Pentax K-3 II vs Nikon D3500 Specifications

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

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

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Nikon D3500 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D3500 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D3500.
Compare Nikon D3500 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D3500 conclusion.

Detailed specifications
Pentax K-3 II
Nikon D3500

Links
Prices:	Compare Prices	Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL:	Manufacturer website	Manufacturer website
Predecessor:	Pentax K-3 K-3 vs K-3 II	Nikon D3400 D3400 vs D3500
Successor:	Pentax K-3 III K-3 II vs K-3 III
General
Model Number:	K-3 II	D3500
Alternate Model Number(s):
Camera Format:	Pro SLR	SLR
Currently Manufactured:	Yes	Yes
Retail Price:	$850.00	$499.95
Street Price:	$829.99	$708.63
Date Available:	2015-05-15	2018-09-15
Tripod Mount:	Yes	Yes
Weight:	27.7 oz (785 g) includes batteries	21.7 oz (615 g) includes batteries, kit lens
Size:	5.2 x 4.0 x 3.1 in. (132 x 102 x 77 mm)	4.9 x 3.8 x 2.7 in. (124 x 97 x 70 mm)
Waterproof:	No	No
Waterproof Depth:	n/a	n/a

Image Sensor
Sensor Type:	CMOS	CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer:
Effective Megapixels:	24.4	24.2
Sensor Format:	APS-C	APS-C
Sensor size:	366.6mm² (23.50mm x 15.60mm)	366.6mm² (23.50mm x 15.60mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch:	3.91 microns	3.92 microns
Focal Length Multiplier:	1.5x	1.5x
Aspect Ratio:	3:2	3:2
Color Filter Type:	RGBG	RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter:	Optional	None
Self-Cleaning:	Yes	No
Sensor shift image stabilization:	Yes	No
On-Sensor Phase Detect:	No	No
DxO Sensor Score:	80
DxO Color Depth Score (bits):	23.6
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs):	13.6
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso):	1,106
Image Capture
Image Resolution:	6016 x 4000 (24.1 MP, 3:2), 4608 x 3072 (14.2 MP, 3:2), 3072 x 2048 (6.3 MP, 3:2), 1920 x 1280 (2.5 MP, 3:2)	6000 x 4000 (24.0 MP, 3:2), 4496 x 3000 (13.5 MP, 3:2), 2992 x 2000 (6.0 MP, 3:2)
Image File Format:	JPEG (EXIF 2.30), 14-bit RAW (.PEF, .DNG), RAW+JPEG	JPEG (EXIF 2.3), RAW (12-bit .NEF), RAW+JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second:	8.1	5.1
Video Capture
Can take movies:	Yes	Yes
Movie Resolution:	1920x1080 (60i/50i/30p/25p/24p) 1280x720 (60p/50p/30p/25p/24p)	1920x1080 (60p/50p/30p/25p/24p) 1280x720 (60p/50p)
Movie File Format:	MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (MOV), Motion JPEG (AVI) for interval movie record	MOV (Video: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC; Audio: Monaural Linear PCM)
Composite Video Out:	No	No
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video:	n/a	n/a
Video Usable as Viewfinder:	n/a	n/a
HD Video Out:	Yes	Yes
HD Video Connection:	HDMI	HDMI

Lens & Optics
Lens Mount:	Pentax K (KA/KAF/KAF2/3)	Nikon F
Lens:	n/a	Nikkor AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR
Focal Length (35mm equivalent):		27 - 83mm
Focal Length (actual):		18 - 55mm
Zoom Ratio:		3.06x
Aperture Range:		f/3.5 - 22 (W), f/5.6 - 38 (T); 7 diaphragm blades
Integrated ND Filter:	No
Normal Focus Range:		25 cm to Infinity 9.8 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range:		56 - 38 cm 22.0 - 15.0 in
Filter Thread:	n/a	55.0mm
Thread Type:	n/a	n/a
Optical Image Stabilization:	No	Yes
Digital Zoom:		No
Digital Zoom Values:		n/a
Auto Focus
Auto Focus:	Yes	Yes
Auto Focus Type:	SAFOX 11 TTL phase-matching - 27 point (25 cross type focus points in the center)	OVF: Nikon Multi-CAM 1000 11-Area Phase Detection, 1 cross-type, 10 line-type; Contrast-detect AF in Live View mode
Auto Focus Assist Light?	Yes	Yes
Manual Focus:	Yes	Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder:	Optical / LCD	Optical / LCD
Viewfinder Type:	SLR type; eye-level pentaprism, ~100% coverage, 0.95x mag., TBDmm eyepoint, -2.5 to +1.5 diopter	SLR type; eye-level pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.85x mag., 18mm eyepoint, -1.7 to +0.5 diopter, Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark VII screen
Focus Peaking:	Yes	No
EVF Resolution:	n/a	n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent):	0.63x	0.57x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed):	0.95x	0.85x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder:	Yes	Yes
Rear Display:	Yes	Yes
Rear Display Size (inches):	3.2	3.0
Rear Display Resolution:	1,036,800 dots (345,600 px)	921,600 dots (307,200 px)
Touchscreen:	No	No
Articulating Screen:	No	No
Tilt Swivel Screen:	No	No
Selfie Screen:	No	No
Max Playback Zoom:	16.0x
Top Deck Display:	Yes	No

Exposure
Maximum ISO (native):	51200	25600
Minimum ISO (native):	100	100
ISO Settings:	Auto, 100-51200 (1, 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps)	Auto, 100 - 25600
Auto ISO Mode:	Yes	Yes
White Balance Settings:	Auto, Multi Auto WB, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent Light (D: Daylight Color, N:Daylight White, W:Cool White, L:Warm White), Tungsten Light, Flash, CTE, Manual (up to 3 settings), Color Temperature (up to 3 settings)	Auto, Incandescent, Fluorescent (7 types), Direct Sunlight, Flash, Cloudy, Shade, Preset Manual; all except Preset Manual with fine tuning
Shutter Speed Range:	1/8000 - 30 sec	1/4000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode:	Yes	Yes
Exposure Compensation:	+/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps	+/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes:	TTL open-aperture: Multi-segment with 86K-pixel RGB sensor, Center-weighted, Spot	420-segment 3D Color Matrix Metering II, Color Matrix Metering II, Center-weighted (75% given to 8 mm circle in center of frame), Spot (3.5mm/2.5%)
Program Auto Exposure:	Yes	Yes
Aperture Priority:	Yes	Yes
Shutter Priority:	Yes	Yes
Full Manual Exposure:	Yes	Yes
Creative Exposure Modes:	Sensitivity Priority, Shutter and Aperture Priority; Digital filters (capture): Extract Color, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Color, Unicolor Bold, Bold Monochrome; HDR: Auto, HDR1, HDR2, HDR3; Pixel Shift Resolution (On/Off)	Scene Modes: Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close up, Night portrait; Special Effects: Night Vision, Super Vivid, Pop, Photo Illustration, Toy Camera, Miniature, Selective Color, Silhouette, High Key, Low Key
Self Timer:	2 or 12 seconds	2s, 5s, 10s, 20s; 1 to 9 exposures seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):	Yes	No
High Resolution Composite:	24.0 megapixels	No
Flash
Built-in Flash:	No	Yes
Flash Modes:	P-TTL; Modes available depends on external flash mounted	Auto, auto with red-eye reduction, auto slow sync, auto slow sync with redeye reduction, fill-flash, red-eye reduction, slow sync, slow sync with red-eye reduction, rear-curtain with slow sync, rear-curtain sync, off; Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with SB-910, SB-900, SB-800 as master
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100):	n/a	7.0 m / 23.0 ft.
Flash Range Description:	n/a	Lens aperture dependent; Approx. 22/7, 26/8 with manual flash (ft/m, ISO 100, 68F/20C)
Max Flash Sync:	1/180	1/200
Flash Exposure Compensation:	-2 to +1 EV in 0.5EV steps	-3 to +1 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection:	Hot Shoe, PC Sync socket	ISO hot shoe
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:		No
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types:	SD / SDHC / SDXC	SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:	UHS-I	UHS-I
Other Memory:
Dual Card Slots:	Yes	No
RAW Capture Support:	Yes	Yes
Uncompressed Format:	14-bit RAW (.PEF, .DNG), RAW+JPEG	RAW (12-bit .NEF), RAW+JPEG
Movie File Format:	MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (MOV), Motion JPEG (AVI) for interval movie record	MOV (Video: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC; Audio: Monaural Linear PCM)
Included Memory:	No memory included	No memory included
Included Memory Type:
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi:	No	No
NFC:	No	No
Bluetooth:	No	Yes
Built-In GPS:	Yes	No
Microphone Jack:	Yes	No
Headphone Jack:	Yes	No
External Connections:	USB 3.0 Super Speed	USB 2.0 High Speed,Bluetooth
PictBridge Compliant:	No	Yes
DPOF Compliant:	Yes	Yes
Remote Control:	Yes	Yes
Remote Control Type:	Optional Wired or IR	Via Bluetooth
Connections (extended):	Micro (Type D) HMDI, USB 3.0 Micro B, DC input, wired remote jack, 3.5mm external stereo mic jack, 3.5mm stereo headphone jack	Type-C Mini HDMI with CEC, USB 2.0

Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution):	<0.3	0.45
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame):
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames):
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):	0.60	0.51
Camera penalizes early shutter press?	No	No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution):	8.1	5.1
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution):	60	100
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):	8.2	5.1
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):	22	13
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):	8.2	5.1
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):	23	6
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid):	0.14 seconds	0.21 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):	0.274 seconds	0.262 seconds
Shutter Lag (manual focus):	0.094 seconds	0.109 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash):		0.27 seconds
Shutter Lag (prefocused):	0.090 seconds	0.080 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes):
Startup Time:	1.2 seconds	0.4 seconds
Play -> Record Time:	0.5 seconds	0.3 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power:		1.2 seconds
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF):	720 shots	1550 shots
Battery Life, Video:		75 minutes
Battery Form Factor:	Proprietary D-LI90	Proprietary EN-EL14a
Usable Battery Types:	Lithium-ion rechargeable	Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included:	1 x Proprietary D-LI90 Lithium-ion rechargeable	1 x Proprietary EN-EL14a Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter):	Yes	Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included:	Yes	Yes
Internal Charging Supported:	No	No
Software
Included Software:	Software CD-ROM includes Digital Camera Utility 5	ViewNX-i, ViewNX-Movie Editor, Capture NX-D, Nikon Transfer 2, Picture Control Utility 2 downloads
OS Compatibility:
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features:	Improved sensor-shift shake reduction (up to 4.5 stops), new Pixel Shift Resolution mode (4-shot composite provides full color information at each pixel and reduces noise), built-in GPS with ASTROTRACER and electronic compass.