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Nikon Z50 II vs Pentax K-3 III

The Nikon Z50 II and the Pentax K-3 III are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in November 2024 and March 2021. The Z50 II is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the K-3 III is a DSLR. Both cameras are equipped with an APS-C sensor. The Nikon has a resolution of 20.7 megapixels, whereas the Pentax provides 25.6 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Nikon Z50 II
versus
Pentax K-3 III
Nikon Z50 II   Pentax K-3 III
Mirrorless system camera Digital single lens reflex
Nikon Z mount lenses Pentax K mount lenses
20.7 MP – APS-C sensor 25.6 MP – APS-C sensor
4K/60p Video 4K/30p Video
ISO 100-51,200 (100 - 204,800) ISO 100-160,000
Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots) Optical viewfinder
3.2" LCD – 1040k dots 3.2" LCD – 1620k dots
Swivel touchscreen Fixed touchscreen
11 shutter flaps per second 12 shutter flaps per second
Lens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
Weathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
250 shots per battery charge800 shots per battery charge
127 x 97 x 67 mm, 550 g 135 x 104 x 74 mm, 820 g
logo
Check Z50 II price at
amazon.com
logo
Check K-3 III price at
amazon.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon Z50 II and the Pentax K-3 III? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Nikon Z50 II and the Pentax K-3 III is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The K-3 III can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the Z50 II is only available in black.

Size Nikon Z50 II vs Pentax K-3 III
Compare Z50 II versus K-3 III top
Comparison Z50 II or K-3 III rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Pentax K-3 III is notably larger (14 percent) than the Nikon Z50 II. Moreover, the K-3 III is substantially heavier (49 percent) than the Z50 II. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

The power pack in the Z50 II can be charged via the USB port, so that it is not always necessary to take the battery charger along when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon Z50 II 127 mm 97 mm 67 mm 550 g 250 Y Nov 2024 US$ 909 amazon.com
2.
 
Pentax K-3 III 135 mm 104 mm 74 mm 820 g 800 Y Mar 2021 US$ 1 999 amazon.com
3.
 
Fujifilm X-H1 140 mm 97 mm 86 mm 673 g 310 Y Feb 2018 US$ 1 899ebay.com
4.
 
Fujifilm X-Pro2 141 mm 83 mm 46 mm 495 g 350 Y Jan 2016 US$ 1 699ebay.com
5.
 
Fujifilm X-T2 133 mm 92 mm 49 mm 507 g 340 Y Jul 2016 US$ 1 599ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D5200 129 mm 98 mm 78 mm 555 g 500 n Nov 2012 US$ 749ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D5300 125 mm 98 mm 76 mm 480 g 600 n Oct 2013 US$ 799ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D5500 124 mm 97 mm 70 mm 470 g 820 n Jan 2015 US$ 899ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D5600 124 mm 97 mm 70 mm 465 g 970 n Nov 2016 US$ 699ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon D7500 136 mm 104 mm 73 mm 720 g 950 Y Apr 2017 US$ 1 299 amazon.com
11.
 
Nikon Z30 128 mm 74 mm 60 mm 405 g 330 Y Jun 2022 US$ 709 amazon.com
12.
 
Nikon Z50 127 mm 94 mm 60 mm 450 g 320 Y Oct 2019 US$ 859 amazon.com
13.
 
Nikon Z fc 135 mm 94 mm 44 mm 445 g 300 n Jun 2021 US$ 959 amazon.com
14.
 
Pentax K-3 131 mm 100 mm 77 mm 800 g 560 Y Oct 2013 US$ 1 299ebay.com
15.
 
Pentax K-3 II 131 mm 100 mm 77 mm 800 g 720 Y Apr 2015 US$ 1 099ebay.com
16.
 
Pentax K-70 126 mm 93 mm 74 mm 688 g 410 Y Jun 2016 US$ 649ebay.com
17.
 
Pentax KP 132 mm 101 mm 76 mm 703 g 390 Y Jan 2017 US$ 1 099ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The Z50 II was launched at a markedly lower price (by 55 percent) than the K-3 III, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the K-3 III is 2 percent smaller. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Nikon Z50 II and Pentax K-3 III sensor measures

Despite having a slightly smaller sensor, the K-3 III offers a higher resolution of 25.6 megapixels, compared with 20.7 MP of the Z50 II. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 3.76μm versus 4.22μm for the Z50 II). Moreover, it should be noted that the Z50 II is much more recent (by 3 years and 7 months) than the K-3 III, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Pentax K-3 III implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the K-3 III for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 31 x 20.6 inches or 78.6 x 52.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24.8 x 16.5 inches or 62.9 x 41.9 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20.6 x 13.8 inches or 52.4 x 35 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon Z50 II are 27.8 x 18.6 inches or 70.7 x 47.1 cm for good quality, 22.3 x 14.8 inches or 56.6 x 37.7 cm for very good quality, and 18.6 x 12.4 inches or 47.1 x 31.4 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Z50 II has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

Unlike the Z50 II, the K-3 III has the capacity to capture high quality composite images (YESMP) by combining multiple shots after shifting its sensor by miniscule distances. This multi-shot, pixel-shift mode is most suitable for photography of stationary objects (landscapes, studio scenes).

The Nikon Z50 II has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 51200, which can be extended to ISO 100-204800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Pentax K-3 III are ISO 100 to ISO 160000 (no boost).

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Z50 II versus K-3 III MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Nikon Z50 II APS-C 20.7 5568 37124K/60p24.314.1246786
2.
 
Pentax K-3 III APS-C 25.6 6192 41284K/30p24.213.7208385
3.
 
Fujifilm X-H1 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.013.3180682
4.
 
Fujifilm X-Pro2 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.713.0160880
5.
 
Fujifilm X-T2 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/30p23.813.1165381
6.
 
Nikon D5200 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60i24.213.9128484
7.
 
Nikon D5300 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.013.9133883
8.
 
Nikon D5500 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.114.0143884
9.
 
Nikon D5600 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.114.0130684
10.
 
Nikon D7500 APS-C 20.7 5568 37124K/30p24.314.0148386
11.
 
Nikon Z30 APS-C 20.7 5568 37124K/30p24.313.9223086
12.
 
Nikon Z50 APS-C 20.7 5568 37124K/30p24.113.6196384
13.
 
Nikon Z fc APS-C 20.7 5568 37124K/30p24.213.8213185
14.
 
Pentax K-3 APS-C 24.1 6016 40001080/60i23.713.4121680
15.
 
Pentax K-3 II APS-C 24.1 6016 40001080/60i23.613.6110680
16.
 
Pentax K-70 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60i23.813.1163980
17.
 
Pentax KP APS-C 24.1 6016 40001080/60i23.913.2169981
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the Z50 II provides a higher frame rate than the K-3 III. It can shoot video footage at 4K/60p, while the Pentax is limited to 4K/30p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the Z50 II has an electronic viewfinder (2360k dots), while the K-3 III has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), but the viewfinder of the K-3 III has a higher magnification than the one of the Z50 II (0.70x vs 0.68x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Nikon Z50 II and Pentax K-3 III in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Nikon Z50 II2360 n3.2 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
2.
 
Pentax K-3 IIIoptical Y3.2 / 1620 fixed Y 1/8000s 12.0/s n Y
3.
 
Fujifilm X-H13690 Y3.0 / 1040 full-flex Y 1/8000s 14.0/s n Y
4.
 
Fujifilm X-Pro22360 n3.0 / 1620 fixed n 1/8000s 8.0/s n n
5.
 
Fujifilm X-T22360 n3.0 / 1040 full-flex n 1/8000s 8.0/s n n
6.
 
Nikon D5200optical n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
7.
 
Nikon D5300optical n3.2 / 1037 swivel n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
8.
 
Nikon D5500optical n3.2 / 1037 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
9.
 
Nikon D5600optical n3.2 / 1037 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
10.
 
Nikon D7500optical Y3.2 / 922 tilting Y 1/8000s 8.0/s Y n
11.
 
Nikon Z30none n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
12.
 
Nikon Z502360 n3.2 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
13.
 
Nikon Z fc2360 Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 11.0/s n n
14.
 
Pentax K-3optical Y3.2 / 1037 fixed n 1/8000s 8.3/s Y Y
15.
 
Pentax K-3 IIoptical Y3.2 / 1037 fixed n 1/8000s 8.3/s n Y
16.
 
Pentax K-70optical n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/6000s 6.0/s Y Y
17.
 
Pentax KPoptical n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/6000s 7.0/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The Z50 II has one, while the K-3 III does not. While the built-in flash of the Z50 II is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The Z50 II has an articulated LCD that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in snapping selfies. In contrast, the K-3 III does not have a selfie-screen.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the Z50 II is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Nikon Z50 II and the Pentax K-3 III both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the Z50 II and the K-3 III write their files to SDXC cards. The K-3 III features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the Z50 II only has one slot. Both the Z50 II and the K-3 III support UHS-II cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s (the second slot of the K-3 III only offers slower UHS-I transfer rates, though).

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon Z50 II and Pentax K-3 III and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Nikon Z50 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.0Y-Y
2.
 
Pentax K-3 IIIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.2Y-Y
3.
 
Fujifilm X-H1Ystereo / monoY-micro3.0Y--
4.
 
Fujifilm X-Pro2Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y--
5.
 
Fujifilm X-T2Ystereo / monoY-micro3.0Y--
6.
 
Nikon D5200Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
7.
 
Nikon D5300Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0Y--
8.
 
Nikon D5500Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0Y--
9.
 
Nikon D5600Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
10.
 
Nikon D7500Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0Y-Y
11.
 
Nikon Z30Ystereo / monoY-micro3.2Y-Y
12.
 
Nikon Z50Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
13.
 
Nikon Z fcYstereo / monoY-micro3.2Y-Y
14.
 
Pentax K-3Ymono / monoYYmini3.0---
15.
 
Pentax K-3 IIYmono / monoYYmini3.0---
16.
 
Pentax K-70Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0Y--
17.
 
Pentax KPYstereo / monoY--2.0Y--

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Pentax K-3 III (unlike the Z50 II) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Travel and landscape photographers will find it useful that the K-3 III has an internal geolocalization sensor and can record GPS coordinates in its EXIF data.

Both the Z50 II and the K-3 III are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. The K-3 III replaced the earlier Pentax K-3 II, while the Z50 II followed on from the Nikon Z50. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Nikon and Pentax websites.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Nikon Z50 II and the Pentax K-3 III? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

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Advantages of the Nikon Z50 II:

  • Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (4K/60p versus 4K/30p).
  • Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
  • More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
  • More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • More compact: Is smaller (127x97mm vs 135x104mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 270g or 33 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
  • More legacy lens friendly: Can take a broad range of non-native lenses via adapters.
  • Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (55 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More modern: Reflects 3 years and 7 months of technical progress since the K-3 III launch.

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Reasons to prefer the Pentax K-3 III:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (25.6 vs 20.7MP), which boosts linear resolution by 11%.
  • High quality composites: Can combine several shots after pixel-shifting its sensor.
  • Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.70x vs 0.68x).
  • Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1620k vs 1040k dots).
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (800 versus 250) out of a single battery charge.
  • Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
  • Easier geotagging: Features an internal GPS sensor to log localization data.
  • Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in March 2021).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the match-up finishes in a tie (13 points each). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

Z50 II 13:13 K-3 III

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon Z50 II and the Pentax K-3 III place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera and Best DSLR Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the Z50 II and the K-3 III in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon Z50 II......88/100.... Nov 2024 US$ 909 amazon.com
2.
 
Pentax K-3 III4/5..3/5..4.5/5.. Mar 2021 US$ 1 999 amazon.com
3.
 
Fujifilm X-H1..+5/586/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2018 US$ 1 899ebay.com
4.
 
Fujifilm X-Pro2..+..83/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2016 US$ 1 699ebay.com
5.
 
Fujifilm X-T25/5+ +..86/1004.5/55/5 Jul 2016 US$ 1 599ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D52004/5+ +..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Nov 2012 US$ 749ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D53004/5+ +..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2013 US$ 799ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D55005/5+..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2015 US$ 899ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D56004/5..4/579/1004.5/54/5 Nov 2016 US$ 699ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon D75004.5/5+ +4.5/586/1005/54.5/5 Apr 2017 US$ 1 299 amazon.com
11.
 
Nikon Z304/5..4/586/1004.5/54/5 Jun 2022 US$ 709 amazon.com
12.
 
Nikon Z505/5..5/585/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2019 US$ 859 amazon.com
13.
 
Nikon Z fc4/5..4.5/586/1005/54.5/5 Jun 2021 US$ 959 amazon.com
14.
 
Pentax K-34/5....83/1005/55/5 Oct 2013 US$ 1 299ebay.com
15.
 
Pentax K-3 II4.5/5......5/55/5 Apr 2015 US$ 1 099ebay.com
16.
 
Pentax K-704.5/5..4/579/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2016 US$ 649ebay.com
17.
 
Pentax KP4/5..3/582/1005/54.5/5 Jan 2017 US$ 1 099ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Check Z50 II price at
amazon.com
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Check K-3 III price at
amazon.com

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications: Nikon Z50 II vs Pentax K-3 III

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Nikon Z50 II Pentax K-3 III
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Pentax K mount lenses
    Launch Date November 2024 March 2021
    Launch Price USD 909 USD 1,999
    Sensor Specs Nikon Z50 II Pentax K-3 III
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 23.5 x 15.7 mm 23.3 x 15.5 mm
    Sensor Area 368.95 mm2 361.15 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 28.3 mm 28 mm
    Crop Factor 1.5x 1.5x
    Sensor Resolution 20.7 Megapixels 25.6 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 5568 x 3712 pixels 6192 x 4128 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.22 μm 3.76 μm
    Pixel Density 5.60 MP/cm2 7.08 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 4K/60p Video 4K/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 51,200 ISO 100 - 160,000 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 204,800 ISO no Enhancement
    Image Processor EXPEED 7 PRIME V
    Screen Specs Nikon Z50 II Pentax K-3 III
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.68x 0.70x
    Viewfinder Resolution 2360k dots
    Top-Level Screen no Top Display Control Panel
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.2inch 3.2inch
    LCD Resolution 1040k dots 1620k dots
    LCD Attachment Swivel screen Fixed screen
    Touch Input Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Nikon Z50 II Pentax K-3 III
    Focus System On-Sensor Phase-detect Phase-detect AF
    Manual Focusing AidFocus PeakingFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 11 shutter flaps/s 12 shutter flaps/s
    Electronic Shutterup to 1/4000sno E-Shutter
    Time-Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer built-inIntervalometer built-in
    Image StabilizationLens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Dual card slots
    UHS card support UHS-II Single UHS-II
    Connectivity Specs Nikon Z50 II Pentax K-3 III
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash no PC Sync PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 3.0 USB 3.2
    HDMI Port micro HDMI micro HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port External MIC port
    Headphone Socket Headphone port Headphone port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Bluetooth Support Bluetooth built-in Bluetooth built-in
    Geotagging no internal GPS GPS built-in
    Body Specs Nikon Z50 II Pentax K-3 III
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Nikon EN-EL25a Pentax D-LI90
    Battery Life (CIPA)250 shots per charge800 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging USB charging no USB charging
    Body Dimensions 127 x 97 x 67 mm
    (5.0 x 3.8 x 2.6 in)
    135 x 104 x 74 mm
    (5.3 x 4.1 x 2.9 in)
    Camera Weight 550 g (19.4 oz) 820 g (28.9 oz)
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    Check Z50 II price at
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    Check K-3 III price at
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