The Ultimate Pentax K3 ii vs Nikon d7200 Comparison!

In this article, we will be going over our Pentax k3 ii vs Nikon d7200 comparison. Over the last few months, we have noticed a steady number of photographers reaching out for advice on what one of the cameras they should be investing in.

We then decided to publish this article in an attempt to help as many of our readers who find themselves in this same situation. We have tried to remain as impartial as possible throughout the article to offer our readers the best possible comparison without seeming biased to one particular camera.

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Table of Contents

Our Pentax K3 ii vs Nikon d7200 Comparison Table

Our comparison table above shows some of the main features of each camera that we see most people asking about. As you can see, they are relatively well balanced with the Nikon d7200 coming our slightly ahead featurewise but also having a higher price tag to match.

The Winner

Although we have covered both the Nikon d7200 and the Pentax k3 ii in more detail below, we prefer to offer out conclusions earlier in the article to help save our readers time but if you would prefer you can read the individual camera breakdowns below too.

We feel that the Pentax k3 ii (Click here to check for product prices and availability) is the better camera for the majority of our readers. The majority of the readers that we have spoken to are on a strict budget for their photography needs and we feel that the lower price tag and similar functionality of the Pentax k3 ii is the cameras main advantage over the d7200.

Although not required by any stretch, you are able to get a number of independent, third-party accessories for the Pentax k3 ii to help it overcome its main drawbacks. For example, a long grip holder if you prefer to use a long grip over a short grip on your cameras but again, this is not required and just comes down to personal preference.

We did a little math and even if you took every third-party accessory option available for the Pentax k3 ii it still works out a fair bit cheaper than the Nikon d7200 and we doubt most of our users will even need these accessories anyway.

That said, if you are not on a budget, or have more spare money available then the Nikon d7200 (Click here to check for product prices and availability) could make an excellent choice for you.

As we mention below, the d7200 has a massive selection of lenses available for it when compared to what the Pentax k3 ii has. Additionally, its autofocus system is slightly better although not good enough to be the only reason you fork out almost a third of the cost extra.

Another common problem with Pentax cameras is many local retailers simply don’t stock them anymore due to the brand not being as well known as Nikon potentially making it a pain to pick one up from a local store. That said, you are able to pick them up online from sites like Amazon (Click here to check for product prices and availability) often with next day delivery available without a problem.

The Nikon d7200

First, upon our Nikon d7200 vs Pentax k3 ii comparison, we will be taking a look at the Nikon d7200 (Click here to check for product prices and availability). There is no doubt that Nikon really has produced an excellent, high-quality camera that is well worth the money. Everything from the build quality, to the camera functionality, to its price point, has been taken into account and it is no surprise that the d7200 has managed to quickly earn itself and maintain an excellent reputation within the photography community.

The Nikon d7200 comes with an outstanding 24.2-megapixel sensor that offers tons of detail allowing you to capture some high-quality, detail-rich photographs that are crisp and full of color. The sensor is just as effective when used with a fully zoomed in telephoto lens as it is when used with a fixed zoom prime as well as everything in between.

The d7200 also offers much better low-light performance than its predecessors with it being one of the main focal points during the design phase of the camera due to past cameras in the range receiving criticism due to poor low light performance. Thankfully, the d7200 knocks it out the park and is able to quickly and easily capture some excellent photographs in low-light and mixed light conditions.

An example photograph taken with the Nikon d7200 in mixed light conditions.

The camera also comes with a massively upgraded processing unit when compared to what was available on the previous cameras in the range. Depending on your camera settings and what you are doing it can actually be up to a third quicker than older processors without any of the overheating issues.

The new processor has also helped Nikon add more functionality to the autofocus system in the d7200. The prosensor autofocus system is lightning fast, even in lower light conditions when compared to the ability of say, the d7100 for example. This can make the d7100 an ideal run and gun camera if you couple it with a lens that has good autofocus and image stabilization due to it being lightning quick at refusing on a new subject within a short time period.

Other upgrades to the d7200 include its power consumption. The Nikon d7200 is up to seventeen percent more power efficient than then previous cameras released in the range. Now, this does vary a fair bit depending on your settings and what you are actually using the camera for but this can help you keep going with your photography session without needing to pause to replace an empty battery.

Due to Nikon receiving so much positive feedback for the control and user interface system they used in the d7100, they decided to keep it exactly the same for the d7200. Although this received mixed feedback, we feel that there is no reason to change the user interface and risk making it awkward and annoying. If you have used other Nikon cameras then it is quick and easy to pick up while also being very easy to use.

Another big thing that was upgraded on the Nikon d7200 is its video capability. It now boasts full 1080p at sixty frames per second with full sensor readout to ensure you are getting the sharpest video possible.

With the d7200 being a Nikon camera, it is no surprise that there are a ton of both Nikon and third-party lenses available. Chances are, you will be able to find a lens to fit any need you have that will work with the d7200 without the need to use a converter that can end up affecting image quality.

All that said, if you already own a Nikon d7100 then we see no reason at all for you to upgrade to this Nikon d7200. Although there are a number of upgrades over the d7100, we simply don’t feel that they are worth the cost. That said, when it comes to the Pentax K3 ii we feel that the Nikon d7200 does pull out slightly ahead but only you can decide if you feel that the additional cost of the d7200 over the K3 ii is worth it for your personal circumstances.

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The Pentax K3 ii

Next up on our Pentax k3 ii vs Nikon d7200 comparison, we will be taking a look at the Pentax k3 ii (Click here to check for product prices and availability). Although not as large and as well known as Nikon, Pentax is still a hugely popular brand with a great reputation within the photography community. Their K3 ii holds up to the standards people have come to expect from the Pentax brand and has managed to earn itself a well-deserved reputation within the community since its release.

The Pentax k3 ii is marketed as an outdoor field friendly camera and has plenty of features that you would expect. Its build quality is extremely good and it comes with pixel shift functionality, GPS, tracking software for astrography, and excellent weatherproof sealing to help keep the camera robust for outdoor use. Additionally, the very design of the camera with a solid body helps to reduce the number of weatherproof seals required to keep the camera watertight.

Unlike some other cameras that are marketed as being ultra robust or outdoor cameras, the Pentax k3 ii has not sacrificed its image quality in anyway. Its 24-megapixel sensor offers you excellent, bright, and crisp photographs as well as some excellent quality video footage. Unlike previous versions of the Pentax K range, the K3 II offers 1080p that is very smooth and clear. It also has various inputs for external microphones if videography is your thing.

Am example photo of the Vatican taken using the Pentax k3 ii that shoes the amount of detail the cameras sensor is able to capture in your photographs. — Am example photo of the Vatican taken using the Pentax k3 ii that shoes the amount of detail the camera’s sensor is able to capture in your photographs.

Although the user interface and control system for the Pentax k3 ii is relatively easy to use, it can take a little getting used to when first moving over to a Pentax camera but it doesn’t take long to pick up at all. A good comparison would be when swapping from Nikon and Canon lenses and the manual control rings on the lenses rotate the opposite way to each other. In time, you get used to it and it quickly becomes second nature.

Personally, we don’t feel that the lack of native Wi-Fi is much of a problem but this is one of the main points of criticism for the K3 ii. That said, you are able to pick up the Pentax Flu Wi-Fi card and add it to one of the accessory slots on the camera to get Wi-Fi functionality if it is something that you feel you will need.

Another thing that we have seen people complain about is the lack of a built-in flash but the majority of intermediate to professional level as well as a number of entry-level photographers will be using an external flash attached via the shoe mount anyway.

An example of the type of epic visa landscape photographs you are able to capture with the Pentax k3 ii.

Although down to personal preference, the Pentax k3 ii uses a short grip system that may feel a little awkward for some people who are used to long grips on their cameras. If you feel that this is a major issue for your preferred camera of choice, there are a number of third-party long grip accessories with great reputations available on the market.

In our opinion, the autofocus on the Pentax k3 ii is easily able to hold its ground against other cameras at its price point but we feel that the system on the Nikon d7200 does beat it hands down. On the flip side though, we don’t feel that the additional price of the d7200 over the K3 ii justifies the advantages of its autofocus system and we feel the majority of our readers will be fine using the one on the K3.

If you have been reading our articles for a while you will probably know that we are not fans of using converters to make lenses fit cameras. In our opinion, the main drawback of the Pentax k3 ii is the lack of lenses available, especially modern lenses. It uses the Pentax K lens mount and there are a number of lens converters available that you can use to increase the number of lenses that will work with the camera if you wish but it is undeniable that the Nikon d7200’s lens selection is massive compared to the Pentax k3 ii.

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