Canon M5 vs Pentax 3-K II: Differences, Similarities, Reviews, Videos

Canon M5 vs Pentax 3-K II: Two cameras. Two different body types. This article compares Canon’s Semi-Pro Mirrorless camera, the Canon EOS M5, with the Pentax Semi-Pro DSLR, the Pentax 3-K II. Both cameras feature a 24.0MP APS-C sensor. To start, here’s a brief overview of the main features of both cameras.

Canon M5 vs Pentax 3-K II Specs

Canon M5 vs Pentax 3-K II – Comparison

Specifications	Canon M5	Pentax K-3 II
Megapixels	24.2	24.3
Sensor Type	CMOS	CMOS
Sensor Format	APS-C	APS-C
Crop Factor	1.6x	1.5x
AA Filter	Yes	On/Off
Image Resolution	6000 x 4000	6016 x 4000
Body Image Stabilization	Yes (Movie only)	Yes
Lens Mount	Canon EF-M	Pentax K
ISO	100 – 25,600	100 – 51,200
Expanded ISO	None	None
AF Points	49 Hybrid	27
Cross-type AF Points	Dual Pixel AF	25
Continuous Mode	7fps	8fps
LCD	3.2″ – Articulating	3.2″ – Fixed
LCD Resolution	1,620,000 dots	1,036,800 dots
Touchscreen	Yes	No
Focus Peaking	Yes	Yes
Top LCD Display	No	Yes
Viewfinder Type	EVF (2.36M)	Optical
Viewfinder Coverage	100%	100%
Viewfinder Magnification		0.95x
Video Resolution	1920×1080 (60/50/30/25/24p	1920×1080 (60i/50i/30/25/24p)
	1280×720 (60/50p)	1280×720 (60/50p)
Microphone Jack	Yes	Yes
Headphone Jack	No	Yes
Memory Card Type	SD	SD + SD
Dual Card Slots	No	Yes
SD UHS Support	UHS-I	UHS-I
Fastest Shutter Speed	1/4000	1/8000
Slowest Shutter Speed	30″	30″
Bulb Mode	Yes	Yes
JPEG Buffer Size	27	60
RAW Buffer Size	18	22
Time Lapse	Yes	Yes
Built-in Flash	Yes	No
Max Flash Sync Speed	1/200	1/180
Startup Time	1.2s	1.2s
Built-in Wi-Fi	Yes	No
Built-in GPS	No	Yes
Built-in NFC	Yes	No
Bluetooth	Yes	No
USB Type	USB 2.0	USB 3.0
Environmentally Sealed	No	Yes
Battery Life (CIPA)	295 shots	720 shots
Battery Included	Yes (LP-E17)	Yes (D-LI90)
Weight	15.0 oz (427g)	27.07 oz (785g)
Size	4.6 x 3.5 x 2.4″	5.2 x 4.0 x 3.1″
Price	Amazon	Amazon
Release Date	2016	2015

Pentax 3-K II vs Canon M5 Common Features

External Flash Shoe	Yes vs Yes	Better for flash photography
Viewfinder	Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Optical)	Better framing and control
RAW Support	Yes vs Yes	Better image quality
Face Detection Focus	Yes vs Yes	Useful for portraits
Max Resolution	24 MP vs 24 MP	Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Size	3.2″ vs 3.2″	Large display
Continuous Shooting	9.0fps vs 8.3fps	Fast shooting speeds
Microphone Port	Yes vs Yes	High-quality audio recording option
Timelapse Recording	Yes vs Yes	Creative shooting
AE Bracketing	Yes vs Yes	Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR

Canon M5 vs Pentax 3-K II Size Comparison

On the size chart, the Canon M5 is the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 15mm narrower, 11mm shorter and 16mm thinner than the Pentax K-3 II. Also, with regard to weight, the Canon M5 is noticeably lighter (373g ) than the Pentax K-3 II. A key factor to consider if you plan to go on long journeys/photo sessions with your camera.

Canon M5 vs Pentax 3-K II – Comparison

Moreover, both cameras have an APS-C sensor. Hence, the lenses they use are practically the same. So, when factoring in the weight, this is not an issue.

Canon M5 vs Pentax 3-K II Sensor Comparison

Both the Canon M5 and Pentax 3-K II have APS-C sized 24.0 MP resolution sensors so sensor size and resolution are the same between the two cameras.

However, one key difference is that the Nikon D5500’s sensor lacks anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter. This increases the sharpness and level of detail however it also increases the chance of a ripple effect in certain pictures.

Canon M5 vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

As both the Nikon D5500 and Canon M5 have the same sensor sizes, they provide a good level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture. However, the Pentax K-3 II has a 1.1x larger sensor area than the Canon M5. Larger sensors give you more control over the depth of field and blurry background compared to the smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

Canon M5 Advantages Over Pentax 3-K II

Wireless Connection	Built-In vs Optional	Better connectivity
Articulating Screen	Yes vs No	Flexible shooting positions
Built-in Flash	Yes vs No	Useful in low-light
Touch Screen	Yes vs No	Easy control of camera functions
Number of Focus Points	49 vs 27	22 more focus points
LCD Screen Resolution	1.620k dots vs 1.037k dots	56% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting	9.0fps vs 8.3fps	0.7 fps faster
Weight	427 g vs 800 g	373 g lighter
Selfie Friendly LCD	Yes vs No	Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
NFC Connection	Yes vs No	Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Bluetooth	Yes vs No	Connect your camera to other devices via Bluetooth
Smartphone_remote control	Yes vs No	Remote control your camera with a smartphone

Reasons why you should choose the Canon EOS M5 over the Pentax 3-K II:

AF Points – 49 vs 27.

LCD – It’s articulated.

LCD Resolution – Higher resolution.

Touchscreen Support

Built-in Flash

Max Flash Sync Speed – 1/200 vs 1/180.

Built-in Wi-Fi

Built-in NFC

Bluetooth Support

Weight – The Canon M5 weighs 358g less.

Size – The Canon M5 is noticeably smaller.

Video: Canon M5 Hands-on Review

Canon’s latest mirrorless camera promises to be an 80D in a smaller package. With 1080p and a reasonable 24-megapixels, is it another flop or does the Dual Pixel Autofocus save the day? Watch as Kai takes you through the pros and cons.

Pentax 3-K II Advantages Over Canon M5

Built-in Image Stabilization	Sensor-shift vs None	All the lenses are stabilized
GPS	BuiltIn vs None	Track your location
Max ISO	51.200 vs 25.600	100% higher Max ISO
Max Shutter Speed	1/8000s vs 1/4000s	Faster shutter speed
Battery Life	720 shots vs 295 shots	425 more frames with a single charge
Headphone Port	Yes vs No	Better video control
Environmental Sealing	Yes vs No	Shoot at tough conditions
Sensor Pixel Area	15.24µm²vs 13.84µm²	10% larger pixel area
Price	$846 vs $929	$83 cheaper
Top LCD	Yes vs No	Help viewing and changing settings easily
AE Bracketing Range	±5 EV vs ±3 EV	Wide Bracketing range is useful for HDR
Flash Sync Port	Yes vs No	Connect off-camera flash
Pixel Shift High-Resolution Mode	Yes vs No	Increased resolution with pixel shift
Anti-Alias Filter Simulator	Yes vs No	Turn on Anti-Alias filter effect to minimise Moire
Astrotracer Mode	Yes vs No	Great for Astrophotography
Storage Slot	2 vs 1	Extra storage slot

Reasons you might want to choose the Pentax 3-K II instead of the Canon EOS M5:

AA Filter – You can turn it on and off.

Body Image Stabilization – The Pentax K-3 II has built-in body stabilization for photos and videos, which is an excellent feature for traveling and shooting in low light.

ISO – 51,200 vs 25,600. Higher maximum ISO sensitivity.

Continuous Mode – 8 vs 7. It’s an advantage, but not something you will really notice that often.

Top LCD Display – When shooting in semi-auto/manual modes, you can quickly preview all of your settings.

Headphone Jack – Useful for previewing your audio quality straight out the camera.

Dual Card Slots – More room for extra photos, or simply for backup.

JPEG Buffer Size – 60 vs 27. Useful for long bursts.

RAW Buffer Size – 22 vs 18.

Faster Max Shutter Speed – 1/8000 vs 1/4000.

Built-in GPS

USB 3.0 – Faster file transferring out the camera.

Environmentally Sealed – The Pentax K-3 II is better suited for shooting outdoors in difficult terrain and bad weather conditions.

Battery Life – 720 shots vs 295 shots.

Video: Pentax 3-K II Hands-on Review

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Canon M5 vs Pentax 3-K II: A Detailed Comparison

Canon M5 vs Pentax 3-K II Specs

Specifications

Canon M5

Pentax K-3 II