Excellent video 😮!

SMC DA*16-50/2.8 never was excellent to start with. Sigma 17-50/2.8 is optically superior lens that was sold for less than 1/2 price. Those claims about best APS-C lenses is supported by what facts? Since barely anybody is using this lens, there are no 1:1 comparisons with Fuji 16-55/2.8 or Sony 16-55/2.8 lenses available. But you'll be able to find at least that K mount Sigma 17-50/2.8 and do comparison with it. It should be much better than that already very good Sigma to justify the price.

I agree the connection to the subject is vital and whilst I can use an EVF, honestly I find the optical viewfinder a superior experience all round! It does matter, the process is very important. Choice is good for everyone (choice of viewfinder and camera types)

Albert, will you do an update to your review as the Pentax have issued so many firmware updates?

D850 has OVF face detect not eye, still good…!

❤❤❤

Agreed on all points!! I for one cannot stand EVF... to me EVF is for videos.

Thank you for sharing, I appreciate for your input, I am coming from film,.

The huge difference is when you start shooting with fast lenses wide open and you want IRIS to be in focus. Not just part of face +/- with eyes.

Thanks 👍

Pentax camera (Ricoh owned), by far have the worst auto focus systems in both the aged K1 Mark II and the newer (still two year old model) K3 Mark III. No one has ever bought a Pentax branded camera for a superior autofocusing system. Now with that out of the way, the overall image quality from Pentax cameras are still some of the best out of camera (especially the full frame K1 Mark II). Now the K3 Mark III really can be a noisy image monster at 6400 ISO and above. Did some resent beach pics at sunset and the pics to me were a bit too noisy for a camera only two years old. I may be getting rid of the K3 Mark III. A bit disappointed to say the least.

It also works for animals with humans like eyes. Cats, dogs etc. Think it treats them as children :) Does not work for birds for example. K-3 Mk III is really interesting and underappreciated photographic tool.

What lens. Can be adapted to Pentax .I am interested in the mono. because of the bsi cmos. Like the"pixii" which is rated higher than leica full frame. Thanks for all your good work😊

What lens was this?

Nice! Was that with the latest firmware, version 2.00?

Even unprofessional can catch up on the useful info. Short and informative. Keep on!👍

Hi! I know k1 ii is the best for landscapes, but the k3 iii has so many new features and menu and nice design, would it be good enough for landscapes too? i can live with fixed screen.

Living in Japan is like living in the Blade Runner universe. LOL

Thanks for posting this Albert. Great video, very informative and very interesting! BTW, this is Benjamin (previously living in Urawa, now living in Berlin).

Great remarks - great video!

You need to up your game Pentax, you make great cameras but if you're not carefull your dreadful marketing is gonna destroy you in the end, you should have been there !!!!!!

Gosh no Pentax?.😊

17:55 I agree with you. some people will find any reason to hate. but thank you for a great video on the pentax system. i've always been curious. im currently deep in the m43 system with olympus and panasonic and been very interested in exploring what pentax offers!

Nicely reasoned assessment. I guess mirrorless cameras have won the "battle", but I never understood why zealots wanted the DSLR to die. I always thought there was a place for both, though I can see why manufacturers moved to mirrorless as they are probably easier and cheaper to manufacture. The prism in a Pentax must be quite costly to produce, I imagine. I am happy to own and use mirrorless, DSLRs and rangefinder cameras. Currently I own a Pentax K-1, a Nikon Z6, Leica SL-2S and a Leica M10-P. Each has its own quirks and advantages, but all are capable of stellar images, even if I am not!. I have just bought a Pentax K3 Mark III Jet Black Limited edition. In the words of Douglas Adams, it's "bad for the eyes". You're absolutely right, Albert: it's all about enjoying one's equipment and getting the best out of it.

Who would buy such an antiquated piece of photographic equipment with such an insane price tag?? Only in Japan?

Seems to be in Shijuku, close to the Yotsuya train station. Definitely will visit if I make it to Tokyo. Will probably hit all the used camera stores.. will be looking for a K30 or K50 I think.

pro-tip for all who think that mirror less cameras prevail over dslrs, almost each modern dslr can works as mirror less in the live view mode, but no one mirror less has the real viewfinder, so you can't have a real view through the lenses... and even don't ask about the battery life...

Greatly appreciated, Albert, for keeping us Pentaxians in the loop directly from Japan, and in English too. 😄

😄 Was the fire extinguisher a Pentax too?

I hope I have the opportunity to visit one day.

Beautiful lady at 2:00

Sure, come and visit,.... and ask why they keep screwing up the video firmware.....

Oh my God, the best merch for me is this AOCo full cap, which can be purchased only on several markets, jeez, I wish it was available in Europe...

Thank you for taking the time to make this video for us Albert. Really nice to see the new Pentax Clubhouse and what Pentax are doing in Japan.

So if we are ever in Tokyo come visit! Hmmm. No mention of the rest of the world. Seems that pentax continues to retreat to its Asian capital. This kind of store would probably fail in the west. There's very little I see other than an omage to yesteryear nostalgia. It should be rebranded as the pentax museum. You missed the mark again pentax. Still great cameras and great lenses but you can't work out how to sell them! I've seen more pentax gear in the states than there is in that store. Oh well. At least you are trying something pentax. I wonder if there's am entry fee? Or is it invitation only? Pentax are charging a lot for everything these days. Thanks for showing us around though.

Hi Albert, Yeah I think the same exactly. Even about the short buffer! Now, just curious, how much is it nowadays in Japan? Probably you can buy it a bit cheaper now than in the rest of the world.

My Sony A6400 has given me 2x the keeper rate of my K3 due to it's autofocus tracking and fast focusing lenses. But I had to switch back to my K3 for a couple non-sports photo ops and liked the results and enjoyed the shooting experience more. The Pentax is my photographic friend, but I fight with my Sony constantly. Pentax lenses are not as good as the new mirrorless lenses coming out, but they are good value for money, even the 35mm f/2.4, the 50mm f/1.8, and 40mm XS. Get a used Limited lens like I did and a K-70 and you have a cheap starter kit. I just wish that 1. K-3 iii came down in price to around the price of a 90D, and 2. Third party support for lenses hadn't ended. I'm reluctant to give up my Sigma 16mm f/1.4.

I have a K-1 as well as a few Leicas, film and digital. I love the OVF and build quality of my Pentax as much as my Leicas. Sure, it’s getting to be more of a niche thing today, but I’m a niche kind of guy. I’ll never sell my K-1.

I've never used a Pentax camera so far and I highly respect Pentax, and I agree with what you've said in general but still I think that the K3 needs to have an articulating screen to be a remarkable APS-C camera from a reputable manufacturer...

Amazing review. I have the old Olympus E620 DSLR - still futuristic todfay; I have the Olympus E-M1 Mk ii - very good mirrorless but missing the nice DSLR feeling. And I have the K3 Mk iii - best camera of all times. I fully agree with all which was said here in the video. I really feel the sensor size limits on the E-M1 ii although it is nice and portable - but the K3 iii is just fantastic.

"uh"

Pentax is the best camera system in many ways, but one thing they have to improve is their autofocus system.

Great video thanks for sharing

Thanks for a clear and honest review. It just shows that this camera has a place in the current technology. Its also reassuring that the optical view finder is still a selling point going forwards for those that like to see a natural view of the image. Some interesting points about Pentax build quality, image quality, APSC and Full frame. I hope that this camera gets the respect and attention it deserves.

Not fair price Where the Nikon z6 ii is same price and better camera

Do you think it is worth to buy it if I'll have to use DA L kit lenses from K-x? I'm just a hobbyist. I am asking because I can switch to Canon EOS 90D with 2 lenses or Nikon D500 with kit lens for the price of K3 III body alone. And for price of just €100 more than K3 III with 18-135 kit lens I can get Nikon D780 with 24-120 lens...

공감 합니다. .그러나. 동영상 기능은 덜어내고 사진에 좀더 기능을 더해도 좋을듯 합니다.

I concur, Albert. It is a camera I will use for many years. It has also pushed me to get some better lenses to take advantage of its image quality.

Stumbled by accident on your channel and I agree regarding your thoughts using an optical viewfinder. Having gone back and forth between EVF and optical systems I went back to the optical viewfinder especially in high contrast situations as the current generation of EVF panels can not cope with these huge contrast differences. Some camera manufacturers remedied in the form of a "natural live view". There is still a small lag between what you see and what's happening (although vastly remedied in current generations). At this moment Ricoh-Pentax is the only company having R&D on making optical systems better as all investments halted on DSLR cameras by the big 2 several years ago. Finally a pro photographer on KZbin who admits he used his previous system for 9 years!!! Most photography oriented channels have the tendency to change camera systems at the same frequency as they are hopefully changing their underwear.... The only thing I am missing in some cases is the histogram overlay.

Agree, on paper it is a tough sell, especially APSC. It performs great though.