Pentax K-3 Mark III initial review

https://petapixel.com/2021/04/24/a-high-iso-shootout-pentax-k-3-iii-vs-sony-a7-iii/

We've been told there's one on its way. We'll be starting a gallery as soon as it arrives, but we can't test a camera we haven't got.

Apr 30, 2021permalink

robbo d

@richardbutler

There are a few of us "on the fence" so to speak about this camera and its reported auto focus capabilities. Many have stated a head to head against D500 or XT4 to get an idea how far they've improved.
The early adopters are showing some BIF and other images but nothing startlingly good yet.
If your reviewers get a chance to test against its peers or do an apsc flagship battle would be a good read.
Regards

Apr 30, 2021permalink

Don Kiyoti

Just got mine today. Wow. Just - wow. I'm gonna have a good time with this machine.

Apr 30, 2021permalink

Nifty fifty

Enjoy !

Apr 30, 2021permalink

marc petzold

Good Morning,

the IQ is on pair with the A7 III, if not (subtle) better - see 1:1 Samples comparsion:

A fine Day, and good Light.

Apr 27, 2021permalink

robbo d

@richardbutler
Any progress on getting camera in your hands?

Very much looking forward to a proper unbiased review of the auto focus system, the joysticks practical use...

Everything else seems as one would expect from Pentax.

Keen on a Chris and Jordan in depth dprtv session.

Apr 26, 2021permalink

Not yet, I'm afraid. We'll ask again.

Apr 27, 2021permalink

rehess

The camera looks very desirable to me, even though it is way beyond my budget.
Maybe Pentax will release a K-90 with the focusing system but at half the price.

Apr 25, 2021*permalink

AviPro

Camera on its own is amazing, packed with features...
However, looks like Pentax lost its way in terms of assessing what market has to offer,
2K is FF territory.
In that price point, the Z5 /RP/a7c or S5 will beat the specs, AF perf and they all have movable screens, are lighter in weight.. and more importantly FF..
Sorry, I would have still hesitated the K3iii at half the price....

Apr 22, 2021permalink

Oh, would they beat the Pentax?
- build quality: no chance. The other cameras are toys.
- resolution: nope.
- in-body stabilization: RP has no IBIS. Others go to 5 stops, including the S5 without OIS lenses. So... nope.
- viewfinder: RP's is about as large, A7c's is awful. Nope again.
- burst rate: 12fps vs. 4.5, 5, 10 and 7. Except for the A7c the others aren't even trying.
- battery life: again, the A7c is the only camera even trying. The poor RP can only get 250 frames...
https://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/side-by-side?products=pentax_k3iii&products=nikon_z5&products=canon_eosrp&products=sony_a7c&products=panasonic_dcs5&sortDir=ascending

Indeed, you can get some FF camera for the money. But you lose a lot.

Apr 22, 2021permalink

How about image quality? Even here, the K-3iii is no slouch - when compared to FF cameras:
https://petapixel.com/2021/04/24/a-high-iso-shootout-pentax-k-3-iii-vs-sony-a7-iii/
(The K-1iii will be an absolute beast)

Apr 25, 2021permalink

rehess

Maybe you should try the new camera before you stretch for conclusions.

Apr 25, 2021permalink

AviPro

I dont have to buy and try the camera to know that it does not have a swivel screen (which K70 has), no flash, not significant size or weight reduction....
Perhaps when K1-iii comes out, we will l suddenly discover the benefits of FF

Apr 29, 2021permalink

Size and weight reduction... from a flagship camera? Really?
This camera's priority was *performance*; it's not a GRiii. It needs faster motors (several of them - for the mirror, shutter, aperture lever, AF). It needs a larger mirror/sub-mirror to increase the AF coverage. It needs a larger AF system. It has a larger pentaprism for that excellent viewfinder.
And they kept it almost the same size and weight as the K-3ii.
In comparison, this is what the competition managed:
https://camerasize.com/compare/#873,648
https://camerasize.com/compare/#873,568

May 13, 2021permalink

PC-dot-Com

You do realize the D500 came out 5 years ago at the same price, and isn't built as well, isn't as fully featured?

May 20, 2021permalink

Reddevil_sen

Currently using a K-1. and it does everything expected from it, and I get the best out of it for Landscape\Portraits. Heavily invested in K-mount lenses, couldn't imagine changing systems. Sony looked enticing , with K3-III, i feel I can stay with the System if it can deliver better AF system for wildlife.. Just what i ve been waiting for.. Kudos. .looking fwd to real life sample and complete review.

Apr 21, 2021permalink

Polacofede

Hopefully those improvements will also be in a future K-1 Mark III. I Hope they keep the astrotracer GPS on that one.

Apr 23, 2021permalink

Reddevil_sen

yes, Astrotracer is a good feature to have, now than the flash has been removed.

Apr 23, 2021permalink

skorpionet

Keep also the articulated LCD...

Apr 30, 2021permalink

snegron22

If I weren't so heavily invested with Nikon and Canon equipment, I would definitely be looking into Pentax. I truly hope Pentax contines to thrive!

Apr 19, 2021permalink

niiicedave

I am most fascinated by the prospect of a much larger viewfinder. I would love to see data in the viewfinder margin too: ISO, exp speed, aperture, light meter … like in my old K-1000 SLR!

Apr 16, 2021*permalink

Krummj

Where are the sample images? Still waiting for a production model, or perhaps an Adobe update?

Apr 12, 2021permalink

We're waiting for a production model.

Apr 12, 2021permalink

aris14

DPR, do you have a K-3 III in your hands?

Apr 12, 2021permalink

wootpile

Pentax was my first SLR. Had a couple of Pentax dslr's since then but always felt they were several years too late. I won't buy this one because just looking at the specs... apart from stabilization and battery capacity which couldn't have fit the bill then, this is the camera Pentax should have delivered 2013.

A DSLR with a fixed screen... when it's such an easy and affordable feature to include.... what are they thinking?

Q: What is: effort spent on tech that for logical reasons has diminishing amount of users... ?

A: Brand devaluation, at its best.

Apr 11, 2021*permalink

Nifty fifty

After reading this, and a lot of other postings, it often looks that a lot of people willing to write a post are making up excuses not to buy, or are reassuring themselves that their choice is best by bashing everything else. Dare to be different...credits to pentax, looks a fine camera to me...

Apr 11, 2021*permalink

Hoxton Bridge

I couldn't agree more. It's tiring reading the "I would rather keep my @£$%$£$" with little or no thought or justification. If there is nothing constructive to say, it would be better for people to say nothing and move on.

Apr 11, 2021permalink

Anastigmat

This camera will sell like hotcakes (help, I accidentally put crazy glue between my tongue and my cheek),

Apr 10, 2021permalink

Foveonite

Guess what? in the buying guide, DPR doesn't have an article on best lenses for Pentax DSLR FF/Cropped. lol

Apr 10, 2021permalink

Mike Hiran

gotta go to pentaxforums for that...

May 26, 2021permalink

happy guardian

It would have been exciting if it were a mirrorless. Mirrored cameras are passe.

Apr 8, 2021permalink

Wait 'till you hear about the small German company that's still making rangefinders.

Apr 9, 2021permalink

Hoxton Bridge

Oh goodness me... That must be satire, surely.

Apr 11, 2021permalink

doceyes

Leica is never satirical!

Apr 14, 2021permalink

Max5150

This Pentax looks like a killer camera. I bet it's an absolute pleasure to use.

Apr 8, 2021permalink

aegarcia

In these posts, estimates are that Pentax will sell only 1000 K3iii. Pentax must have made their sums too and still Pentax is catering for them??? This speaks well of Pentax. I also have a Sony RX10 iv and so far so good and no failure yet.

Apr 7, 2021*permalink

ZilverHaylide

Pentax is not "catering for them", it is a business, not a charity. What counts, to Pentax, is Pentax' total profit. A company can make an equal amount of total profit by making a large number of widgets selling at a small profit or a smaller number selling at a larger profit. One could argue that there is more upside to the latter strategy because more potential customers remain, and because with higher profits per unit, one could sell via a strategy of greater discount as time goes by.

Furthermore, analysis is complicated by company size and proportion of that a particular product is.

Apr 9, 2021*permalink

An estimate is when one uses data and experience to come up with a likely number.
Claiming that "Pentax will sell only 1000 K3iii" - and anything that is trying to present the potential sales or the Pentaxians as an unreasonably low number - is bashing. Of course, Pentax is not catering for Pentax bashers.

Apr 12, 2021permalink

Desmodronic

Strange, the K-3 iii Premium in black is already sold out in EU.

Apr 15, 2021permalink

LX-D

@Desmodronic
Only 1000 pieces black and silver.

May 18, 2021permalink

aegarcia

On the sight of the class action against Sony for A7iii shutter failure I think i was too hasty in believing that mirrorless cameras are more reliable than DSLR for not having moving parts. I am having second thoughts about going back to Pentax. My K3 was built like a tank. So is my K70.

Apr 7, 2021permalink

GrayW

My two weather proof K-5ii cameras are still going strong after 7 years of use. The K-3iii is their natural replacement.

Pentax cameras are joy to use. I get the impression that the designers are real photographers who actually use their creations to take photos.

Apr 8, 2021permalink

Seahbc

isn't the Sony shutter a mechanical part?

Apr 9, 2021permalink

Hoxton Bridge

What is this fear of mechanical parts? My watch has over 400 mechanical parts, it has not stopped working correctly for twenty years. The Patek Phillipe calibre 89 has over 1500 moving parts and is considered one of the best movements ever made. Sadly I don't own one of those! I have had a Leica M6 for over twenty years it has never failed once. I still use it because, in some situations, film provides the best solution for a project.

Apr 11, 2021permalink

Seahbc

The Fujifilm X-T4 sure looks very competitive on specs and price. But of course jumping ship would mean buying lenses and flashes all over again.

Apr 7, 2021permalink

Cynog ap Brychan

The grass isn't always greener on the other side, I liked the look of Fuji, so I bought an X-T3, which is basically an X-T4 without IBIS. I soon wished I hadn't. I found the handling to be terrible, and realised why modern cameras are the shape they are. Ergonomics of cameras have come a long way since the 60s and 70s, which designs Fujifilm emulate. YMMV of course, but there is no way I'm giving up my Pentaxes. They are a joy to use. Besides which, they are DSLRs, a different animal from the mirrorless crowd. The X-T3 is sold and my pre-order is in for the K-3 III.

Apr 8, 2021permalink

Seahbc

Agreed. That is why I said 'on specs and price'. But from where I come from, it is difficult to buy Pentax stuff. I had to resort to buying from B&H, forgoing local warranty. Fujifilm? Full range in many camera shops. Likewise for Canon, Nikon and Sony.

Apr 9, 2021permalink

cport

I am glad that Ricoh continues showing that APS-C DSLR brand is not dead. With this camera, lenses like DA* 11-18/2,8 and DA* 16-50/2,8 ... there is a nice future :)

Apr 7, 2021permalink

Kfrog

I started with the K10D. Then upgraded to the K-5II. I just love the camera. It feels perfect in my hands with the added battery grip. Saw no real need for me to go to the K-3(II). This one however has me ready to make the move up. So many advancements. That viewfinder has got me curious and the larger sensor.

Apr 6, 2021permalink

Jon Donahue

Yes... I have a K-5IIs... like yours, it feels perfect. Will probably stay with it, though am also looking at the new KP. Can't justify a new purchase rationally -- but these new cameras are nice, and a letter came the other day with a government check for $1400, maybe Pentax has a great lobbyist in Washington!

Apr 8, 2021permalink

starjedi

The price of Pentax K3-III is set to be much higher than an entry level FF camera and be the top of APS-C cameras. This is the only shortcoming in my view. Let's hope that it will not be another K-01. K-01 at that time was just expensive (eg compare to Sony Nex-5) giving what it could do. With a relative high lauching price, K-01 could not sell and never be able to be popular among Pentaxians. A wrong pricing strategy killed K-01.

Still, the Pentax K3-III should find success with a specific audience ( a 5% among 5%?).

Apr 5, 2021*permalink

JeromeChatillon

Dear DPReview
I hope this beautiful DSLR (maybe the last of its kind) will motivate you to make lenses Buying Guide as you did for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, m43.
It would also avoid Pentax users to fill discriminated against, especially when you know the appeal for the huge Pentax lenses selection (even if many are outdated).
"Come on, man!" :)

Apr 5, 2021permalink

(unknown member)

I gave up on pentax when the focusing motors broke during the K20D era. The Pentax smc DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL (IF) SDM Lens and the Pentax Zoom Telephoto 60-250mm f/4 ED DA* SDM Autofocus Lens. FWIW they were out of warranty.

Very sad experience not to be repeated .

1-6-21

Apr 5, 2021permalink

Class A

The SDM implementation in those lenses was apparently flawed in a way that lead to many failures. More recent Pentax lenses don't suffer from this problem, even though they also carry the "SDM" moniker.

Rumour has it Pentax found a way to address the old SDM issue as well. I don't have any firm information on that but I know that SDM failures are not a wide-spread discussion topic at Pentax forums.com anymore, while that was definitely the case many, many years ago.

Apr 7, 2021permalink

Pentax launched their last micromotor SDM in 2008; since then, they used a combination of DC, PLM and ring-type SDM - all of which are reliable.

Apr 7, 2021permalink

belnan

How long before we see this camera in the image comparison tool?

Apr 5, 2021permalink

That depends on when Ricoh starts sending out production-spec cameras for review. We'll certainly be asking for one.

Apr 5, 2021permalink

Daft Punk

Bravo Pentax. This is clearly a decent camera and a lot of people who truly love photography have put a lot of hard work in to create it.

I recently dusted down my old D700 and had a ball shooting with it again. I find myself looking at Nikon Dfs on eBay and pausing over the bid button.

Or I could get one of these. I’ve got some Pentax glass for my LX film camera.

I wonder what MF is like with the K3 III ?

I think Pentax may have a success on their hands here.

Apr 5, 2021*permalink

belnan

With the good viewfinder and the 101 af points for verification it should be usable for sure. Perhaps just as easy as in live view.

Apr 5, 2021permalink

Mike Hiran

Having a large, bright viewfinder will certainly aid in manual focus. Plus the Catch in Focus feature that lets you press the shutter while turning the focus ring and the camera will fire when the center is in focus. If you are doing tripod work, focus peaking and/or zooming in for focus will make for easy sharp photos.

May 26, 2021permalink

four under

I hope this camera lives up to expectations and does well for the Pentax brand.

Apr 5, 2021permalink

I would really like to have this camera since I still use Pentax but for that amount of money for apsc, we have plenty of FF alternatives - both dslr's and mirrorless system that are as capable or even better at that price point. If this would have been full frame, then this is a great alternative to even Sony A7III. Can't wait to see the full review on their total makeover of its auto focus system since advances in technology in machine learning enabled them to gain this capability.

Apr 5, 2021permalink

Foveonite

sometimes, it is not about specs, it is about enjoying using the tool. if you enjoy using it, it is worth its premium.

Apr 5, 2021*permalink

I have my own doubts about the K-3iii not being "full frame". Indeed, going back to APS-C - from my K-1ii - seems weird.
But the rational part of me sees a different picture: the viewfinder is about the same (might be clearer/sharper on the K-3iii), the image quality at high ISO seems to be better on the K-3iii (didn't think it would be possible!), and the performance, incomparable.
A K-1iii with all the K-3iii's enhancements... should have even better image quality, lower fps, and a lowed AF coverage. It should also be somewhat more expensive.

Apr 5, 2021permalink

Other systems have already figured out how to improve their AF performance eons ago and this is worth its premium? Pentax is not going for the luxury brand recognition (ie. Zeiss or Leica) or cutting edge technology (Sony, Canon), so their price positioning seems to be an oddball on this one for a cropped sensor. If this is priced like Fuji's XT-3 or XT-4, then this would have appealed those to the dslr fans of other brands.

Apr 5, 2021permalink

Mateus1

X-Pro3 with OVF is/was about $2000 and do you think it offers more then K-3 III? X-T4 does not have OVF which is not cheap.
Looking at K-3III and its features I do not see - and I am not a Pentax user - it's overpriced. For these who love and appreciate shooting with large OVF, want to have the best camera control with direct access to most features and best body build and IBIS, IQ, WR, good AF (-4 EV), will find this price rather adequate.

Apr 5, 2021*permalink

Daft Punk

I shoot Fuji but I also have Sony A7R3 and Panny S1. It’s the harsh truth IMO and the dirty secret lots of people don’t like to admit to - but I don’t think FF is the most important factor 99% of the time. It doesn’t really matter. APSC and good lenses is enough most of the time. User enjoyment is more important.

Apr 5, 2021permalink

"Some people, for whom ergonomics are part of their photographic enjoyment,..."

sure... for a cropped sensor when FF is getting cheaper to own (including Pentax's). The price just doesn't make sense for the added benefit of improved autofocus system. It would be reasonable if the price is around $1500 to $1800 max.

Apr 5, 2021permalink

Mateus1

"when FF is getting cheaper to own"

Sure K-3III will also be cheaper after some time.

Apr 6, 2021permalink

Foveonite

@Lightright, K3iii is like a 7Dii. Its starting price is also at the same ball park of ~$2000. and prices will drop if you wait long enough (unless it sells out).

cheaper FFs are cheap for a reason, crippled built quality? crippled AF? crippled video? crippled ergonomics? crippled menu system? a combination of these.

Apr 7, 2021*permalink