raw file size; 4K video is an M-series first.

  • Somewhat limited dynamic range; JPEGs a little soft at base ISO, and more so at higher ISOs; Warm white balance under incandescent light; Poor battery life; Raw buffer is still shallow (but C-RAW helps).

The Competition

Compared to Canon T6i

Pentax K-3 II
Canon T6i
  • $830
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
Canon EOS M50
Canon T6i
  • $579
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup

Compared to Canon EOS M5

Pentax K-3 II
Canon EOS M5
  • $830
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
  • $787
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • Tiltable Screen
Canon EOS M50
Canon EOS M5
  • $579
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $787
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Longer stills battery life

Compared to Pentax KP

Pentax K-3 II
Pentax KP
  • $830
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Built-in GPS
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
Canon EOS M50
Pentax KP
  • $579
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compared to Canon T7i

Pentax K-3 II
Canon T7i
  • $830
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Touchscreen
Canon EOS M50
Canon T7i
  • $579
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup

Compared to Sony A6400

Pentax K-3 II
Sony A6400
  • $830
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $798
  • APS-C
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Touchscreen
Canon EOS M50
Sony A6400
  • $579
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $798
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
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