Thinking of getting a K-3 - advantage over the K-5?

jct us101 · 04-23-2021, 11:52 AM

I've been looking at the K-3 lately because of the dual SD slots and it's honestly not much larger than the K-5 from what I see in comparisons. I've owned a few K-5 in the past, and the biggest complaint I had was the card writing being painfully slow, even on single shot. Other than that, I've always loved the camera and I'm excited to jump back into Pentax after deciding Fujifilm is fun...for a while, and then it gets boring really fast when you can't afford more than one or two lenses.

**aslyfox** · 04-23-2021, 01:29 PM

this info might be helpful

K 5 vs. K 3

Compare camera dimensions side by side

Pentax K-5 vs. Pentax K-3 - Pentax Camera Comparison - PentaxForums.com

the K 3 is a good camera and an improvement over the K 5

AfterPentax Mark II · 04-23-2021, 01:51 PM

The speed of writing also depends on the corrections you have set. My K-7 was "painfully" slow, until I disabled lens correction settings. Even the K-3's are slower with the corrections on. I tried it with my K-3 II. But also the write speed of the SD card is influencing the speed with which the shots are written to the memorycard. After buying a better card I can now set the lens correction on and I hardly notice that that slows the writing to card. Try it, I would say. The K-3 (II) is a great camera.

lesmore49 · 04-23-2021, 03:15 PM

Originally posted by aslyfox

this info might be helpful

K 5 vs. K 3

Compare camera dimensions side by side

Pentax K-5 vs. Pentax K-3 - Pentax Camera Comparison - PentaxForums.com

the K 3 is a good camera and an improvement over the K 5

I see you have the K1 Mk.ll and the K3 lll.

Of course one is a full frame, the other is a ASP-C, and as the old English saying goes..... comparisons are odious. But what comes to mind , if you were to compare the two.

**aslyfox** · 04-23-2021, 03:23 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by lesmore49

I see you have the K1 Mk.ll and the K3 lll.

Of course one is a full frame, the other is a ASP-C, and as the old English saying goes..... comparisons are odious. But what comes to mind , if you were to compare the two.

for me, full frame sensor of the K 1 family is good for some photographic goals

and the ASP-C sensor is good for other photographic goals

so that is why I convinced my wife to allow me to have both full frame DSLR and ASP-C Sensor DSLRs

and of course I just got my hands on the Pentax K 3 III Silver Premium kit today

the K 10d I obtained for the CCD Sensor

vector · 04-23-2021, 03:26 PM

I have 2 K5's and a K3. I prefer shooting with the K3. AF is a noticable step up and I would say it's the biggest advantage. I prefer the minor button layout changes on the K3 but handling is very similar. I also like having 24mpx vs 16mpx. Image quality isn't dramatically different but the K3 is prone to exaggerate noise if you apply too much sharpening or don't use masking, but I wouldn't call it a noisy sensor. Both are good but as I said the K3 is my go to apsc body and is taken along as backup for my K1. The K5's are nice but I have no reason to shoot with them having a K3 around. They get used by my kids and may go up for sale with the K3III out now.

**W412ren** · 04-23-2021, 04:14 PM

Originally posted by jct us101

I've been looking at the K-3 lately because of the dual SD slots and it's honestly not much larger than the K-5 from what I see in comparisons. I've owned a few K-5 in the past, and the biggest complaint I had was the card writing being painfully slow, even on single shot. Other than that, I've always loved the camera and I'm excited to jump back into Pentax after deciding Fujifilm is fun...for a while, and then it gets boring really fast when you can't afford more than one or two lenses.

TBH I never noticed my K-5 being “slow”. Faster card? What were you shooting?
Anyway. I had a K-5 and eventually “upgraded “ to the K-3. I would say that the images from the K-3 are more forgiving and the AF was definitely an improvement for BIF.
The K-3 is heavier but the ergonomics are different and will suit people in different ways. Me? I still prefer the handling of the K-5.
I bought the K-1 - whole different ball-game - and gave the K-3 to my wife. A little while later I was missing APSC for different reasons and bought a K-3 again but have also since bought a K-5iis. I will sell the K-3. The K-5 series gives better (IMHO) results for astrophotography and I also believe suits the DA ltd primes better too.
So...... it has to come down to how you want to use the camera. The K5 and the K-3 have advantages over each other so how do you want to use the camera?

**Belnan** · 04-23-2021, 04:29 PM

I never use my K5 anymore, the K3 was a decent upgrade. I would get the K3II just for the astrotracer.

---------- Post added 04-23-21 at 04:30 PM ----------

Originally posted by Belnan

I never use my K5 anymore, the K3 was a decent upgrade. I would get the K3II just for the astrotracer.

I forgot there is one big negative and that's the battery life. The K5 is awsome. IQ is about the same imo.

**Bruce Clark** · 04-23-2021, 05:13 PM

I just picked up a used K3 II to replace a broken K5 IIs and I find it superior in many areas. Dual card slot, astrotracer used mainly for GPS, faster frame rate, extra pixels, higher ISO. Only thing that annoys me is the rear AF button has moved slightly. I will get used to that in time.

**reduno** · 04-23-2021, 05:39 PM

I would say the main advantages of the K-3 over the K-5 are the dual card slots, improved metering and improved AF performance. The advantage of the increased resolution will depend on your personal needs, as it comes with some possible degradation in low light performance. Handling wise, the cameras are very similar but the grips are slightly different, and personal preference may well depend on your hand size (I prefer the feel of the K-5 but still use a K-3 for other reasons).

lesmore49 · 04-23-2021, 10:14 PM

Originally posted by aslyfox

for me, full frame sensor of the K 1 family is good for some photographic goals

and the ASP-C sensor is good for other photographic goals

so that is why I convinced my wife to allow me to have both full frame DSLR and ASP-C Sensor DSLRs

and of course I just got my hands on the Pentax K 3 III Silver Premium kit today

the K 10d I obtained for the CCD Sensor

Thx for the info. BTW, I have had my K10D since November 2007. It has been a wonderful camera.

This was the camera that finally convinced me that digital was the way for me, to pursue my photography, after almost 40 years of film, using 35mm SLRs/ Rangefinders and medium format .

It has many shutter actuations and has traveled with me over a lot of Canada and the USA. Always ready to go and perform well. Still to this day.

brainwave · 04-23-2021, 10:59 PM

What is your lens collection like at the moment? For pentax?What are the lenses you think live up to sharpness of today's autofocus lenses?

wkadruje · 04-24-2021, 01:03 AM

Originally posted by AfterPentax Mark II

...was "painfully" slow, until I disabled lens correction settings.

just to be sure: the "lens correction" with distortion etc (so in general in-body heavy processing - never used it), not the AF correction (just checked the menu and saw it's not even called "correction" but "fine adjustment"?

**JimJohnson** · 04-24-2021, 05:57 AM

Never owned the K-5, but I did drool some with the release of the K-5ii and the removal of anti-aliasing. My Pentax digital SLR progression was K-r, K-30, K-3 (first gen - and won't give up that pop-up flash as a means of wirelessly controlling off-camera P-TTL flash). Especially with the loss of hyperfocal scales on digital lens, I really appreciate the stop-down preview on the shutter collar. Beyond that, the K-3 sensor with both the increased pixel count and lower noise at higher ISO gives me greater cropping options without seriously impacting image quality.

5ks · 04-24-2021, 11:20 AM

Originally posted by vector

I have 2 K5's and a K3. I prefer shooting with the K3. AF is a noticable step up and I would say it's the biggest advantage. I prefer the minor button layout changes on the K3 but handling is very similar. I also like having 24mpx vs 16mpx. Image quality isn't dramatically different but the K3 is prone to exaggerate noise if you apply too much sharpening or don't use masking, but I wouldn't call it a noisy sensor. Both are good but as I said the K3 is my go to apsc body and is taken along as backup for my K1. The K5's are nice but I have no reason to shoot with them having a K3 around. They get used by my kids and may go up for sale with the K3III out now.

Sounds mostly familiar. I had two K-5's when purchased (used) K-3. Many improvements really (24 Mpix, fps, two card slots etc.) but I was a bit disappointed in the noise level at high ISO. With K-5 I could shoot at ISO 1600 with great confidence, but with K-3 only up to ISO 800 with no need to worry about the noise. Solution? Well, I kept using all three (until I got my K-1), as the K-5's are still very good cameras.

04-23-2021, 11:52 AM	#1
jct us101 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Rohnert Park, CA Posts: 3,793	Thinking of getting a K-3 - advantage over the K-5? I've been looking at the K-3 lately because of the dual SD slots and it's honestly not much larger than the K-5 from what I see in comparisons. I've owned a few K-5 in the past, and the biggest complaint I had was the card writing being painfully slow, even on single shot. Other than that, I've always loved the camera and I'm excited to jump back into Pentax after deciding Fujifilm is fun...for a while, and then it gets boring really fast when you can't afford more than one or two lenses.

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04-23-2021, 01:29 PM	#2
aslyfox Seeker of Knowledge Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Topeka, Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 24,582	this info might be helpful K 5 vs. K 3 Compare camera dimensions side by side Pentax K-5 vs. Pentax K-3 - Pentax Camera Comparison - PentaxForums.com the K 3 is a good camera and an improvement over the K 5

04-23-2021, 01:51 PM	#3
AfterPentax Mark II Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2021 Posts: 1,467	The speed of writing also depends on the corrections you have set. My K-7 was "painfully" slow, until I disabled lens correction settings. Even the K-3's are slower with the corrections on. I tried it with my K-3 II. But also the write speed of the SD card is influencing the speed with which the shots are written to the memorycard. After buying a better card I can now set the lens correction on and I hardly notice that that slows the writing to card. Try it, I would say. The K-3 (II) is a great camera.

04-23-2021, 03:15 PM	#4
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,349	Originally posted by aslyfox this info might be helpful K 5 vs. K 3 Compare camera dimensions side by side Pentax K-5 vs. Pentax K-3 - Pentax Camera Comparison - PentaxForums.com the K 3 is a good camera and an improvement over the K 5 I see you have the K1 Mk.ll and the K3 lll. Of course one is a full frame, the other is a ASP-C, and as the old English saying goes..... comparisons are odious. But what comes to mind , if you were to compare the two.

04-23-2021, 03:23 PM - 1 Like	#5
aslyfox Seeker of Knowledge Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Topeka, Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 24,582	Originally posted by lesmore49 I see you have the K1 Mk.ll and the K3 lll. Of course one is a full frame, the other is a ASP-C, and as the old English saying goes..... comparisons are odious. But what comes to mind , if you were to compare the two. for me, full frame sensor of the K 1 family is good for some photographic goals and the ASP-C sensor is good for other photographic goals so that is why I convinced my wife to allow me to have both full frame DSLR and ASP-C Sensor DSLRs and of course I just got my hands on the Pentax K 3 III Silver Premium kit today the K 10d I obtained for the CCD Sensor

04-23-2021, 03:26 PM	#6
vector Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Location: Alberta Posts: 713	I have 2 K5's and a K3. I prefer shooting with the K3. AF is a noticable step up and I would say it's the biggest advantage. I prefer the minor button layout changes on the K3 but handling is very similar. I also like having 24mpx vs 16mpx. Image quality isn't dramatically different but the K3 is prone to exaggerate noise if you apply too much sharpening or don't use masking, but I wouldn't call it a noisy sensor. Both are good but as I said the K3 is my go to apsc body and is taken along as backup for my K1. The K5's are nice but I have no reason to shoot with them having a K3 around. They get used by my kids and may go up for sale with the K3III out now.

04-23-2021, 04:14 PM	#7
W412ren Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Fareham, Hampshire Photos: Albums Posts: 570	Originally posted by jct us101 I've been looking at the K-3 lately because of the dual SD slots and it's honestly not much larger than the K-5 from what I see in comparisons. I've owned a few K-5 in the past, and the biggest complaint I had was the card writing being painfully slow, even on single shot. Other than that, I've always loved the camera and I'm excited to jump back into Pentax after deciding Fujifilm is fun...for a while, and then it gets boring really fast when you can't afford more than one or two lenses. TBH I never noticed my K-5 being “slow”. Faster card? What were you shooting? Anyway. I had a K-5 and eventually “upgraded “ to the K-3. I would say that the images from the K-3 are more forgiving and the AF was definitely an improvement for BIF. The K-3 is heavier but the ergonomics are different and will suit people in different ways. Me? I still prefer the handling of the K-5. I bought the K-1 - whole different ball-game - and gave the K-3 to my wife. A little while later I was missing APSC for different reasons and bought a K-3 again but have also since bought a K-5iis. I will sell the K-3. The K-5 series gives better (IMHO) results for astrophotography and I also believe suits the DA ltd primes better too. So...... it has to come down to how you want to use the camera. The K5 and the K-3 have advantages over each other so how do you want to use the camera?

04-23-2021, 04:29 PM	#8
Belnan Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Nova Scotia Photos: Albums Posts: 1,090	I never use my K5 anymore, the K3 was a decent upgrade. I would get the K3II just for the astrotracer. ---------- Post added 04-23-21 at 04:30 PM ---------- Originally posted by Belnan I never use my K5 anymore, the K3 was a decent upgrade. I would get the K3II just for the astrotracer. I forgot there is one big negative and that's the battery life. The K5 is awsome. IQ is about the same imo.

04-23-2021, 05:13 PM	#9
Bruce Clark Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Ocean Grove, Victoria Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,458	I just picked up a used K3 II to replace a broken K5 IIs and I find it superior in many areas. Dual card slot, astrotracer used mainly for GPS, faster frame rate, extra pixels, higher ISO. Only thing that annoys me is the rear AF button has moved slightly. I will get used to that in time.

04-23-2021, 05:39 PM	#10
reduno Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central NY, USA Posts: 965	I would say the main advantages of the K-3 over the K-5 are the dual card slots, improved metering and improved AF performance. The advantage of the increased resolution will depend on your personal needs, as it comes with some possible degradation in low light performance. Handling wise, the cameras are very similar but the grips are slightly different, and personal preference may well depend on your hand size (I prefer the feel of the K-5 but still use a K-3 for other reasons).

04-23-2021, 10:14 PM	#11
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,349	Originally posted by aslyfox for me, full frame sensor of the K 1 family is good for some photographic goals and the ASP-C sensor is good for other photographic goals so that is why I convinced my wife to allow me to have both full frame DSLR and ASP-C Sensor DSLRs and of course I just got my hands on the Pentax K 3 III Silver Premium kit today the K 10d I obtained for the CCD Sensor Thx for the info. BTW, I have had my K10D since November 2007. It has been a wonderful camera. This was the camera that finally convinced me that digital was the way for me, to pursue my photography, after almost 40 years of film, using 35mm SLRs/ Rangefinders and medium format . It has many shutter actuations and has traveled with me over a lot of Canada and the USA. Always ready to go and perform well. Still to this day.

04-23-2021, 10:59 PM	#12
brainwave Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 196	What is your lens collection like at the moment? For pentax?What are the lenses you think live up to sharpness of today's autofocus lenses?

04-24-2021, 01:03 AM	#13
wkadruje Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 145	Originally posted by AfterPentax Mark II ...was "painfully" slow, until I disabled lens correction settings. just to be sure: the "lens correction" with distortion etc (so in general in-body heavy processing - never used it), not the AF correction (just checked the menu and saw it's not even called "correction" but "fine adjustment"?

04-24-2021, 05:57 AM	#14
JimJohnson Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Summer:Lake Superior - Michigan Winter:Texas Hill Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,774	Never owned the K-5, but I did drool some with the release of the K-5ii and the removal of anti-aliasing. My Pentax digital SLR progression was K-r, K-30, K-3 (first gen - and won't give up that pop-up flash as a means of wirelessly controlling off-camera P-TTL flash). Especially with the loss of hyperfocal scales on digital lens, I really appreciate the stop-down preview on the shutter collar. Beyond that, the K-3 sensor with both the increased pixel count and lower noise at higher ISO gives me greater cropping options without seriously impacting image quality.

04-24-2021, 11:20 AM	#15
5ks Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Southern Finland Posts: 681	Originally posted by vector I have 2 K5's and a K3. I prefer shooting with the K3. AF is a noticable step up and I would say it's the biggest advantage. I prefer the minor button layout changes on the K3 but handling is very similar. I also like having 24mpx vs 16mpx. Image quality isn't dramatically different but the K3 is prone to exaggerate noise if you apply too much sharpening or don't use masking, but I wouldn't call it a noisy sensor. Both are good but as I said the K3 is my go to apsc body and is taken along as backup for my K1. The K5's are nice but I have no reason to shoot with them having a K3 around. They get used by my kids and may go up for sale with the K3III out now. Sounds mostly familiar. I had two K-5's when purchased (used) K-3. Many improvements really (24 Mpix, fps, two card slots etc.) but I was a bit disappointed in the noise level at high ISO. With K-5 I could shoot at ISO 1600 with great confidence, but with K-3 only up to ISO 800 with no need to worry about the noise. Solution? Well, I kept using all three (until I got my K-1), as the K-5's are still very good cameras.