• APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200
  • 35mm 864.0mm2
  • 47.3 megapixels
  • ISO 50 - 50,000

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Differences

Pentax K-3 advantages over Leica SL2

  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 560 vs 370 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Optional anti-aliasing filter
    Optional vs None
    Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré

Leica SL2 advantages over Pentax K-3

  • Larger sensor
    35mm vs APS-C
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Shoot 4K video
    5K vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • High resolution composite
    Yes vs No
    Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Thinner
    42 mm vs 77 mm
    Thinner
  • Newer
    5 years vs 11 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • More dots on screen
    2100k vs 1037k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.78x 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
    60 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
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    78 vs 24 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (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

  • 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
  • Top deck display
    Both provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • 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
  • Dual card slots
    Both provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Both provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • 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
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • 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

User reviews

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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

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

Leica SL2
Nikon D7100
  • $5245
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $745
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Longer stills battery life

Compare Leica SL2 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 SL2
Nikon D5300
  • $5245
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Leica SL2 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

Leica SL2
Nikon D7200
  • $5245
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $1016
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • NFC

Compare Leica SL2 vs Nikon D7200

Compared to Nikon Z7

Pentax K-3
Nikon Z7
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $2147
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Shoot 4K video

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Nikon Z7

Leica SL2
Nikon Z7
  • $5245
  • 35mm
  • Slower slow-motion
  • High resolution composite
  • $2147
  • 35mm
  • Tiltable Screen
  • On-sensor phase detect

Compare Leica SL2 vs Nikon Z7

Compared to Sony A1

Pentax K-3
Sony A1
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Internal flash
  • $5498
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Shoot 4K video

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Sony A1

Leica SL2
Sony A1
  • $5245
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • High resolution composite
  • $5498
  • 35mm
  • Slower slow-motion
  • Tiltable Screen

Compare Leica SL2 vs Sony A1

Compare Other Cameras?