Pentax K-3 II vs Nikon D5600

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Pentax K-3 II vs Nikon D5600

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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 D5600 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D5600 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D5600.
Compare Nikon D5600 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D5600 conclusion.

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Differences

Pentax K-3 II advantages over Nikon D5600

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
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
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
More cross-type AF points
25 vs 9
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
Pentaprism viewfinder
Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
More viewfinder magnification
0.63x vs 0.55x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
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 None
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
Faster JPEG shooting
8.1 fps vs 5.1 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
8.2 fps vs 4.1 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
22 vs 8 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

Nikon D5600 advantages over Pentax K-3 II

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
~0.20 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
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
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.
D5600 test data on DxO Mark K-3 II test data on DxO Mark

1,306 vs 1,106 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
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

970 vs 720 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
More AF points
39 vs 27
More AF points improve autofocus
Bigger JPEG buffer
100 vs 60 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

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
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-3 II User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D5600 User Reviews

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Buy the Pentax K-3 II

Body Only (Black)

All K-3 II Deals

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Buy the Nikon D5600

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 18-140mm lens
Kit with 18-55mm and 70-300mm lenses
Kit with 18-55mm lens

All D5600 Deals

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
Read our Pentax K-3 II Review

Compact camera body; Very good touchscreen display; Excellent image quality for its class; Good overall performance.
Not many improvements compared to its predecessor, with some downgrades; No 4K video recording.
Read our Nikon D5600 Review

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D5500

Pentax K-3 II

Nikon D5500

$830
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$697
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Pentax K-3 II vs Nikon D5500

Nikon D5600

Nikon D5500

$898
APS-C

Fast startup
NFC

$697
APS-C

Less expensive
Higher effective ISO

Compare Nikon D5600 vs Nikon D5500

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

Compare Pentax K-3 II vs Canon T6i

Nikon D5600

Canon T6i

$898
APS-C

Larger sensor
Fast startup

$699
APS-C

Less expensive
On-sensor phase detect

Compare Nikon D5600 vs Canon T6i

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

Compare Pentax K-3 II vs Pentax KP

Nikon D5600

Pentax KP

$898
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

$999
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5600 vs Pentax KP

Compared to Canon T7i

Pentax K-3 II

Canon T7i

$830
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$700
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-3 II vs Canon T7i

Nikon D5600

Canon T7i

$898
APS-C

Larger sensor
Fast startup

$700
APS-C

On-sensor phase detect
More cross-type AF points

Compare Nikon D5600 vs Canon T7i

Compared to Canon SL2

Pentax K-3 II

Canon SL2

$830
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$549
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Pentax K-3 II vs Canon SL2

Nikon D5600

Canon SL2

$898
APS-C

Larger sensor
Fast startup

$549
APS-C

Less expensive
On-sensor phase detect

Compare Nikon D5600 vs Canon SL2

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