Pentax KP vs Canon 1100D

The Pentax KP and the Canon EOS 1100D (labelled Canon T3 in some countries) are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in January 2017 and February 2011. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. The Pentax has a resolution of 24.1 megapixels, whereas the Canon provides 12.2 MP.

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

Headline Specifications

Pentax KP		Canon 1100D
Digital single lens reflex		Digital single lens reflex
Pentax K mount lenses		Canon EF mount lenses
24.1 MP – APS-C sensor		12.2 MP – APS-C sensor
1080/60i Video		720/30p Video
ISO 100-819,200		ISO 100-6,400
Optical viewfinder		Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD – 921k dots		2.7" LCD – 230k dots
Tilting screen (no touchscreen)		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
7 shutter flaps per second		3 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilization		Lens stabilization only
Weathersealed body		not weather sealed
390 shots per battery charge		700 shots per battery charge
132 x 101 x 76 mm, 703 g		130 x 100 x 78 mm, 495 g

Check KP offers at
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Check 1100D offers at
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Pentax KP and the Canon EOS 1100D? 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.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Pentax KP and the Canon 1100D. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The KP can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the 1100D is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon 1100D is somewhat smaller (2 percent) than the Pentax KP. Moreover, the 1100D is markedly lighter (30 percent) than the KP. It is worth mentioning in this context that the KP is splash and dust resistant, while the 1100D 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 KP gets 390 shots out of its Pentax D-LI109 battery, while the 1100D can take 700 images on a single charge of its Canon LP-E10 power pack.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. 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.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Pentax KP	132 mm	101 mm	76 mm	703 g	390	Y	Jan 2017	1,099	ebay.com
2.		Canon 1100D	130 mm	100 mm	78 mm	495 g	700	n	Feb 2011	449	ebay.com
3.		Canon 600D	133 mm	100 mm	80 mm	570 g	440	n	Feb 2011	599	ebay.com
4.		Canon 650D	133 mm	100 mm	79 mm	575 g	440	n	Jun 2012	849	ebay.com
5.		Canon 1000D	126 mm	98 mm	65 mm	502 g	500	n	Jun 2008	449	ebay.com
6.		Canon 1200D	130 mm	100 mm	78 mm	480 g	500	n	Feb 2014	449	ebay.com
7.		Canon G1 X	117 mm	81 mm	65 mm	534 g	250	n	Jan 2012	799	ebay.com
8.		Fujifilm X-H1	140 mm	97 mm	86 mm	673 g	310	Y	Feb 2018	1,899	ebay.com
9.		Nikon D7500	136 mm	104 mm	73 mm	720 g	950	Y	Apr 2017	1,299	amazon.com
10.		Pentax K-3	131 mm	100 mm	77 mm	800 g	560	Y	Oct 2013	1,299	ebay.com
11.		Pentax K-3 II	131 mm	100 mm	77 mm	800 g	720	Y	Apr 2015	1,099	ebay.com
12.		Pentax K-3 III	135 mm	104 mm	74 mm	820 g	800	Y	Mar 2021	1,999	amazon.com
13.		Pentax K-5	131 mm	97 mm	73 mm	760 g	740	Y	Sep 2010	1,099	ebay.com
14.		Pentax K-5 II	131 mm	97 mm	73 mm	760 g	740	Y	Sep 2012	1,099	ebay.com
15.		Pentax K-70	126 mm	93 mm	74 mm	688 g	410	Y	Jun 2016	649	ebay.com
16.		Pentax K-S2	123 mm	91 mm	73 mm	678 g	410	Y	Feb 2015	749	ebay.com
17.		Sony A77 II	143 mm	104 mm	81 mm	647 g	480	Y	May 2014	1,199	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The 1100D was launched at a markedly lower price (by 59 percent) than the KP, 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 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 tend to be more expensive and 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 1100D is 12 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have format factors, respectively, of 1.5 (KP) and 1.6. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

With 24.1MP, the KP offers a higher resolution than the 1100D (12.2MP), but the KP has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of 3.90μm versus 5.15μm for the 1100D). However, the KP is a much more recent model (by 5 years and 11 months) than the 1100D, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the KP has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Pentax KP implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the KP for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30.1 x 20 inches or 76.4 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24.1 x 16 inches or 61.1 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20.1 x 13.3 inches or 50.9 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon 1100D are 21.4 x 14.2 inches or 54.3 x 36.2 cm for good quality, 17.1 x 11.4 inches or 43.4 x 28.9 cm for very good quality, and 14.2 x 9.5 inches or 36.2 x 24.1 cm for excellent quality prints.

Unlike the 1100D, the KP has the capacity to capture high quality composite images 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 Pentax KP has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 819200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon EOS 1100D are ISO 100 to ISO 6400 (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.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Pentax KP	APS-C	24.1	6016	4000	1080/60i	23.9	13.2	1699	81
2.		Canon 1100D	APS-C	12.2	4272	2848	720/30p	21.9	11.0	755	62
3.		Canon 600D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.1	11.5	793	65
4.		Canon 650D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.7	11.2	722	62
5.		Canon 1000D	APS-C	10.1	3888	2592	none	22.0	10.9	719	62
6.		Canon 1200D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.9	11.3	724	63
7.		Canon G1 X	1.5-inch	14.2	4352	3264	1080/24p	21.7	10.8	644	60
8.		Fujifilm X-H1	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	24.0	13.3	1806	82
9.		Nikon D7500	APS-C	20.7	5568	3712	4K/30p	24.3	14.0	1483	86
10.		Pentax K-3	APS-C	24.1	6016	4000	1080/60i	23.7	13.4	1216	80
11.		Pentax K-3 II	APS-C	24.1	6016	4000	1080/60i	23.6	13.6	1106	80
12.		Pentax K-3 III	APS-C	25.6	6192	4128	4K/30p	24.2	13.7	2083	85
13.		Pentax K-5	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	1080/25p	23.7	14.1	1162	82
14.		Pentax K-5 II	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	1080/25p	23.8	14.1	1235	82
15.		Pentax K-70	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60i	23.8	13.1	1639	80
16.		Pentax K-S2	APS-C	20.0	5472	3648	1080/30p	23.6	12.9	1514	79
17.		Sony A77 II	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.4	13.4	1013	82
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 KP provides a higher video resolution than the 1100D. It can shoot video footage at 1080/60i, while the Canon is limited to 720/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The KP and the 1100D 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 KP offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the 1100D (95%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. In addition, the viewfinder of the KP has a higher magnification (0.63x vs 0.50x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Pentax KP, the Canon 1100D, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

		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.		Pentax KP	optical	n	3.0 / 921	tilting	n	1/6000s	7.0/s	Y	Y
2.		Canon 1100D	optical	n	2.7 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
3.		Canon 600D	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	n	1/4000s	3.7/s	Y	n
4.		Canon 650D	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
5.		Canon 1000D	optical	n	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
6.		Canon 1200D	optical	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
7.		Canon G1 X	optical	n	3.0 / 922	swivel	n	1/4000s	1.9/s	Y	Y
8.		Fujifilm X-H1	3690	Y	3.0 / 1040	full-flex	Y	1/8000s	14.0/s	n	Y
9.		Nikon D7500	optical	Y	3.2 / 922	tilting	Y	1/8000s	8.0/s	Y	n
10.		Pentax K-3	optical	Y	3.2 / 1037	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.3/s	Y	Y
11.		Pentax K-3 II	optical	Y	3.2 / 1037	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.3/s	n	Y
12.		Pentax K-3 III	optical	Y	3.2 / 1620	fixed	Y	1/8000s	12.0/s	n	Y
13.		Pentax K-5	optical	Y	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/8000s	7.0/s	Y	Y
14.		Pentax K-5 II	optical	Y	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/8000s	7.0/s	Y	Y
15.		Pentax K-70	optical	n	3.0 / 921	swivel	n	1/6000s	6.0/s	Y	Y
16.		Pentax K-S2	optical	n	3.0 / 921	swivel	n	1/6000s	5.4/s	Y	Y
17.		Sony A77 II	2359	Y	3.0 / 1229	full-flex	n	1/8000s	12.0/s	Y	Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One feature that differentiates the KP and the 1100D is in-body image stabilization (IBIS). The KP reduces the risk of handshake-induced blur with all attached lenses, while the 1100D offers no blur reduction with lenses that themselves do not provide optical image stabilization.

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 KP 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 Pentax KP has 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 KP and the 1100D write their files to SDXC cards. The KP supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the 1100D cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

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 Pentax KP and Canon EOS 1100D and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Pentax KP	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	-	2.0	Y	-	-
2.		Canon 1100D	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
3.		Canon 600D	Y	mono / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
4.		Canon 650D	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
5.		Canon 1000D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Canon 1200D	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
7.		Canon G1 X	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Fujifilm X-H1	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	3.0	Y	-	-
9.		Nikon D7500	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	-	Y
10.		Pentax K-3	Y	mono / mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	-	-	-
11.		Pentax K-3 II	Y	mono / mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	-	-	-
12.		Pentax K-3 III	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
13.		Pentax K-5	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Pentax K-5 II	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Pentax K-70	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
16.		Pentax K-S2	Y	mono / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
17.		Sony A77 II	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-

It is notable that the KP has a microphone port, which is missing on the 1100D. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.

Both the KP and the 1100D have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The 1100D was replaced by the Canon 1200D, while the KP does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the KP and 1100D can be found, respectively, in the Pentax KP Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon 1100D Manual.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Pentax KP and the Canon 1100D? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Arguments in favor of the Pentax KP:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (24.1 vs 12.2MP) with a 41% higher linear resolution.
• 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 (1080/60i vs 720/30p).
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound 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 (0.63x vs 0.50x).
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.7") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (921k vs 230k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/6000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (7 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
• Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
• More modern: Reflects 5 years and 11 months of technical progress since the 1100D launch.

Advantages of the Canon EOS 1100D:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 208g or 30 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (700 versus 390) out of a single battery charge.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (59 percent cheaper at launch).
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in February 2011).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the KP is the clear winner of the match-up (19 : 5 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Pentax KP and the Canon 1100D 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 KP and the 1100D in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular 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.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Pentax KP	4/5	..	3/5	82/100	5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2017	1,099	ebay.com
2.		Canon 1100D	..	80/100	..	69/100	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2011	449	ebay.com
3.		Canon 600D	3/5	o	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2011	599	ebay.com
4.		Canon 650D	4/5	+ +	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2012	849	ebay.com
5.		Canon 1000D	..	82/100	..	+ +	3.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2008	449	ebay.com
6.		Canon 1200D	3/5	+	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2014	449	ebay.com
7.		Canon G1 X	5/5	+	..	76/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2012	799	ebay.com
8.		Fujifilm X-H1	..	+	5/5	86/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2018	1,899	ebay.com
9.		Nikon D7500	4.5/5	+ +	4.5/5	86/100	5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2017	1,299	amazon.com
10.		Pentax K-3	4/5	..	..	83/100	5/5	5/5	Oct 2013	1,299	ebay.com
11.		Pentax K-3 II	4.5/5	..	..	..	5/5	5/5	Apr 2015	1,099	ebay.com
12.		Pentax K-3 III	4/5	..	3/5	..	4.5/5	..	Mar 2021	1,999	amazon.com
13.		Pentax K-5	4/5	..	..	83/100	5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2010	1,099	ebay.com
14.		Pentax K-5 II	5/5	..	..	80/100	5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	1,099	ebay.com
15.		Pentax K-70	4.5/5	..	4/5	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2016	649	ebay.com
16.		Pentax K-S2	4.5/5	..	..	..	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	749	ebay.com
17.		Sony A77 II	4/5	..	..	80/100	4.5/5	5/5	May 2014	1,199	ebay.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. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Other camera comparisons

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