• APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

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Differences

Pentax K-3 advantages over Sony A77 II

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • More telephoto lens reach
    203 mm vs 75 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • More cross-type AF points
    25 vs 15
    Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
  • 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 26 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Sony A77 II advantages over Pentax K-3

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Tilt-swivel vs none
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • 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
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.73x vs 0.63x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More AF points
    79 vs 27
    More AF points improve autofocus
  • Wider angle kit lens
    24 mm vs 27 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    11.5 fps vs 7.1 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    12.0 fps vs 7.1 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode

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
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • 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
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Buy the Pentax K-3
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  • Body Only
  • Kit with 18-135mm Lens
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Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A77 II
Body Only
  • Body Only
  • Kit with 16-50mm Lens
All A77 II 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

  • Excellent image quality, especially lower ISOs; Improved high ISO performance when using RAW; Very good dynamic range; High-resolution images; Very fast single-shot autofocus; 12fps burst mode with C-AF; Good value for its class.

  • Lackluster continuous AF performance; Strong NR processing in high ISO JPEGs; Sluggish buffer clearing; Short battery life compared to most DSLRs; Joystick control easy to press accidentally.

  • Read our Sony A77 II Review

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

Sony A77 II
Nikon D7100
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Focus peaking
  • $690
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive

Compare Sony A77 II vs Nikon D7100

Compared to Canon 70D

Pentax K-3
Canon 70D
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Canon 70D

Sony A77 II
Canon 70D
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive

Compare Sony A77 II vs Canon 70D

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

Sony A77 II
Nikon D5300
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive

Compare Sony A77 II vs Nikon D5300

Compared to Canon 7D Mark II

Pentax K-3
Canon 7D Mark II
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1597
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Built-in GPS

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Canon 7D Mark II

Sony A77 II
Canon 7D Mark II
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $1597
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup

Compare Sony A77 II vs Canon 7D Mark II

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

Sony A77 II
Nikon D7200
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Focus peaking
  • $1016
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup

Compare Sony A77 II vs Nikon D7200

Compare Other Cameras?