Pentax K-3 vs Canon G1X Mark III

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Pentax K-3 vs Canon G1X Mark III

Leave Feedback

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

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

APS-C 332.3mm²
24.2 megapixels
24.00mm - 72.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon G1X Mark III Review.
How does it shoot? Canon G1X Mark III in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the G1X Mark III.

Succeeded by the Pentax K-3 II
Compare K-3 vs K-3 II
Compare Pentax K-3 II vs Canon G1X Mark III

Buy From

Differences

Pentax K-3 advantages over Canon G1X Mark III

Larger sensor
APS-C vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Fast startup
~0.90 vs 2.1 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
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

560 vs 200 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
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
75 vs 23 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Bigger RAW buffer
24 vs 16 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/2000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
51200 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Canon G1X Mark III advantages over Pentax K-3

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
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
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
Integrated ND filter
Yes vs No
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Thinner
51 mm vs 77 mm
Thinner
Higher max flash sync
1/2000 vs 1/180 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Newer
7 years vs 11 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Faster JPEG shooting
9.3 fps vs 7.1 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
9.4 fps vs 7.1 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
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
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
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

Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-3 User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Pentax K-3

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 18-135mm Lens

All K-3 Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon G1X Mark III

Canon G1X Mark III

All G1X Mark III Deals

Review Excerpt

Top-notch image quality; Great ergonomics in a compact body; Unique on-demand low-pass filtering; Broad sensitivity range; Large and bright viewfinder for an APS-C camera; Dual card slots; Optional Wi-Fi remote control
AE Lock button is poorly located; Below-average battery life for a DSLR; Rather dated-looking menu system; Requires a different battery grip accessory than its predecessors; Less third-party support than some rivals
Read our Pentax K-3 Review

We haven’t finished our review of the Canon G1X Mark III, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
Read our Canon G1X Mark III Shooter's Report

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D7100

Pentax K-3

Nikon D7100

$699
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$745
APS-C

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Nikon D7100

Canon G1X Mark III

Nikon D7100

$999
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Focus peaking

$745
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Canon G1X Mark III vs Nikon D7100

Compared to Nikon D5300

Pentax K-3

Nikon D5300

$699
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$549
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Fast startup

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Nikon D5300

Canon G1X Mark III

Nikon D5300

$999
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$549
APS-C

Larger sensor
Less expensive

Compare Canon G1X Mark III vs Nikon D5300

Compared to Leica X-E (Typ 102)

Pentax K-3

Leica X-E (Typ 102)

$699
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$1534
APS-C

Bigger pixels
Thinner

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Leica X-E (Typ 102)

Canon G1X Mark III

Leica X-E (Typ 102)

$999
APS-C

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

$1534
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon G1X Mark III vs Leica X-E (Typ 102)

Compared to Nikon D7200

Pentax K-3

Nikon D7200

$699
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1016
APS-C

Fast startup
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Nikon D7200

Canon G1X Mark III

Nikon D7200

$999
APS-C

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$1016
APS-C

Larger sensor
Fast startup

Compare Canon G1X Mark III vs Nikon D7200

Compared to Fujifilm X70

Pentax K-3

Fujifilm X70

$699
APS-C

Eye-level viewfinder
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$699
APS-C

Bigger pixels
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Fujifilm X70

Canon G1X Mark III

Fujifilm X70

$999
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Eye-level viewfinder

$699
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Canon G1X Mark III vs Fujifilm X70

Compare Other Cameras?