It’s the eternal question for photography enthusiasts: Pentax K-50 or Nikon D3300? Both cameras are amazing shooters, but which one is the right choice for you? Choosing wisely is important, because a camera is a big investment and you want to be sure you’re getting the best possible bang for your buck. In this article, we’ll take a look at both cameras and help you decide which one is the best fit for your needs. We’ll answer some common questions and give you some tips on how to pick the right camera for your needs!
Nikon D3300 in General
It’s Nikon’s entry-level DSLR and it replaced the Nikon D32000. The D3300 is aimed at first time DSLR users and those who are upgrading from a point and shoot or phone camera. It has a 24 megapixel sensor and can shoot full HD video.
Nikon D3300 offers a variety of automatic and semi-automatic modes that make it easy to use for those who are not familiar with photography. It also has a guide mode which gives step by step instructions on how to use the camera, this is great for beginners. The D3300 comes with a Nikkor 18-55mm VRII kit lens which is a good all-around lens. [1], [2]
Pentax K-50 in General
It is available in black, white, and red color schemes, and replaces the K-30 as Pentax’s entry level DSLR. The K-50 shares the same body design and most features with the more expensive K-500; however, it uses a plastic body instead of magnesium alloy and has a slightly lower pixel count for its image sensor.
The K-50 offers many features not typically found in entry-level DSLRs, such as weather sealing, dual control dials, an articulated LCD screen, an intervalometer (for timelapse photography), and an electronic level indicator. It is also compatible with the full range of Pentax K-mount lenses, including older manual focus models. [1], [2]
Comparison Between Pentax K-50 and Nikon D3300
Now that we have looked at both cameras in general, let’s compare them side-by-side.
Design
Design is important for any product, but it’s especially important for cameras. After all, a camera is an extension of your eyes, and you want it to look good while you’re using it. But design isn’t just about how a camera looks; it’s also about how it feels in your hands and how easy it is to use. There are a lot of factors to consider when it comes to design, and it’s different for everyone.
Weather-sealing
One important factor to consider when choosing a camera is weather-sealing.
This is especially important if you plan on using your camera in rough conditions or if you live in an area with extreme weather conditions.
The Pentax K-50 has better weather-sealing than the Nikon D3300. It’s been tested in more extreme conditions and has proven to be more reliable in those situations. The body of the camera is protected with extra seals and gaskets, and the lens mount is also weather-sealed. This will protect your camera from raindrops and dust getting into the body and damaging the internals.
The Nikon D3300 does have some weather-sealing, but it’s not as extensive as the Pentax K-50. If you’re planning on using your camera in tough conditions, or if you live in an area with extreme weather conditions, the Pentax K-50 is a better choice.
Screen resolution
One of the most important factors in design is screen resolution. The higher the resolution, the sharper the image will be. Both the Pentax K-50 and the Nikon D3300 have a high resolution of 921k dots, so you really can’t go wrong with either one.
Screen size
Not only resolution plays an important role in image quality, but also the size of your camera’s screen. A bigger screen generally means you can see more of what you’re shooting, and it can be helpful when editing photos as well. Both Pentax K-50 and Nikon D3300 have a fairly large screen of 3 inches.
EVF resolution
An important consideration for many photographers is the resolution of the electronic viewfinder (EVF). A high resolution EVF will allow you to see more detail in your image, and make it easier to focus.
Presence of a built-in focus motor
One of the important factors that you have to consider when picking a DSLR is whether the camera has a built-in focus motor. A focus motor enables the camera to autofocus with all lenses, even older ones that don’t have their own motors.
The Nikon D3300 doesn’t have a built-in focus motor, which means it won’t be able to autofocus with all lenses. This can be quite limiting, especially if you want to use older or cheaper lenses. The Pentax K-50, on the other hand, does have a built-in focus motor, so it will be able to autofocus with all lenses.
Presence of a flip-out screen
One important design feature to consider is whether or not the camera has a flip-out screen. A flip-out screen can be very useful, especially if you’re trying to take a picture of yourself or take a picture in a tight space. It also makes it easier to see the LCD screen in bright sunlight. However, flip-out screens add bulk to the camera, and they can be fragile. If you’re worried about breaking your camera, you might want to choose one without a flip-out screen.
Unfortunately, both the Pentax K-50 and the Nikon D3300 lack a flip-out screen so if that’s something you’re looking for, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
Presence of an optical viewfinder
One important factor to consider when choosing a camera is whether or not it has an optical viewfinder. An optical viewfinder is a small window on the back of the camera that you look through to see what you’re taking a picture of.
Luckily, both Pentax K-50 and Nikon D3300 have an optical viewfinder, so you’ll be able to see what you’re taking a picture of without having to use the LCD screen. This is especially important in bright sunlight, when it can be difficult to see the LCD screen.
Presence of an electronic viewfinder
Another design feature one might want to consider is whether or not the camera has an electronic viewfinder. This is a small display that shows what the camera sees, and it’s especially useful in bright conditions when the LCD screen is hard to see. It’s also helpful if you want to take photos without holding the camera up to your face. Neither the Pentax K-50 nor the Nikon D3300 have an electronic viewfinder, so while this might be a dealbreaker for some, it’s not something you need to worry about when choosing between these two cameras.
Viewfinder coverage
One of the first things you’ll notice about the Pentax K-50 is that it has a much larger viewfinder than the Nikon D3300. The K-50’s viewfinder covers 100% of the frame, while the D3300’s only covers 95%. This may not seem like a big difference, but it means that you’ll be able to see more of what you’re shooting with the K-50. The K-50 also has a slightly higher pixel density in its viewfinder, which means that images will appear sharper. And because the K-50’s viewfinder is larger, Pentax was able to put a little bit more information in it. You’ll be able to see your shutter speed, aperture, and ISO settings without taking your eye away from the viewfinder.
Weight
Since cameras are designed to be portable, weight is an important consideration. The Nikon D3300 weighs only 430 g (or about 15 oz), while the Pentax K-50 weighs a little bit more at 650g (or about 23 oz).
The Nikon D3300 is the clear winner when it comes to weight. It’s almost 20% lighter than the Pentax K-50, which means that it will be easier to carry around with you. If you’re planning on taking your camera on long hikes or extended trips, the Nikon D3300 will be a better choice.
However, if you don’t mind carrying a bit more weight, the Pentax K-50 has some features that might make it worth the extra few ounces.
Presence of the touch screen
Touch screens are becoming more and more popular on cameras, and for good reason. They make it easier to take pictures, change settings, and review your photos. But they’re not for everyone. Some people find them hard to use, and they can be a drain on battery life.
Unfortunately, neither the Pentax K-50 nor the Nikon D3300 have touch screens. This is a bit of a disappointment, as touch screens are becoming more and more common on cameras, but it’s not a deal-breaker.
Volume
The Pentax K-50 is a bit larger than the Nikon D3300, but not by much. The K-50 is approximately 130x97x71 mm, while the D3300 is approximately 124x98x75mm. So, if you’re looking for a smaller camera, the D3300 might be a better option. But if you don’t mind a slightly larger camera, the K-50 should be just fine.
A hot shoe
This is important if you want to take pictures in low light or if you want to use a flash for creative purposes. Both cameras come with a hot shoe, so you are set in this department no matter which one you choose.
Presence of flash
Flash is a must-have for any camera, and both the Pentax K-50 and Nikon D3300 have it. The Pentax K-50 has a pop-up flash that’s located on the top of the camera, while the Nikon D3300 has a built-in flash that’s located on the front of the camera. As we just brought up, both cameras have a hot shoe for an external flash, so you can add one if you need more power.
Pixel density
One important factor to consider when choosing a camera is pixel density. This is the number of pixels that are crammed into a given space, and it’s important because it affects the quality of your photos. The higher the pixel density, the better the quality of your photos will be.
The Pentax K-50 has a pixel density of 471ppi, while the Nikon D3300 has a pixel density of only 333ppi. That means that the Pentax K-50 is better at capturing detail than the Nikon D3300.
Microphone input
Mic inputs are important for vloggers, bloggers, and anyone who wants to improve the audio quality of their videos. The Nikon D3300 has a microphone input, while the Pentax K-50 does not. This is a big advantage for the Nikon D3300. [1], [2]
Optics
Now we move on to the optics of these cameras. The optics in a camera are what capture the light and produce the image that you see on your screen or in your prints. A good optical system will result in sharper, more vibrant images with less noise and better low-light performance.
Digital cameras have come a long way since their inception, and the quality of their optics has improved by leaps and bounds.
Cross focus point count
The cross focus point count is one of the most important factors in choosing a camera. It determines how many different points in the image the autofocus system will use to calculate the distance to the subject. The more cross focus points there are, the more accurate the distance measurement will be. This is especially important for macro photography, where even a small change in focus can make a big difference in the final image.
Pentax K-50 has 9 cross focus points, while Nikon D3300 has only one. This means that Pentax K-50 will be able to take much more accurate distance measurements, and as a result, produce better images.
Sensor size
There’s no doubt that sensor size is one of the most important factors in a camera. A bigger sensor will allow you to capture more light, and thus produce better images. It also allows for a shallower depth of field, which can be great for portraits.
Both cameras use the APS-C sensor size, which is the most popular sensor size for DSLRs. This sensor size offers a great balance between image quality and portability.
Pentax K-50 has a slightly bigger sensor than Nikon D3300, but the difference is not significant enough to be a deciding factor.
Megapixel count
The next thing to consider is megapixel count. Megapixels are, essentially, the number of pixels that make up your image. The more megapixels your camera has, the more detail it can capture.
However, megapixel count is not the be-all and end-all of image quality. In fact, a higher megapixel count can sometimes result in worse image quality, due to issues like digital noise and lens aberrations if the rest of the camera’s components are not up to par.
So, while megapixel count is important, it is not the only factor to consider when choosing a camera. The Pentax K-50 has 16 megapixels, while the Nikon D3300 has around 24 megapixels.
Maximum light sensitivity
The maximum light sensitivity of a camera sensor is measured in ISO. The higher the ISO, the more sensitive the sensor is to light, and thus the better it performs in low-light situations. The trade-off is that higher ISOs can result in grainier images. So, which camera has the better ISO performance?
The Pentax K-50 has a maximum ISO of 1120, while the Nikon D3300 maxes out at 1385. This means that the K-50 will be better able to handle low-light situations, but the D3300 will produce cleaner images at high ISOs.
Sensor shift stabilization
One of the most important things to consider when choosing between the Pentax K-50 and Nikon D3300 is sensor shift stabilization. This feature is important for two reasons: it allows you to take sharper pictures, and it lets you use a wider range of lenses.sensor shift stabilization is particularly useful if you want to take pictures in low light or with long focal length lenses.
The Pentax K-50 has sensor shift stabilization, while the Nikon D3300 does not. This means that the Pentax K-50 will be able to take sharper pictures in low light and with long focal length lenses.
Shutter speed
When it comes to photography, shutter speed is one of the most important factors to consider. It’s the amount of time that the camera’s sensor is exposed to light. Shutter speed is responsible for how fast or slow your image is captured, and can mean the difference between a clear photo and a blurry mess.
In general, you’ll want to choose a faster shutter speed when shooting moving subjects. This will help freeze the action and prevent any motion blur from ruining your shot. On the other hand, slower shutter speeds are better for stationary objects; they allow more light to reach the sensor, resulting in a brighter image.
Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. If you’re trying to capture something particularly fast-moving, like a speeding car or athlete in mid-air, you’ll need to use an even faster shutter speed. Conversely, if you want to create a sense of movement in your photo, a slower shutter speed can be used to achieve this effect.
The Pentax K-50 has a maximum shutter speed of 1/6000s, while the Nikon D3300 has a maximum shutter speed of 1/4000s. This means that the Pentax K-50 can capture images nearly twice as fast as the Nikon D3300.
Presence of the manual focus ring
One of the most important things to consider when choosing a digital camera is whether or not it has a manual focus ring. The manual focus ring allows you to fine-tune the focus of your image without having to rely on the autofocus system, which can sometimes be finicky.
Both cameras have a manual focus ring, which is indeed a great feature to have.
The presence of BSI sensor
They allow for better light capture, improved low-light performance, and faster readout speeds. BSI sensors are found in high-end cameras like the Nikon D750 and Canon EOS-R.
The Nikon D3300 has a CMOS sensor, which is the newer technology and generally outperforms CCD sensors. The Pentax K-50 doesn’t have a BSI sensor, but it does have a CMOS sensor.
HDR mode
The next big thing to consider is HDR mode. HDR, or high dynamic range, is a mode that allows you to capture both the highlights and shadows in a scene with greater detail than what is possible with a standard camera.
HDR mode is not available on all cameras, but it is becoming more common. If you are interested in HDR photography, then you will want to make sure that your camera has this feature.
The Pentax K-50 includes a built-in HDR mode, while the Nikon D3300 does not. For this reason, if you are interested in HDR photography, then the Pentax K-50 is the better choice.
Color depth
The higher the color depth, the more colors can be accurately represented. Most digital cameras nowadays have a color depth of at least 24 bits per pixel, which allows for over 16 million different colors to be captured.
Between the Pentax K-50 and the Nikon D3300, the Nikon D3300 has a higher color depth of 24.3 bits per pixel, while the Pentax K-50 has a color depth of 23.7 bits per pixel. This means that the Nikon D3300 can capture more colors than the Pentax K-50, and will therefore produce slightly more accurate colors in your photos. [1], [2]
Videography
While photography is the main purpose of a DSLR camera, many users also enjoy using them to shoot videos. For this reason, it is important to consider each camera’s video capabilities.
Timelapse function
The timelapse function is a great way to create beautiful videos of things that change over time, like the growth of a plant or the construction of a building. Among the both cameras, the Pentax K-50 has a timelapse function while the Nikon D3300 does not.
With a timelapse function, you can speed up the video so that it is much shorter than real time. This can create some really beautiful and fascinating videos. The Nikon D3300 does not have this feature, which is a shame because it would be great for creating time-lapse videos of things like plants growing or construction projects being built.
Video resolution
When it comes to video, resolution matters because it determines how clear and sharp your video footage will be. If you’re shooting a video for something like a wedding or a vacation, you’ll want to make sure that your video is as clear and sharp as possible so that you can capture all of the important details.
Both cameras can shoot video in full HD, which is a resolution of 1920×1080. However, the Nikon D3300 can also shoot video at a bigger frame rate of 60 frames per second, while the Pentax K-50 is limited to 30 frames per second. This means that the Nikon D3300 can capture smoother video footage, which is important if you’re shooting something like a sporting event or a fast-moving object.
Slow motion video support
Slow motion video support is a feature that allows you to capture videos at a slower frame rate than the standard 24fps or 30fps. This can be useful for capturing fast-moving subjects, or for creating dramatic effects in your videos.
Unfortunately, neither the Pentax K-50 nor the Nikon D3300 support slow motion video.
This is a disappointment, as slow motion video is a fun feature to have and can be used to create some interesting effects. However, it is not a deal-breaker, as both cameras still offer excellent video quality at the standard frame rate. [1], [2]
Features
Cameras are stocked with all sorts of features these days, so it can be tough to keep track of what each one offers. And of course, each camera has its own unique selling points. Here’s a quick rundown of the features that both the Pentax K-50 and Nikon D3300 have to offer.
HDMI output
This is useful for viewing your photos and videos on a larger screen, or for displaying a presentation.
The Pentax K-50 has an HDMI output, while the Nikon D3300 does not. If you think you might want to use an external monitor with your camera, the Pentax K-50 would be a better choice.
Wi-Fi
Wireless connectivity is quickly becoming a staple in digital cameras. Being able to transfer images and videos wirelessly to your computer or smartphone is extremely convenient. Only Pentax-50 offers this feature, so if you’re looking for a camera with Wi-Fi capabilities, the K-50 is your only option.
RAW format support
RAW files are larger than JPEGs, so they take up more space on your memory card. They also require more processing power to open and edit, so if you’re not planning on doing much with your photos after you’ve taken them, RAW might not be the best format for you.
Both cameras support RAW format images, which is great news for anyone
who wants to have complete control over their photos in post-processing.
Remote smartphone support
One feature that has become increasingly popular in cameras is the ability to control them remotely with a smartphone. Among other things, this lets you use your phone as a viewfinder, which can be very handy. Nikon D3300 doesn’t have this feature which might be a dealbreaker for some. [1], [2]
FAQ
Is the Nikon D3300 good for beginners?
The Nikon D3300 is a great camera for beginner photographers. It is easy to use and has a variety of features that will help you grow as a photographer. The Pentax K-50 is also a good choice for beginners, but it does not have as many features as the Nikon D3300.
If you are just starting out in photography, we recommend the Nikon D3300. It is a great camera for learning the basics of photography. Once you have mastered the basics, you can move on to a more advanced camera like the Pentax K-50.
Is D3300 better than D3500?
The D3300 is a great camera, but the D3500 is ultimately a better choice. It has a longer battery life, shoots faster, and produces slightly better image quality.
If you’re looking for a great entry-level DSLR, the Nikon D3300 is one of the best options out there. But if you can stretch your budget just a bit further, the D3500 is worth considering instead. It’s not a huge upgrade from the D3300, but it does have some advantages.
Is the Nikon D3300 good for videography?
The Nikon D3300 is a great entry-level DSLR camera for videography. It has a flip-out LCD screen which makes it easy to frame your shots, and the full HD video quality is excellent. The autofocus system works well for video, too.
However, there are a few downsides to the D3300 for videography. First, the battery life isn’t great – you’ll probably need to buy an extra battery or two if you’re planning on doing a lot of shooting. Second, the mic input is located on the side of the camera body, so it’s not very convenient to use an external microphone with this camera.
Useful Video: D5500 Review vs Nikon D3300, Canon 70D & Sony a6000: Portraits, Landscapes & Sports
Conclusion
All in all, both the Pentax K-50 and Nikon D3300 are great cameras. The Pentax camera however might be a better choice, especially if you view image stabilization and weather protection as important factors. On the other hand, the Nikon D3300 is a good choice if you’re more interested in casual photography. Both cameras will offer you a decent low-light performance and video quality, so it really comes down to what you plan on using the camera for. We hope this guide helped you make a decision!
References
- https://cameradecision.com/compare/Pentax-K-50-vs-Nikon-D3300
- https://versus.com/en/nikon-d3300-vs-pentax-k-50