• APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200
  • APS-C 369.0mm2
  • 28.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600
  • Detailed specifications
  • Pentax K-3
  • Samsung NX500
Links
Prices: Compare Prices Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:   Samsung NX300
NX300 vs NX500
Successor: Pentax K-3 II
K-3 vs K-3 II 		 
General
Model Number: K-3 NX500
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: Pro SLR Compact System Camera
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $1149.95 $799.99
Street Price: $699.00 $1,599.99
Date Available: 2013-11-01 2015-03-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 43.7 oz (1,240 g)
includes batteries, kit lens 		16.0 oz (454 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
Size: 5.2 x 3.9 x 3.1 in.
(132 x 100 x 77 mm) 		4.7 x 2.5 x 1.7 in.
(120 x 64 x 43 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer:   Samsung
Effective Megapixels: 24.4 28.2
Sensor Format: APS-C APS-C
Sensor size: 366.6mm2 (23.50mm x 15.60mm) 368.95mm2 (23.50mm x 15.70mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 3.91 microns 3.63 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.5x 1.5x
Aspect Ratio: 3:2 3:2
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: Optional None
Self-Cleaning: Yes Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: Yes No
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No Yes
DxO Sensor Score: 80 87
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 23.7 24.8
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 13.4 13.9
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 1,216 1,379
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 6016 x 4000 (24.1 MP, 3:2),
4608 x 3072 (14.2 MP, 3:2),
3072 x 2048 (6.3 MP, 3:2),
1920 x 1280 (2.5 MP, 3:2) 		6480 x 4320 (28.0 MP, 3:2),
4560 x 3040 (13.9 MP, 3:2),
3264 x 2176 (7.1 MP, 3:2),
2112 x 1408 (3.0 MP, 3:2),
6480 x 3648 (23.6 MP, 16:9),
4608 x 2592 (11.9 MP, 16:9),
3328 x 1872 (6.2 MP, 16:9),
2048 x 1152 (2.4 MP, 16:9),
4320 x 4320 (18.7 MP, 1:1),
3088 x 3088 (9.5 MP, 1:1),
2160 x 2160 (4.7 MP, 1:1),
1408 x 1408 (2.0 MP, 1:1)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.30), 14-bit RAW (.PEF, .DNG), RAW+JPEG JPEG, MPO, RAW (SRW), RAW+JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 7.1 8.8
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 1920x1080 (60i/​50i/​30p/​25p/​24p)
1280x720 (60p/​50p/​30p/​25p/​24p) 		4096x2160 (24p)
3840x2160 (30p)
1920x1080 (60p/​30p/​24p)
1280x720 (60p/​30p)
640x480 (60p/​30p)
1920x1080 (120p)
1280x720 (120p)
640x480 (120p)
Movie File Format: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (MOV), Motion JPEG (AVI) for interval movie record MP4 (Video: HEVC (H.265) / Sound: AAC)
Composite Video Out: No No
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: n/a n/a
Video Usable as Viewfinder: n/a n/a
HD Video Out: Yes Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Pentax K (KA/KAF/KAF2/3) Samsung NX
Lens: smc Pentax 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC DA WR Samsung 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 Power Zoom ED OIS NX
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 27 - 203mm 24 - 75mm
Focal Length (actual): 18 - 135mm 16 - 50mm
Zoom Ratio: 7.50x 3.13x
Aperture Range: f/3.5 - f/22 (wide) / f/5.6 - f/40 (tele) f/3.5 (wide) / f/5.6 (tele) - f/22
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 40 cm to Infinity
15.7 in to Infinity 		24 cm to Infinity
9.4 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: 62.0mm 43.0mm
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No Yes
Digital Zoom: Yes
Digital Zoom Values:  
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: SAFOX 11 TTL phase-matching - 27 point (25 cross type focus points in the center) Hybrid contrast/phase-detect AF: 205-point PDAF (153 cross-point type) + 209-point CDAF
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: Optical / LCD No / OLED
Viewfinder Type: SLR type; eye-level pentaprism, ~100% coverage, 0.95x mag., TBDmm eyepoint, -2.5 to +1.5 diopter  
Focus Peaking: Yes Yes
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.63x  
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.95x  
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes No
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.2 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 1,036,800 dots (345,600 px) 1,036,800 dots (345,600 px)
Touchscreen: No Yes
Articulating Screen: No Yes
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No Yes
Max Playback Zoom: 16.0x  
Top Deck Display: Yes No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 51200 25600
Minimum ISO (native): 100 100
ISO Settings: Auto, 100-51200 (1, 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps) Auto, 100 - 25600 in 1 or 1/3 EV steps, expandable to 51200
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Multi Auto WB, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent Light (D: Daylight Color, N:Daylight White, W:Cool White, L:Warm White), Tungsten Light, Flash, CTE, Manual (up to 3 settings), Color Temperature (up to 3 settings) Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent (W, N, D), Tungsten, Auto+Tungsten, Flash, Custom, K (Manual); Micro Adjustment each 7 steps in Amber/Blue and Green/Magenta axes
Shutter Speed Range: 1/8000 - 30 sec 1/6000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: TTL open-aperture: Multi-segment with 86K-pixel RGB sensor, Center-weighted, Spot Multi (221 segments), Center-weighted, Spot
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Sensitivity Priority, Shutter and Aperture Priority; Digital filters (capture): Extract Color, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Color, Unicolor Bold, Bold Monochrome; HDR: Auto, HDR1, HDR2, HDR3. Beauty Face, Landscape, Action Freeze, Rich Tones, Panorama, Waterfall, Silhouette, Sunset, Night, Fireworks, Light Trace, Multi-Exposure; Smart Range+, HDR, Samsung Auto Shot (SAS)
Self Timer: 2 or 12 seconds 2-30 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer): Yes Yes
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes No
Flash Modes: P-TTL, Red-eye reduction, Slow-speed sync, Rear Curtain Sync. High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync also available with PENTAX dedicated external flash. Smart Flash, Auto, Auto+Red-eye reduction, Fill-in, Fill-in+Red-eye reduction, 1st Curtain, 2nd Curtain, Off
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): 13.0 m / 42.7 ft. 8.0 m / 26.2 ft.
Flash Range Description: Depends on lens Bundled SEF8A flash has GN 8m at ISO 100
Max Flash Sync: 1/180 1/200
Flash Exposure Compensation: -2 to +1 EV in 0.5EV steps +/- 2.0 EV in 0.5EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot Shoe, PC Sync socket Hot shoe
Built-In Wireless Flash Control: Full TTL exposure  
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC / SDXC SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support: UHS-I UHS-I
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: Yes No
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: 14-bit RAW (.PEF, .DNG), RAW+JPEG RAW (SRW), RAW+JPEG
Movie File Format: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (MOV), Motion JPEG (AVI) for interval movie record MP4 (Video: HEVC (H.265) / Sound: AAC)
Included Memory: No memory included No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No Yes
NFC: No Yes
Bluetooth: No Yes
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: Yes No
Headphone Jack: Yes No
External Connections: USB 3.0 Super Speed USB 2.0 High Speed,Bluetooth,WiFi
PictBridge Compliant: No No
DPOF Compliant: Yes No
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Optional Wired or IR Via Wi-Fi live view or Bluetooth; optional wired USB cable release
Connections (extended): Micro (Type D) HMDI, USB 3.0 Micro B, DC input, wired remote jack, 3.5mm external stereo mic jack, 3.5mm stereo headphone jack Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b/g/n) with NFC; Bluetooth; Mult-function USB port compatible with wired remote
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.79 0.83
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 0.64  
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): Unlimited  
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot): 0.69 0.81
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 7.1 8.8
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 75 38
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps): 7.1 8.5
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames): 24 6
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps): 7.1 8.6
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames): 25 6
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.14 seconds 0.20 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR): 1.01 seconds  
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR): 0.226 seconds  
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.097 seconds 0.097 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash): 0.33 seconds 0.36 seconds
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.096 seconds 0.076 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes): Full AF lag, Wide-area mode, OVF = 0.157s Live View: Center mode AF lag = 1.014s Wide-area mode AF lag = 1.005s Prefocused = 0.226s  
Startup Time: 0.9 seconds 1.5 seconds
Play -> Record Time: 0.6 seconds 0.8 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power: 2.3 seconds 3.1 seconds
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):   370 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 560 shots  
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary D-LI90 Proprietary BP-1130
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeable 1130mAh Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary D-LI90 Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary BP-1130 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: Yes No
Internal Charging Supported: No Yes
Software
Included Software: Software CD-ROM S-SW140 Samsung Raw Converter, i-Launcher (web version), Power Media Player, Samsung Movie Converter and Samsung DNG Converter
OS Compatibility:    
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Image stabilization system also acts as a selectable AA filter, 8.3 fps full-res burst mode, new 27-point AF system, new 86,000 pixel RGB metering system, Full HD video up to 60i with H.264 encoding, dual SD card slots, freeze-proof, dust-proof, weather-resistant magnesium alloy construction, USB 3.0 port. Available in black, brown and white.