Pentax K-3 Mk III

There’s something about Pentax cameras that really appeal to me - the quality and their intuitive (to me) operation. I say this from the perspective of having Pentaxes from the Auto 110, H3v, SP, KX, 6x7, and K10D. If I were to buy another DSLR, it would be the K-1.
 
I like the K-3 and used mine a lot before setting it mostly aside in favor of a K-1, which later was modded to become a Mark II. I still think the K-3 is a fine camera, and the Mark III version even better. Pentax has always made good and innovative stuff. My oldest one is a model K from 1958.
Here's a K-3 shot with 21mm f/3.2 Limited wide open, 1/4 second handheld; eastern slopes of the Sierras in Lee Vining California.
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Doug said:
I like the K-3 and used mine a lot before setting it mostly aside in favor of a K-1, which later was modded to become a Mark II. I still think the K-3 is a fine camera, and the Mark III version even better. Pentax has always made good and innovative stuff. My oldest one is a model K from 1958.
Here's a K-3 shot with 21mm f/3.2 Limited wide open, 1/4 second handheld; eastern slopes of the Sierras in Lee Vining California.
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Damn fine shot.
 
Pál_K said:
There’s something about Pentax cameras that really appeal to me - the quality and their intuitive (to me) operation. I say this from the perspective of having Pentaxes from the Auto 110, H3v, SP, KX, 6x7, and K10D. If I were to buy another DSLR, it would be the K-1.
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I just had my original Pentax Spotmatic CLAd (Eric). And I did buy a K-1(plus a number of Pentaxes over the years). All my Pentax lenses fit the K-1, but I still like the feel of my Super Takumars on the Spotmatic.
 
I wonder if Pentax are on to something sticking to classic dSLR’s as their ‘niche’, and leaving the big brands to blow a heap of money developing mirrorless systems from scratch to service a shrinking market.
 
Skiff said:
Honestly, I am very impressed by this new Pentax K3-III.
To me it looks like one of the best DSLRs ever designed, even surpassing Nikon and Canon in several areas.
https://www.ephotozine.com/article/pentax-k-3-mark-iii-officially-available-for-pre-order-35355
Initial reviews:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH3tm8enm7c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUrMe6NGj7g
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I agree and wouldn’t say ‘in several areas’ - this is the next big step in SLR evolution and I don’t think other brands will follow because they are focused on mirrorless cameras.

The Pentax DX format lenses are tremendous too, and with the notable exception of a 35mm equivalent, cover just about everything you could want to do.

nickthetasmaniac said:
I wonder if Pentax are on to something sticking to classic dSLR’s as their ‘niche’, and leaving the big brands to blow a heap of money developing mirrorless systems from scratch to service a shrinking market.
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I thought the same thing, particularly after Sony made a big fuss about the pellicle mirror Alpha dSLRs then completely dumped them in short order. They are still very nice, as is a Canon EOS RT as a film SLR. With the Canon 40mm f2.8 it is a beautiful cheap film SLR from the early end of film days.

Marty
 
I agree, the K3 III is very impressive. I am a big fan of Pentax manual focus SLRs, although I have never used one of their digital cameras. (For that matter, I'm pretty sure I've never even seen one of their digital cameras IRL.) But I'm rooting for them and the optical viewfinder DSLR. I think this camera is going to have a tough time in the marketplace, though, as its price is comparable to many full frame cameras, including the D750, D780, Z5, Z6, Z6 II, and Pentax's own K1 Mark II, just to name those that immediately come to mind in the brands I'm familiar with.
 
The K3 III does look like a very nice camera. It's expensive, and getting crucified in all the expected places for that, but it is kind of the pinnacle of APS-C DSLRs, and when you think about it like that, it doesn't seem as costly. I have the previous KP and probably won't ever buy the K3 III, I'm just not enough of a DSLR main. However, if I did I think it would be worth it for the highlight-weighted metering. The GR III has that, and it's a revelation to my shooting. When I shoot digital I shoot aperture priority maybe 75% of the time, shutter priority maybe 10% and manual (often with auto ISO and exposure comp - TAv in Pentax terminology) the last 15%. It's rare that I use a fixed ISO when cameras have such good sensitivity performance these days.

So when I evaluate a scene, I look at the brightest parts and know where I should place the exposure compensation about as quickly as anything. If it's sunny I'm usually about +1.0 to +1.7, or, if I'm letting shadows go dark and want to saturate the colors in the brightest areas, I'm probably around +0.3. It's that easy with the GR III. Even though the KP has a very reliable metering system and I can usually trust the exposure if I'm at 0 or -0.3, being able to judge the highlights to dial in exposure comp without using the camera to take an actual meter reading would make DSLR shooting much faster.
 
nickthetasmaniac said:
I wonder if Pentax are on to something sticking to classic dSLR’s as their ‘niche’, and leaving the big brands to blow a heap of money developing mirrorless systems from scratch to service a shrinking market.
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It is exactly that.
Pentax has explained their company strategy in detail last year. And made it clear that they are fully committed to the SLR technology (and will not "go mirrorless").

It makes perfect sense and is the right strategy as
- a very significant part of the market, big number of photographers like (D)SLRs and prefer OVFs
- less competitors in the (D)SLR market
- the mirrorless market is extremely competitive and overcrowded with competitors
- the mirrorless market is declining (had its peak in 2012)
- investments in mirrorless will certainly never be amortized.
 
Freakscene said:
I agree and wouldn’t say ‘in several areas’ - this is the next big step in SLR evolution and I don’t think other brands will follow because they are focused on mirrorless cameras.
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Yes, and no ;). I think we have to differentiate here: Looks like Canon has not so much motivation anymore to make big efforts in DSLR technology.
But Nikon is different: They had officially said that they want to offer "the best in both worlds" and continue to develop DSLRs. Last autumn there were quite reliable hints that this year two new DSLRs and new F mount lenses will be introduced.
Nikon users are much more "conservative" and traditionalistic than Canon users (Nikon and Pentax users are quite similar in this regard). And the best Nikon can do is to satisfy these very loyal DSLR users.

Freakscene said:
The Pentax DX format lenses are tremendous too, and with the notable exception of a 35mm equivalent, cover just about everything you could want to do.
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+1.
 
Number of people me included have turned away from Dslr cameras because of the size of the even smallest full frame kit like canon 6d , but i wonder what would happen if Pentax released full frame LX sized shaped camera that could be matched with Limited series lenses.
 
Skiff said:
Yes, and no ;). I think we have to differentiate here: Looks like Canon has not so much motivation anymore to make big efforts in DSLR technology.
But Nikon is different: They had officially said that they want to offer "the best in both worlds" and continue to develop DSLRs. Last autumn there were quite reliable hints that this year two new DSLRs and new F mount lenses will be introduced.
Nikon users are much more "conservative" and traditionalistic than Canon users (Nikon and Pentax users are quite similar in this regard). And the best Nikon can do is to satisfy these very loyal DSLR users.
+1.
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Nikon championed the APS format prior to the introduction of the D3 but have never built a proper line of lenses for the format. They might build nice new DX format SLRs, but I have my doubts about APS. I am also sceptical about Nikon being so adventurous as to build something like the viewfinder in the new Pentax. But we’ll see.

Marty
 
Michalm said:
Number people me included have turned away from Dslr cameras because of the size of the even smallest full frame kit like canon 6d , but i wonder what would happen if Pentax released full frame LX sized shaped camera that could be matched with Limited series lenses.
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I can tell you one thing that would happen—I would buy one. Unfortunately, I don't think that's possible given the power requirements of autofocus and a digital sensor. Look at the Nikon Df for example—it's a good 25% bigger and heavier than an FM3A. Once you've added that much weight and bulk, I think it makes more sense to just go all the way to a modern full size DSLR form factor like the K3 III or D850.
 
Freakscene said:
Nikon championed the APS format prior to the introduction of the D3 but have never built a proper line of lenses for the format. They might build nice new DX format SLRs, but I have my doubts about APS. I am also sceptical about Nikon being so adventurous as to build something like the viewfinder in the new Pentax. But we’ll see.

Marty
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Nikon's plan was always to use APS-C DSLRs as a gateway drug to get its users into full frame cameras and lenses. That's why they haven't introduced any high end DX lenses in 12 years or so. They could have built out a line of appropriately sized and reasonably priced DX primes similar to the 35mm f/1.8 AF-S DX, but chose not to do so. If they had, they could have defended against smaller mirrorless systems like the Fuji X cameras much better.
 
Good on Ricoh/Pentax to continue the SLR mode for a interchangeable lens digital camera.
One thing, do they have interchangeable screens? In a SLR there is just no ‘best’ screen. They need to make sure they supply a screen that will ‘snap’ into focus using older, manual focus lenses. Bright, almost toothless screens that work great for autofocus often are almost useless for manual focus.
 
Michalm said:
...i wonder what would happen if Pentax released full frame LX sized shaped camera that could be matched with Limited series lenses.
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Well, they’d have plenty of fans, but is it even a possibility when every single DSLR is bloated the same way? It seems there is a design issue in trying to make a slim body the size of a 35mm film camera like the LX. The mirror box and sensor combo might not be able to be thinner. Add big batteries and more electronics than the LX and...
 
AAlfano said:
Nikon's plan was always to use APS-C DSLRs as a gateway drug to get its users into full frame cameras and lenses. That's why they haven't introduced any high end DX lenses in 12 years or so. They could have built out a line of appropriately sized and reasonably priced DX primes similar to the 35mm f/1.8 AF-S DX, but chose not to do so. If they had, they could have defended against smaller mirrorless systems like the Fuji X cameras much better.
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It not was Fuji which accounted for like less than 10% of all camera sold that eroded Nikon's market share altogether IMO.

It was Sony, which was ultra aggressive in pushing the boundaries, not unlike Canon in the late 1980s.

With the camera market as whole under siege of smartphones, the general trend has been to make higher end, feature-loaded products that have way larger profit margins than budget staff. Fuji managed to survive with that by building an identity-laden portfolio with the X100 and X-pro, which command FF prices. I don't think Nikon's APS-C range had that potential to begin with, unless they completely reimage the line.

Even Pentax today is playing by that paradigm. Overbuild, offer an identity (Pentaxians are still a force to be reckoned with, especially in Japan) and charge a lot.
 
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