Pentax K-3 vs Canon SX730 HS

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Pentax K-3 vs Canon SX730 HS

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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.

1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
20.3 megapixels
24.00mm - 960.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon SX730 HS Review.

Succeeded by the Pentax K-3 II
Compare K-3 vs K-3 II

Succeeded by the Canon SX740 HS
Compare SX730 HS vs SX740 HS

Compare PENTAX K-3 II vs CANON SX740 HS

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Differences

Pentax K-3 advantages over Canon SX730 HS

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 1/2.3 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Bigger pixels
~ 3.91 vs 1.19 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
RAW file ability
Yes vs No
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
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 250 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
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
More pixels
24.4 vs 20.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
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
Longer exposure
30 vs 15 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Faster JPEG shooting
7.1 fps vs 5.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/3200 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
51200 vs 3200 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Canon SX730 HS advantages over Pentax K-3

Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
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
Thinner
39 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

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
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

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Read K-3 User Reviews

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Canon SX730 (Black)

Canon SX730 (Black)
Canon SX730 (Silver)

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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 reviewed the Canon SX730 HS.
Read our Canon SX730 HS Preview

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D7100

Pentax K-3

Nikon D7100

$699
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$690
APS-C

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Nikon D7100

Canon SX730 HS

Nikon D7100

$399
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$690
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Canon SX730 HS 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 SX730 HS

Nikon D5300

$399
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$549
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

Compare Canon SX730 HS vs Nikon D5300

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 SX730 HS

Nikon D7200

$399
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1016
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Canon SX730 HS vs Nikon D7200

Compared to Nikon A900

Pentax K-3

Nikon A900

$699
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$397
1/2.3 inch

Shoot 4K video
In-camera panoramas

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Nikon A900

Canon SX730 HS

Nikon A900

$399
1/2.3 inch

Manual focus
Higher-res screen

$397
1/2.3 inch

Shoot 4K video
In-camera panoramas

Compare Canon SX730 HS vs Nikon A900

Compared to Canon SX740 HS

Pentax K-3

Canon SX740 HS

$699
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$500
1/2.3 inch

Shoot 4K video
Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Canon SX740 HS

Canon SX730 HS

Canon SX740 HS

$399
1/2.3 inch

NFC

$500
1/2.3 inch

Shoot 4K video
Longer video battery life

Compare Canon SX730 HS vs Canon SX740 HS

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