Pentax K-3 vs Leica Q2

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Pentax K-3 vs Leica Q2

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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.

35mm 864.0mm²
47.3 megapixels
28.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Leica Q2 Review.

Succeeded by the Pentax K-3 II
Compare K-3 vs K-3 II
Compare Pentax K-3 II vs Leica Q2

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Differences

Pentax K-3 advantages over Leica Q2

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 370 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
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
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review 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 None
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
Bigger JPEG buffer
75 vs 25 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Bigger RAW buffer
24 vs 14 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Leica Q2 advantages over Pentax K-3

Larger sensor
35mm vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Shoot 4K video
4K (DCI) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
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
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
Higher max flash sync
1/500 vs 1/180 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Newer
6 years vs 11 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
More viewfinder magnification
0.76x vs 0.63x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
47.3 vs 24.4 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Longer exposure
120 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
20.0 fps vs 7.1 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
20.0 fps vs 7.1 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/40000 vs 1/8000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

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
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Tiltable Screen
Neither provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
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

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-3 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read Q2 User Reviews

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Buy the Leica Q2

Leica Q2 (Black)

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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 Leica Q2.
Read our Leica Q2 Hands-On 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

Leica Q2

Nikon D7100

$5447
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$690
APS-C

Less expensive
Longer stills battery life

Compare Leica Q2 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

Leica Q2

Nikon D5300

$5447
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$549
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Leica Q2 vs Nikon D5300

Compared to Nikon D7200

Pentax K-3

Nikon D7200

$699
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1097
APS-C

Fast startup
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Nikon D7200

Leica Q2

Nikon D7200

$5447
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$1097
APS-C

Less expensive
NFC

Compare Leica Q2 vs Nikon D7200

Compared to Leica Q

Pentax K-3

Leica Q

$699
APS-C

Internal flash
Top deck display

$3695
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Leica Q

Leica Q2

Leica Q

$5447
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Built-in Bluetooth

$3695
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

Compare Leica Q2 vs Leica Q

Compared to Zeiss ZX1

Pentax K-3

Zeiss ZX1

$699
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$6000
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Zeiss ZX1

Leica Q2

Zeiss ZX1

$5447
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$6000
35mm

NFC
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Leica Q2 vs Zeiss ZX1

Compare Other Cameras?