Pentax KP vs Sony A7R III

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Pentax KP vs Sony A7R III

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APS-C 366.6mm²
24.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 819,200

Go in depth with our full Pentax KP Review.
How does it shoot? Pentax KP in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the KP.

35mm 861.6mm²
42.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 32,000

Go in depth with our full Sony A7R III Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A7R III in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A7R III.
Compare Sony A7R III image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A7R III conclusion.

Succeeded by the Sony A7R IV
Compare A7R III vs A7R IV
Compare Pentax KP vs Sony A7R IV

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Differences

Pentax KP advantages over Sony A7R III

Less expensive
$999* vs $1805
Save money for lenses or accessories
Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Less shutter lag
0.09 vs 0.25 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
Optional anti-aliasing filter
Optional vs None
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
Faster shutter
1/24000 vs 1/8000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
819200 vs 102400 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Sony A7R III advantages over Pentax KP

Larger sensor
35mm vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 4.51 vs 3.91 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
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

650 vs 390 shots
Capture more photos
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
More viewfinder magnification
0.78x vs 0.63x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
42.4 vs 24.3 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
Faster JPEG shooting
9.9 fps vs 7.1 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
82 vs 35 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
9.2 fps vs 7.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
30 vs 10 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos

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
Tiltable Screen
Both provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting 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

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
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read KP User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A7R III User Reviews

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Kit with 24-70mm f/2.8 GM lens
Kit with 24-70mm f/4 lens

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Review Excerpt

We haven’t finished our review of the Pentax KP, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
Read our Pentax KP Shooter's Report

Fantastic image quality; Improved dynamic range over its predecessor; Very good high ISO performance; Much improved real-world AF performance; Class-leading burst rates, even with RAW; Improved 5-axis in-body image stabilization; Better 4K video quality; 1080/120fps video; Dual card slots; Significantly better battery life.
Expensive; Menus still confusing; UHS-II support only on one card slot; No optical low-pass filter means greater risk of moire; No built-in flash; Buffer clearing still slow despite UHS-II support.
Read our Sony A7R III Review

The Competition

Compared to Pentax K-3 II

Pentax KP

Pentax K-3 II

$999
APS-C

Tiltable Screen
Built-in Wi-Fi

$830
APS-C

Less expensive
Built-in GPS

Compare Pentax KP vs Pentax K-3 II

Sony A7R III

Pentax K-3 II

$2151
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$830
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A7R III vs Pentax K-3 II

Compared to Sony A7R II

Pentax KP

Sony A7R II

$999
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

$2348
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Pentax KP vs Sony A7R II

Sony A7R III

Sony A7R II

$2151
35mm

Touchscreen
High resolution composite

$2348
35mm

In-camera panoramas

Compare Sony A7R III vs Sony A7R II

Compared to Nikon D5600

Pentax KP

Nikon D5600

$999
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1032
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax KP vs Nikon D5600

Sony A7R III

Nikon D5600

$2151
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$1032
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A7R III vs Nikon D5600

Compared to Canon T7i

Pentax KP

Canon T7i

$999
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$700
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax KP vs Canon T7i

Sony A7R III

Canon T7i

$2151
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$700
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A7R III vs Canon T7i

Compared to Nikon Z7 II

Pentax KP

Nikon Z7 II

$999
APS-C

Less expensive
High resolution composite

$2330
35mm

Larger sensor
Shoot 4K video

Compare Pentax KP vs Nikon Z7 II

Sony A7R III

Nikon Z7 II

$2151
35mm

Less expensive
High resolution composite

$2330
35mm

Top deck display
Newer

Compare Sony A7R III vs Nikon Z7 II

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