[Guest]

Pentax K3? It is a heavy camera (800 grams), heavier than my full frame Canon EOS 6D. Not sure how it would be so much preferable over the Nikon D600 then.

 

The Pentax K3 weighs about twice what the Canon 100D/SL1 weighs. Size wise, the difference is also considerable:

http://camerasize.com/compare/#485,448

 

Then lenses: while Pentax has many compact lenses, only a few are of interest. Some don't render nicely, and there is a lot of overlap. One can put together a smaller, lighter package around the 100D. Pentax 21mm f3.2 - Voigtlander 20mm f3.5. Pentax 31mm f1.8 - Sigma 30mm f1.4 Art. Pentax 40mm f2.8 - Canon 40mm f2.8. Pentax 77mm - Canon 85mm f1.8/Tamron 60mm f2.

 

The Canon 100D would also have a much better and bigger UWA selection (including the Canon 10-22mm and the Sigma 8-16mm).

 

I know with which APS-C DSLR I would rather travel with... The compact, light SL1/100D.

 

But, would I recommend it over the mirrorless Fuji/MFT options to the original poster? Probably not.

 

On "AA-less IQ".... I don't find the squareness of the pixels resulting in aliasing, false sharpness/details and moire patterns "better IQ". Just a false sense of sharpness one can also get by badly sharpening an image, if one desires it.

 

The Canon 100D is more like the Pentax Kr in features, and therefore closer in size:

http://camerasize.com/compare/#210,448

 

Or you can compare to the K-01, which is smaller but a bit heavier:

http://camerasize.com/compare/#285,448

 

Or you can compare the K-3 to an appropriate analog in the larger, heavier Canon 70D:

http://camerasize.com/compare/#485,469

 

I also disagree with your statement that 'only a few [lenses] are of interest'. You forgot to add "to me" to the end.

 

As for performance/interest, I'll quote the PZ reviews:

 

15mm f/4: "The SMC-DA 15mm f/4 AL ED Limited is a another desirable pancake lens by Pentax. The lens is capable of producing very sharp and contrasty images at medium aperture settings."

 

21mm f/3.2: "The Pentax SMC-DA 21mm f/3.2 AL Limited is a very good lens but it is not as special as its longer cousins (specifically the Pentax FA 31mm f/1.8 Limited) nor is this really possible because of the increasing design problems when pushing things towards wide and ultra-wide angles."

 

40mm f/2.8: "The Pentax SMC DA 40mm f/2.8 exhibits a quite harmonious optical performance combined with excellent build quality."

 

70mm f/2.4: "The Pentax SMC DA 70mm f/2.4 Limited is an great lens with no significant technical weakness."

 

If I were an APS-C shooter interested in compact/light lenses, those four Pentax pancakes to me have no peer for any other brand. Throw in the Pentax 17-70 f/4, according to PZ: "All-in-all a very harmonious package selling for a very fair price of around 480€/US$."