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Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-3 III

The Nikon D5100 and the Pentax K-3 III are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in April 2011 and March 2021. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. The Nikon has a resolution of 16.1 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 D5100
versus
Pentax K-3 III
Nikon D5100   Pentax K-3 III
Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
Nikon F mount lenses Pentax K mount lenses
16.1 MP – APS-C sensor 25.6 MP – APS-C sensor
1080/30p Video 4K/30p Video
ISO 100-6,400 (100 - 25,600) ISO 100-160,000
Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD – 921k dots 3.2" LCD – 1620k dots
Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive) Fixed touchscreen
4 shutter flaps per second 12 shutter flaps per second
Lens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
not weather sealedWeathersealed body
660 shots per battery charge800 shots per battery charge
128 x 97 x 79 mm, 560 g 135 x 104 x 74 mm, 820 g
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Check D5100 offers at
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Check K-3 III price at
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon D5100 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 D5100 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 views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The K-3 III can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the D5100 is only available in black.

Size Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-3 III
Compare D5100 versus K-3 III top
Comparison D5100 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 (13 percent) than the Nikon D5100. Moreover, the K-3 III is substantially heavier (46 percent) than the D5100. It is noteworthy in this context that the K-3 III is splash and dust-proof, while the D5100 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

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.

Concerning battery life, the D5100 gets 660 shots out of its Nikon EN-EL14 battery, while the K-3 III can take 800 images on a single charge of its Pentax D-LI90 power pack.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. 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 (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon D5100 128 mm 97 mm 79 mm 560 g 660 n Apr 2011 749ebay.com
2.
 
Pentax K-3 III 135 mm 104 mm 74 mm 820 g 800 Y Mar 2021 1,999 amazon.com
3.
 
Canon 550D 129 mm 98 mm 62 mm 530 g 440 n Feb 2010 699ebay.com
4.
 
Canon G1 X 117 mm 81 mm 65 mm 534 g 250 n Jan 2012 799ebay.com
5.
 
Nikon D3100 124 mm 96 mm 75 mm 505 g 550 n Aug 2010 599ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D3200 125 mm 96 mm 77 mm 505 g 540 n Apr 2012 599ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D5000 127 mm 104 mm 80 mm 590 g 510 n Apr 2009 749ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D5200 129 mm 98 mm 78 mm 555 g 500 n Nov 2012 749ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D5300 125 mm 98 mm 76 mm 480 g 600 n Oct 2013 799ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon D5500 124 mm 97 mm 70 mm 470 g 820 n Jan 2015 899ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D5600 124 mm 97 mm 70 mm 465 g 970 n Nov 2016 699ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D7000 132 mm 105 mm 77 mm 780 g 1050 Y Sep 2010 1,499ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic S5 133 mm 98 mm 82 mm 714 g 440 Y Sep 2020 1,999 amazon.com
14.
 
Pentax K-3 131 mm 100 mm 77 mm 800 g 560 Y Oct 2013 1,299ebay.com
15.
 
Pentax K-3 II 131 mm 100 mm 77 mm 800 g 720 Y Apr 2015 1,099ebay.com
16.
 
Pentax K-70 126 mm 93 mm 74 mm 688 g 410 Y Jun 2016 649ebay.com
17.
 
Pentax KP 132 mm 101 mm 76 mm 703 g 390 Y Jan 2017 1,099ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. 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 D5100 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 63 percent) than the K-3 III, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. 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.

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 generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better 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 3 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 D5100 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 16.1 MP of the D5100. 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 4.80μm for the D5100). However, it should be noted that the K-3 III is much more recent (by 9 years and 11 months) than the D5100, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the K-3 III has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its 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 D5100 are 24.6 x 16.3 inches or 62.6 x 41.5 cm for good quality, 19.7 x 13.1 inches or 50.1 x 33.2 cm for very good quality, and 16.4 x 10.9 inches or 41.7 x 27.6 cm for excellent quality prints.

Unlike the D5100, 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 D5100 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400, which can be extended to ISO 100-25600. 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.

D5100 versus K-3 III MP

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. 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 table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar 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 D5100 APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/30p23.513.6118380
2.
 
Pentax K-3 III APS-C 25.6 6192 41284K/30p24.213.7208385
3.
 
Canon 550D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.111.578466
4.
 
Canon G1 X 1.5-inch 14.2 4352 32641080/24p21.710.864460
5.
 
Nikon D3100 APS-C 14.2 4608 30721080/24p22.511.391967
6.
 
Nikon D3200 APS-C 24.1 6016 40001080/30p24.113.2113181
7.
 
Nikon D5000 APS-C 12.2 4288 2848720/24p22.712.586872
8.
 
Nikon D5200 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60i24.213.9128484
9.
 
Nikon D5300 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.013.9133883
10.
 
Nikon D5500 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.114.0143884
11.
 
Nikon D5600 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.114.0130684
12.
 
Nikon D7000 APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/24p23.513.9116780
13.
 
Panasonic S5 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/60p25.114.5269794
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 cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the K-3 III provides a better video resolution than the D5100. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Nikon is limited to 1080/30p.

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Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The D5100 and the K-3 III are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinder in the K-3 III offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the D5100 (95%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. In addition, the viewfinder of the K-3 III has a higher magnification (0.70x vs 0.51x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Nikon D5100 and Pentax K-3 III along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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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 D5100optical n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
2.
 
Pentax K-3 IIIoptical Y3.2 / 1620 fixed Y 1/8000s 12.0/s n Y
3.
 
Canon 550Doptical n3.0 / 1040 fixed n 1/4000s 3.7/s Y n
4.
 
Canon G1 Xoptical n3.0 / 922 swivel n 1/4000s 1.9/s Y Y
5.
 
Nikon D3100optical n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
6.
 
Nikon D3200optical n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
7.
 
Nikon D5000optical n2.7 / 230 full-flex n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
8.
 
Nikon D5200optical n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
9.
 
Nikon D5300optical n3.2 / 1037 swivel n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
10.
 
Nikon D5500optical n3.2 / 1037 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
11.
 
Nikon D5600optical n3.2 / 1037 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
12.
 
Nikon D7000optical Y3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/8000s 6.0/s Y n
13.
 
Panasonic S52360 n3.0 / 1840 swivel Y 1/8000s 7.0/s n Y
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 D5100 has one, while the K-3 III does not. While the built-in flash of the D5100 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The D5100 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 Nikon D5100 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 D5100 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 D5100 only has one slot. The K-3 III supports UHS-II cards (on its first slot), while the D5100 can use UHS-I cards.

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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 D5100 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 D5100Ymono / monoY-mini2.0---
2.
 
Pentax K-3 IIIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.2Y-Y
3.
 
Canon 550DYstereo / -Y-mini2.0---
4.
 
Canon G1 XYstereo / mono--mini2.0---
5.
 
Nikon D3100Ymono / mono--mini2.0---
6.
 
Nikon D3200Ymono / monoY-mini2.0---
7.
 
Nikon D5000Ymono / mono--mini2.0---
8.
 
Nikon D5200Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
9.
 
Nikon D5300Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0Y--
10.
 
Nikon D5500Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0Y--
11.
 
Nikon D5600Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
12.
 
Nikon D7000Ymono / monoY-mini2.0---
13.
 
Panasonic S5Ystereo / monoYYmicro3.2Y-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--

It is notable that the K-3 III offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the D5100 does not provide wifi capability.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Pentax K-3 III (unlike the D5100) 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.

The K-3 III is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Pentax. In contrast, the D5100 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the D5100 was succeeded by the Nikon D5200. Further information on the features and operation of the D5100 and K-3 III can be found, respectively, in the Nikon D5100 Manual (free pdf) or the online Pentax K-3 III Manual.

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Review summary

So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Nikon D5100 or the Pentax K-3 III – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

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Advantages of the Nikon D5100:

  • Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
  • 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.
  • More compact: Is smaller (128x97mm vs 135x104mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 260g or 32 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (63 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in April 2011).

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Arguments in favor of the Pentax K-3 III:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (25.6 vs 16.1MP), which boosts linear resolution by 26%.
  • Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
  • High quality composites: Can combine several shots after pixel-shifting its sensor.
  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/30p).
  • Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
  • More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 95%).
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.70x vs 0.51x).
  • Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1620k vs 921k dots).
  • Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (12 vs 4 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (800 versus 660) out of a single battery charge.
  • Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
  • 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.
  • Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.2 vs 2.0).
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
  • 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.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Supports a more advanced SD data transfer standard (UHS-II vs UHS-I).
  • More modern: Reflects 9 years and 11 months of technical progress since the D5100 launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the K-3 III is the clear winner of the contest (24 : 8 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. 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.

D5100 08:24 K-3 III

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon D5100 and the Pentax K-3 III place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the D5100 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 why expert reviews are important. 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 (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon D51005/5+ +..76/1004.5/54.5/5 Apr 2011 749ebay.com
2.
 
Pentax K-3 III4/5..3/5..4.5/5.. Mar 2021 1,999 amazon.com
3.
 
Canon 550D..+ +..77/1004/54.5/5 Feb 2010 699ebay.com
4.
 
Canon G1 X5/5+..76/1004/54.5/5 Jan 2012 799ebay.com
5.
 
Nikon D31005/5+ +..72/1004.5/54.5/5 Aug 2010 599ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D32005/5+ +..73/1004.5/54.5/5 Apr 2012 599ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D5000..+ +..75/1004/54.5/5 Apr 2009 749ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D52004/5+ +..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Nov 2012 749ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D53004/5+ +..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2013 799ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon D55005/5+..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2015 899ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D56004/5..4/579/1004.5/54/5 Nov 2016 699ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D70004/5....80/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2010 1,499ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic S54.5/5+ +4.5/588/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2020 1,999 amazon.com
14.
 
Pentax K-34/5....83/1005/55/5 Oct 2013 1,299ebay.com
15.
 
Pentax K-3 II4.5/5......5/55/5 Apr 2015 1,099ebay.com
16.
 
Pentax K-704.5/5..4/579/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2016 649ebay.com
17.
 
Pentax KP4/5..3/582/1005/54.5/5 Jan 2017 1,099ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Check D5100 offers at
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Check K-3 III price at
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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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    Specifications: Nikon D5100 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 D5100 Pentax K-3 III
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Nikon F mount lenses Pentax K mount lenses
    Launch Date April 2011 March 2021
    Launch Price USD 749 USD 1,999
    Sensor Specs Nikon D5100 Pentax K-3 III
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 23.6 x 15.7 mm 23.3 x 15.5 mm
    Sensor Area 370.52 mm2 361.15 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 28.3 mm 28 mm
    Crop Factor 1.5x 1.5x
    Sensor Resolution 16.1 Megapixels 25.6 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4928 x 3264 pixels 6192 x 4128 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.80 μm 3.76 μm
    Pixel Density 4.34 MP/cm2 7.08 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 1080/30p Video 4K/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 6,400 ISO 100 - 160,000 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 25,600 ISO no Enhancement
    Image Processor EXPEED 2 PRIME V
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 80 ..
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 23.5 ..
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 13.6 ..
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 1183 ..
    Screen Specs Nikon D5100 Pentax K-3 III
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 95% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.51x 0.70x
    Top-Level Screen no Top Display Control Panel
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.2inch
    LCD Resolution 921k dots 1620k dots
    LCD Attachment Swivel screen Fixed screen
    Touch Input no Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Nikon D5100 Pentax K-3 III
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Phase-detect AF
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking FeatureFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 4 shutter flaps/s 12 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy100 000 actuations200 000 actuations
    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-I Single UHS-II
    Connectivity Specs Nikon D5100 Pentax K-3 III
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash no PC Sync PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 3.2
    HDMI Port mini HDMI micro HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port External MIC port
    Headphone Socket no Headphone port Headphone port
    Wifi Support no Wifi Wifi built-in
    Bluetooth Support no Bluetooth Bluetooth built-in
    Geotagging no internal GPS GPS built-in
    Body Specs Nikon D5100 Pentax K-3 III
    Environmental Sealingnot weather sealedWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Nikon EN-EL14 Pentax D-LI90
    Battery Life (CIPA)660 shots per charge800 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 128 x 97 x 79 mm
    (5.0 x 3.8 x 3.1 in)
    135 x 104 x 74 mm
    (5.3 x 4.1 x 2.9 in)
    Camera Weight 560 g (19.8 oz) 820 g (28.9 oz)
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