Pentax K-3 versus Pentax K-5 IIs

I am interested in upgrading my SLR from a Pentax K20 to a Pentax K-3 or Pentax K-5 IIs. I want top Sharp image Quality what is the difference's?
East

Steve's right, either model will give you a significant improvement. The K3 is newer and gives a higher MP count and the option to turn on the AA filter (if you require), plus the price differential is becoming less - when I was deciding the K3 was significantly dearer (nearly double), although I don't regret my K5iiS purchase at all

After weeks and weeks of considering all of the pluses and minuses of the K5IIs Vs K3 - I recently purchased the K5IIs and so far do not regret my decision.

As my main interests are landscape, architecture and street shots - better low light handling is more important to me than better AF speed - so it made sense to own the model that handles low light slightly better and do without the slightly faster focusing - and as I picked up a perfect pre-owned version off a forum member - saved several hundred £ as well.

That said, both great cameras - and am certain either one will impress.

Carl

Well I have to say I recently purchased the K-3 and to be honest I am really not that excited by it when compared to my K-5II. The autofocus is much the same, the tracking is improved only very slightly and the 5II is certainly better when it comes to shooting above ISO 1600. I also don't like the placement of the AF button and the battery doesn't seem to last as long either.

On the plus side the extra mega-pixels are handy for cropping, the output is a little sharper (so much so I didn't have to do any in post), the focus peaking is a handy feature, at long last they have a medium speed FPS, the shutter makes an even more satisfying clunk and I'm sure the extra focus points will come in handy.

Personally, I think I should have stuck with my K-5II (which I still have) and if I still have the same thoughts after my first airshow in a few weeks time the K-3 and grip may well be on here for sale.

Edit: As you are thinking of a K-5IIs you can probably rule out the slightly sharper output of the K-3 but all the other points are valid (imo)

I've had a K-5IIs for about 18 months and a K-3 since last November. For me, the K-3 is the better camera and gets used a lot more than the K-5IIs does. It's not so much about sharpness, although the K-3 does edge it due to the higher pixel count. It's more about the WB, the metering, the warmth of the images, the performance with P-TTL flash, the rear screen etc. I find the K-3 to be a more competent all rounder and I prefer the look of the images, which to me are more akin to a CCD sensor than any other Pentax CMOS body I've used. I don't find the image noise to be a problem with the K-3, yes it is slightly more than a K-5IIs from 1600 upwards, but it's not really problematic to me. I also find the K-3 to be marginally more reliable at nailing focus. The K-5IIs is good in this respect, but I think the K-3 is a little better.

Regards
David

Here is my two pence worth.

Both the K5ll and the K3 are great cameras. The ISO debate depends on what and how you shoot and any minor noise issues can be cleaned up in post.

The K3s tracking is far better than the K5ll. However you have to set this up specifically to different situations and the lenses you use. Canon & Nikon focus systems are no different, even the best auto focus system has to be set to specific need and requirements.

I think the additional features of the K3 are overlooked in relation to the K5ll, but if you don't need or use the extra features, the K5ll is the camera to buy.

Personally I prefer the images from the K3. A few personal benefits of the K3 for me are:
I think the extra pixels make a difference in IQ
86 000 pixels RGB exposure meter
SAFOX 11 AF module with 27 auto focus points
The P-TTL flash now works and functions as it should do
Duel SD card slot + WIFI Flu card
Camera shutter rated to 200,000
Advanced anti moire function + Bracketed filter mode shooting (now thats clever)

I personally thought that the above points made the K3 a worthwhile upgrade from the K5lls, but I now am earning a living from photography and those above features were important to my needs. If I were shooting just as a hobby, the K5lls would still be a great camera.

If you want top Sharp image Quality and are shooting below ISO 1200 the difference is in my opinion the K3 is sharper. However, If you intend to be shooting above ISO 1600 a lot of the time, the K5lls ISO is slightly cleaner. For me I rarely shoot above ISO 1200 and if I do, I use flash or just clean the images up in Lightroom and photoshop.

Which ever camera you decide on, upgrading from a Pentax K20 you will be very pleased with the result.

I had the K5IIS for a month before getting my hands on a Silver K3.

I found that I did not have to fine tune the AF for my DA*16-50 on the K5IIs BUT I had to fine tune the AF on the K3 for the DA* 16-50 as well as my Sigma 70-200/2.8 APO DG to +6.

Have any of you encountered the same issue? This was BEFORE I did any AF tuning on the Sigma. I had aimed at one of the model's eyes before taking the shot.

With AF tuned DA*16-50/2.8

I don't think the issue was anything to do with AF - I think the 'anti-shake' wasn't up to the job of steadying your hands due to the subject matter

Joking aside - I can not comment on the K3 but had similar issues when I moved from a K5 to a K5IIs - I may be wrong but suspect it is more down to individual camera than model

Carl

I think Carl is spot on with this observation. I've had two K-5's, one was way off on the AF and required a big adjustment on all lenses, the other was spot on and only required a small adjustment on a couple of lenses. Both the K-5IIs and K-3 have required some minor adjustment, but once adjusted the important thing is that they both focus consistently, so I know I can rely on them. They are both excellent in AF and do exactly what I expect of them, the K-3 seems marginally the better of the two.

Regards
David

Thanks Carl & David for your replies. Looks like my K3 may need a visit to the service centre for a check up.

Update:

Went to the service centre in the afternoon. Kevin the tech guy checked and calibrated the DA*16-50/2.8 & the Sigma 70-200/2.8 APO DG to a +10. The FA 43 & 77 Limiteds were confirmed set to +3 as I had earlier set them.

Thanks again Carl & David for your kind inputs earlier.

Now my K3 is super sharp.