The Pentax K-3 is a feature-packed, well-built DSLR that is certainly an upgrade on the Pentax K-50. A significant increase in focus points, a higher resolution and improved weather-proofing are just a few of the improvements.

Pentax has priced this flagship DSLR close to midlevel bodies from Canon and Nikon. Between the K-3 and Nikon's D7100, it's hard to pick a winner. The K-3 is more rugged and offers more weather-sealing; it also has image stabilization that will work with any lens you mount on the camera (we even...

We recently had Pentax's new flagship, the 24 megapixel K-3, to shoot with. Here are five features we liked best (and a few we didn't). Pick up the K-3 and you know you're dealing with a well-made machine, since it comes complete with a stainless steel chassis and a magnesium alloy body,...

Great weatherproof body; Good layout of buttons; Anti-aliasing filters simulator onboard, 8.3 Fps shooting

No Wi-Fi nor GPS; Battery performance so-so; Could have been cheaper

Even with the negatives, the Pentax K-3 is really a top-notch enthusiast DSLR that's deserving of an Editor's Choice.

Excellent 24MP image quality; Extremely responsive; fast burst; Anti-aliasing simulator; Rugged and weather sealed

Bulky; expensive – but to be expected; Built-in mono mic; No built-in Wi-Fi/NFC connectivity

It might be playing third-fiddle to Canon and Nikon, but Pentax - now part of Ricoh Imaging - is a venerable name in the field of photography. Its long history means that its DSLRs, like the now-top-spec K-3, can more than hold their own.

Price; rugged build quality; controls and menus are very well thought-out; stills performance is excellent

Grain at middling sensitivities; noise on video soundtrack caused by lens mechanics; smaller lens arsenal than competition

Our Pentax K-5 review dates all the way back to early 2011 and though there was then an updated K-5 II and IIs, both using an improved autofocus system, it was otherwise a largely identical camera.

The Pentax K-3 is a feature-packed, well-built DSLR that is certainly an upgrade on the Pentax K-50. A significant increase in focus points, a higher resolution and improved weather-proofing are just a few of the improvements.

I was always a Pentax shooter, but last year changed to Nikon. That didnt last long. Pentax cameras are just a better 'fit' for me. The K-3 really takes off from where the fantastic K-5 did a few years ago. It's rugged, fast, and incredibly well built.

Easy to use; Compact; Build quality

The Pentax K-3 -- Pentax's top-of-the-line model -- wins awards as the most full-featured prosumer DSLR camera on the market. With great performance, excellent image quality and superior handling, the rugged K-3 is a semi-pro camera that successfully competes with its Canon and Nikon rivals.

27-point autofocus system; Excellent high ISO quality; Weather-sealed for extreme temperatures; Anti-aliasing option

Slow autofocus

I am not a photographer, rather an enthusiast. I picked Pentax over a basic full frame Canon. Read three tests and reviews. When it came, I tested it against the Canon Rebel T3i (an unfair comparison, I know), and I loved its sharpness and colour balances, although I did not push the creative...