Pentax K-3 Mark III Review (+ comparison to Nikon D500)

[@steveforde7475]

I think Pentax is positioning itself as the 'Leica' of the DSLR shooting experience. In years to come, after other manufacturers have moved away from DSLRs to all mirrorless line ups, anyone wanting the OVF experience will go Pentax in the way that people seeking rangefinder experience go Leica. Nobody can argue that Leica is state of the art or the most efficient system, but it survives in an ever shrinking market. Pentax's move could prove to be a wise one.

[@buckleyrobinson7415]

No doubt, and the recent introduction of a native monochrome DSLR certainly helps cement that.

[@iaido01]

I really think that, because after a while the “new” pentax dslr will be better/faster than almost all of the previous dslr ever created

[@Needacreate]

This struck me as a sober, honest, fair, balanced, and informative review of a quite remarkable camera. It may even help to make some younger people curious about Pentax who wouldn't normally consider the brand. As a Pentaxian, but perhaps even more as a photographer who appreciates diversity and choice, I'm grateful for that. 👍

[@TaipeiGeek]

Makes me that more impressed about Nikon, that their camera from 2016 is still better than anything else that came afterwards.

[@UrSSuL]

@@TaipeiGeek don't poke a fanboy with objective facts.

[@hansmemling7605]

@@UrSSuL I personally don't like the way Nikon sensor's make the overall image look. Perhaps they are the most true to life and perhaps I enjoy if the photos I take look slightly better or different than reality. Either way, I would prefer to shoot any other brand over a Nikon. I find the photos I take come out too harsh.

[@sovu9399]

@@TaipeiGeek what? come again? what does d500 do better other than a few more frames in focus in burst mode? and well yeah, a bigger buffer. so what?

[@Travelagent]

I own this camera for about a week now and all I can say: It is an absolutely dream of an camera! I never ever had a camera with such an phenomenal haptic and in my hands! Its customisable to your very best liking and one feature that is very important to me: I have the absolute confidence to use this camera in even the harshest environments because its build like a tank and has a really effective and reliable all weather resistance (hear that...Sony?)!

[@radosawhuawei6186]

All tests and comparisons say: Pentax has produced a very good camera ... at a time when the main players give up their DSLR production. (I'm a Pentaxian)

[@BB-ft6nd]

I think Pentax has a solid future because of their commitment to DSLRs. I'm planning on getting a DSLR to use alongside my X-T3, because I enjoy the DSLR experience. The K3 MKIII is the camera I want...

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

Add a flip screen and a hybrid OVF, and Pentax doesn't need to make a 'Mirrorless', as Mirror-lock-up is effectively 'mirrorless mode' on these bodies. And I say that as a K-01 owner.

[@alexanderschastak1459]

@@richrollin4867 honestly, I think that the market will be pretty empty soon, in general. My guess is, all but sony will drop it at some point in the next 5 years, and most makers will turn B2B only, so they can charge high prices for expensive, it professionally used gear. If you need proof, look at the amounts of cameras sold worldwide, declining like crazy since 2015...

[@billyjunks]

@@alexanderschastak1459 Rather than becoming empty the market will simply be filled with higher priced gears, something like entry-level full frame going from $999 to $1999 to offset the decreased demand

[@richardbraham2486]

I’m getting awesome results using Pentax K3 and the 150-450mm. Great combination for wildlife. The weather sealing is also a great advantage.

[@thelensguy6050]

I get so confident and relaxed when I watch other kids trapped inside a man body 😂 , that zig zag trial runs were the cherry on the cake 👍

[@stuartcarden1371]

I'll always love Pentax, even if I don't use them anymore. I've got to say those files look gorgeous!

[@FinalManaTrigger]

Same, I had the Pentax K-5 II and it was a beautiful camera in nearly every way... except autofocus and the cost of lenses really turned me off from the system.

[@sloppyjoe9156]

I loved my Pentax k70 and it was a great starter camera compared to anything else I couldve bought for the price. I just really couldn't find a lot of lenses and that pushed me towards Nikon. I'll honestly probably end up in m4/3 territory just to get similar feeling body (Panasonic makes chunky cameras and I'm all about it)but with serious lens selection

[@besperus4475]

I still use my MX, film camera. Those lenses work on the K3III. But the K1 is better and less expensive and full frame. Bigger, K1. Smaller camera and better autofocus. Don’t use video, don’t use fast shutter speeds. (fps) Fuji? Nikon? Canon? APS-C cameras not many left except Fuji, of course. A question of cost and technology.

[@nomorokay]

Now that Pentax has issued firmware Version 2.0, it might be time to retest the K-3 III. Its AF performance has been really upgraded, and some other features have been added.

[@ScottJWaldron]

Great job on the video as usual. It's nice to see Pentax/Ricoh still making cameras and doing their thing. I had the K-7 and K-5 which were the progenitors of that general design.

[@Climber485]

One thing to remember, as great as the Nikon D500 is, (it is a great camera), it is at the end of its development cycle, the Pentax K3iii is at the start. I think there is room to improve the K3iii still further, one firmware update has been rolled out already, hopefully, Pentax will follow a more Fuji-like approach on enhancing and adding features going forward.

[@airdailyx]

I disagree. Pentax is at the very end. I’d bet this camera is their swan song.

[@Climber485]

@@airdailyx You know that for certain do you? I find if sad that people feel it necessary to predict the demise of various camera companies. Another thing to remember, Pentax is not the only camera company being touted as failing, if you wish to make yourself look like some kind of svengali of the photography world, you need to be careful what you wish for 😊

[@RoastBeefSandwich]

@@airdailyx people have been predicting the death of Pentax for as long as I can remember.

[@pafaccount4454]

Foolish take from a typical big brand toe sucker. They are working on a k1iii and film camera as we speak.

[@TetraTimboman]

Because of people swapping systems to mirrorless, Pentax lenses can be found for low prices on secondary market like ebay. Pentax bodies also have great support for older manual lenses! - the IBIS and focus confirm still work when shooting older manual glass! 10:38

[@15ThousandDayCrisis]

You mean all the hipsters with FujiFilms and a K-mount adapter aren't buying them all up?

[@arunashamal]

This is a false point. F mount lenses are cheaper than Pentax AF glass and performs better... and yeah.... Nikon has a historical manual lens line up that will fit their modern DSLRs that is second to none. Go with the D500

[@FinalManaTrigger]

I don't know what you're talking about, Pentax lenses are soooo expensive, especially the limited series, which are the good ones.

[@15ThousandDayCrisis]

@@FinalManaTrigger They are? I mean...the full-frame ones get pricey, but the DA's I thought are pretty cheap for what they are. Hard to compare of course, as I don't know if there are really any apples in other makes to compare with those particular Pentax apples. They are a quirky kind of lens. Premium build, lots of metal, nice optics (perhaps not technically superior to others - but there is something about them). And yet, despite being a 'premium' lens, they not weatherproof and are noisy screw-drive too...really odd lenses that are hard to compare unless you go back a few decades. I do like them though. Here in Australia you can usually pick up excellent examples of the DA Limiteds for $200-$300 (AUD) if you're patient. A full collection of used Limiteds can take some very nice shots, covering wide landscapes to portrait for not much more than $1k in my local currency (less than $1k US), and take up stuff all room in your bag. Sure, the 70mm is not going to be producing smeared out super-bokeh at f2.4, but it can still produce very pleasing images, and with some care in picking backgrounds can still get professional level results. For the wider limiteds I really don't care too much about the lower aperture values. Faster apertures with the full-frame rang of course.

[@prodigyxl]

I have so many regrets to have sold my Pentax K-5 that I would buy this K-3 gem!!!!

[@vladfechete8563]

You would but you won't, right?

[@BigJohnnyMoe]

Assuming you have the cheese and still have the lenses you enjoyed. I got the K3iii and it's great.

[@whafrog]

Sounds like a worthy upgrade for my K-70 for sure. I've never used the live view, even on my Olympus EM1-iii, so I won't miss a flippy screen. And I've never fired more than 2-3 shots in a "burst"...which makes my Oly cry because it's not being used to its potential...but I just don't do "spray and pray". So, thanks for the honest review. I can't imagine it would appeal to anybody not already invested in Pentax gear, but for those of us that are, we're glad this "almost dead" company is still delivering.

[@tasteapiana]

The Pentax question boils down to what size of bubble do you live in. If your bubble is small, relative to the average human, and you tend to only think of people like yourself who want the cutting edge of everything - the mountain bike with carbon everything and elite shocks and hydraulic disc brakes and top of the line shifters - whether you need those things on a bicycle or not, ok, move along. Yet, if your bubble is large and you don't care that your 2lb SLR doesn't also function as a state of the art video capturing device because astrotracer, multiple sensor based stabilization mechanisms and vastly superior weatherization open up waaaaaaaaaay more environmental options for you as a shooter, welcome to Pentax. Remember, Mozart didn't have a Bösendorfer to play or compose on, that jump in The Great Escape wasn't made on a KTM with 4'' of suspension travel, Bruce Lee didn't have a membership at PlanetFitness™, Eddie Van Halen blew our fking minds with a guitar made from a discarded body and a neck he found in a 2nds bin that he jokingly named ''The FrankenStrat''. You can take excellent captures, and be a top quality photographer, with a Pentax - and do so in environments that nearly all of the other brands fail to even address. This arms race to have the cutting edge of every technical aspect of a camera, to me, is beyond laughable and absurd because when you really get down to it - 99% of Fuji_non_con_film_etc, Canon, Nikon, etc users are living in such small bubbles that they don't realize they aren't really pressing the boundaries with any spec that's 5% or even 10% over a Pentax's at all, they got it but they don't know how to or even want to exploit it. In fact, their worst fear, their LARGEST fear, is simply not having some 'spec' that doesn't beat another photographer's 'spec'. Again, Mozart didn't need a Bösendorfer and Bruce Lee didn't need PlanetFitness™. Only halfwit procrastinating wanna-bes need that sht because, to them, it's not really about the art at all, it's about the 'status', some mental illness they have that comes from not having had pole position in some weird thing in grade school. In the end, a camera is just a tool unless you say otherwise and then YOU become the tool. Don't be a tool.

[@rauliflemington7045]

Well said. I would like to add that Pentax cameras are abundantly rewarding tools to use and this is highly appreciated by genuinely skilled, discerning photographers. Sadly, 95% of the camera buying population are merely gadget hunters and pursue spray&pray, point and shoot automation methodologies to which the gadget makers eagerly comply.

[@loboptlu]

Exactly ,if you want video get a camcorder they are better optimized.

[@rosswaugh1254]

Thank you for a fair, intelligent and helpful review. I have a hybrid mirrorless camera for video production and also Pentax DSLR's. I still enjoy DSLR shooting, and intend to buy the Pentax K3 III for my personal hobby use - for enjoyment of the image making experience. There is still a market for people that like optical viewfinders and using lenses without adaptors, and it is good to see your review acknowledging this.

[@Gynra]

Excellent review. Your findings are very much as I expected. Now Ricoh, just send me the darn camera, which I pre-ordered back at the end of March!

[@steventhomas231]

Looks a nice camera. Much better user interface as well. Nothing wrong with a dslr. A very strange decision though to not have a tilting lcd. Should be a given now

[@welshskies]

I was so excited about this camera that I couldn't wait and bought a K1 instead. So now I've got a K-P and a K-1, my old K-3 is being handed on to my daughter. I've had a play with mirror less but I still prefer a pentaprism. The K-3iii is on my wish list.

[@83442handle]

As a K1 owner I don't see the big appeal of the K-3iii(for K1 owners). Outside of really needing that AF upgrade right now(which I'm not sure why anyone would be with Pentax still), the biggest issue is that Pentax will almost certainly comeout with a newer K1 after this with all of these goodies and then some(probably newer sensor as well). The idea to drop $2,000 on an APS-C body when you damn well know the K1 Mark II followup is going to have you regretting you got FOMO on a APS-C camera.

[@welshskies]

@@83442handle The K1ii is cheaper that the K3iii in the UK, crazy. The KP is almost a pocket camera compared to the K3.

[@odemata87]

@@welshskies on initial release, I believe the K iii is cheaper than the K1 mk ii also factor the chip shortage prices will seem a bit dear. Hopefully the k iii will drop in price in a shorter time

[@fricki1997]

@@83442handle The main advantage probably is the crop factor, when you're birdhunting or doing macro photography. Gives you that 50% reach advantage without the need for a good teleconverter.

[@williamself1949]

@@83442handle Indeed! Question is, how long do you think it will take for Pentax to release a K-1 iii? Hopefully not as long as it took for the K-3 iii.

[@MiladJP]

PENTAX is only 2 years away from being 10 years away from the competition, but why do I love Pentax cameras so much?

[@Needacreate]

Maybe because they are fun, intuitive, rugged, fit your hands like a glove, and produce absolutely gorgeous image files?

[@mok1138]

@@Needacreate that's it

[@ChrisKamberis]

Pentax had ceased their mirrorless line production before everyone else even started theirs. They're light-years ahead. Jokes aside, Pentax has been plummeting for years and instead of designing a camera that might bring new customers in, they launch another DSLR that costs two grand. Somebody looking to get into a new system would be crazy to pick this. As for an old Pentax user like me, the only way I would keep investing money in a company that most probably will go belly up in the next three years would be a Pentax fetish. And I lost that the first time I had to deal with their customer service.

[@robgendreau]

@@ChrisKamberis In a world where people buy film cameras (crazy), lomo cameras (crazy), anamorphic lenses (crazy), non interchangeable lens cameras (crazy), vinyl, ham radios, hand wood working tools, etc etc maybe crazy is a good idea. They'll never beat out Canon or Sony anyway, and even Nikon might not make it. Like those dinosaurs they might be best off looking for a niche....

[@ChrisKamberis]

@@robgendreauPossibly, but still that would be a hard turn for a corporate like Pentax to make. I think this is a classic example of a company with brilliant engineers and not so brilliant executives. Ricoh has already its niche product, the GR which is brilliant. Would they bother repurposing Pentax? I'm not so sure. In any case Pentax as we know it will cease to exist at some point.

[@jdam28k]

Keep in mind the D500 came out in 2016 and can be had used cheap.

[@danielschmaderer]

Not sure about the Pentax, but I know for sure the D500 can focus from edge to edge on the horizontal field. Might not mean much compared to a mirrorless, but for a DSLR, that’s huge!

[@danielschmaderer]

@M Tech totally agree with every point. In my personal opinion, for someone who doesn’t care about video or is fine with manual focusing with video, the D500 holds up strong to this day. I’ve always praised it as the best APSC DSLR ever made.

[@DPGrupa]

Also worth keeping in mind is that D500 is still the current top APS-C DSLR from Nikon. A new D500 is 1500$ (was 2000$ at launch) and it's unfair to compare it with used gear. This video also didn't really compare the cameras. How good is the image quality on D500? How well does the eye tracking work on D500 when using OVF? How good is the dynamic range? How well does D500 pixel shift work? (Yes, some of those are joke questions).

[@CrazyycclowN]

The D500 doesn't have IBIS or an equivalent to the Limited lens series. It's certainly a great camera, and possible a better value at this time, but it doesn't fill the niche that Pentax occupies. If AF or fps isn't a big deal for someone, then the K3ii is a better value still than the D500. The K3iii is an attempt to catch up on some aspects to other brands, but ultimately it's still a unique product that can't be substituted with a another brand, even if it lags in some areas.

[@danigonzalez4299]

@M Tech no its not

[@3dprintersawhiteboard401]

I have been a Pentax user for a couple of years, starting with the K10D, getting analog cameras in addition and slowly building up an arsenal of lenses and bodies over the years. I still like to take the K3-II out some days, either with the 31 mm or 77 mm limited, but in all honesty, as much as I hated to adapt to the EVF, my Sony A7 IV just consistently has better images in the end. Autofocus on the K3-III is the first Pentax AF where I think it has a higher hit rate than me doing MF, but it still lacks in comparison. The Sony just makes me forget all that struggle and concentrate on the image itself instead. Took me a long time to admit, but here I am: the modern AF or Sony and Canon mirrorless cameras are indeed game changers. I only did a few rounds of test shots with the K3-III, and it really is a good camera to upgrade to from the k3-II and keep an existing set of lenses. Unfortunately, I don't think it is the best system to start a new collection at this point, though. I just miss too many lens options and convenience features at this point.

[@nsnoesuarez]

Great Review. I thought DP Review would skip Pentax. Chris, hit it on the nail, yup the auto focus was not perfect but the awesome Pentax image quality is still there. I was dissapointed with the video features and was expecting to Jordan to lambast the Pentax video but he was just too nice. Thanks Chris and Jordan for being nice to Pentax although you have every right to shoot down the K3 mark III. Yup, they were right, its Expensive, only Pentax faithfuls would buy this.

[@maneshmalla588]

Deserves thumbs up for Jordan's obstacle run warmups

[@polacofederos]

"That's my parents fault" lol! Epic!

[@Tkarma77]

It's a pure joy to shoot .. arrived 2 weeks ago and has hardly left my hand .. in the menu it gives the option of various iso and whether you want noise reduction applied and how much. Not sure if that applies the raw as well as jpg though

[@thissidetowardscreen4553]

Thanks for honest and fair review! I own and still use my Pentax K10D and Pentax Q. Always nice to see the less exposed brands get a bit of spotlight!

[@jasonandrews7355]

The Q is such a cool, underrated system! I've wanted one for quite a while, but I don't have a reasonable excuse to get one. It deserved way more success than it got, though.

[@fricki1997]

I've gotten into DSLR photography about three months ago with a K10D :) and am now trying to get my hands on a K-3 ii, to have more pixel leeway for birdhunting. The K10D still is a great camera even today, and a pleasure to use with vintage glass.

[@thissidetowardscreen4553]

@@jasonandrews7355 I managed to pick up a Q in mint condition on ebay including 7 lens. I paid about $500. for the whole thing, included extras too. only missing the 08 lens which is insanely priced. If you get all 7 or 8 lens, the value of the lens is more than the camera itself. happy hunting!

[@jasonandrews7355]

@@thissidetowardscreen4553 wow, that is an impressive deal! Even an average priced Q is a steal, at well under $300 with a lens or two. Quite likely it'll become even more of a cult classic some time down the road.

[@lighthunterphoto]

Really fair review, the only problem with the upgrade is $$$ :D ( K-3II user )

[@petergottlieb]

Yes, I am hoping the prices come down a good bit eventually. They usually do. In the meantime my K3ii is doing fine.

[@polyphemus1268]

@@petergottlieb And so are my K5 lls, K3, and KP.

[@BigJohnnyMoe]

Sell your Dogecoin. lol

[@Nareimooncatt]

K3 II here too. Sure, the Mk III is a better camera, but it's not a $1,400 better camera compared to the Mk II for my uses. I'll reconsider when prices come down.

[@BerkemasterNL]

@@Nareimooncatt I agree. My k5 ii is still working for my needs with amazing apsc lenses. But I really want that k3 iii lol.

[@robgendreau]

Nice to see that it's not always about the dry specs, but the experience of using the thing as well. They might have had even more fun with say a couple of the limited lenses.

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

What I don't understand is if the "baked in noise reduction" doesn't result in any loss of detail, why is this a problem? The only down side to noise reduction is a loss of detail and if there is no loss of detail, there is no problem so why present it like it's a big issue? Unless it is a big issue, then I'd like to know how... 😁 (Same with the K1 Mark II by the way.)

[@mark_midmark]

Great review. I miss shooting Pentax. The problem is the price is just too high in the current market for me to move to again. I have just a GR-iii now because there's something special about shooting that Ricoh/Pentax that I didn't find in Sony or Canon. Maybe I'll buy this used in a few years because I miss my K3-ii

[@scott2100]

I've been waiting for this review

[@jerzyjablonski1432]

Pretty fair review. I think AF will have better hit ratio with 55-300 PLM lens as it is better and faster focusing even on old entry level bodies, but overall I would be surprised if K-3/3 paired with older lens would be better then D500. Still it is better then older Pentax cameras and all in all I think that if someone wants a hiking DSLR or even hiking hi-end light camera then this should be a choice unless you are heavily invested into another system. Even above K-1 Mk II, FF is just sensor size, no really worth it unless you need specific features of FF sensor.

[@michaelwhiles5282]

Amazes me that Pentax keeps going.....and no I'm not anti Pentax - my first SLR was the classic MX, when it was brand new. Handling has always been a key element - 'Just Hold A Pentax' is one of their old marketing lines....

[@pgulysse1]

Thanks. Great and objective review. :) I could feel the Pentax topic is sensitive, but you did it and managed to stay clean and objective.

[@bengtsandberg9759]

I have owned a D500 beside my Pentax systems and Buffer is outstanding but hit rate also depends on the lens. I had Nikon 18-140, Sigma Art 24-105, Tamron 150-600G2 and specially Sigma missed 5 out of 10 in full fps. The Pentax 16-85 is not as good as the new FF lenses and on K1-ll with then I had sometimes better hit rate than D500 with the Sigma only less fps. To bring down k3lll to to 7-8 fps will increase the buffer and with a faster lens also the hit rate. All things combined, matters which can be good to know. I have irritating many out of focus shoots also with D500, The A7III is better in my opinion. Still waiting for my K3lll so I can not compare yet. Motorcross will be my first test. Thanks for always Great videos, even whithout alcohol, ha ha ha. All the best from Sweden.

[@bengtsandberg9759]

I mean faster AF in the lens, not faster A value. The 70-200 f2.8 with K1-ll is really performing nice. I have fantastic Sports shots with this combo.

[@52701970]

Your hit rate could be you and not the camera. Not meant as an insult but technique is important.

[@alexsarbu3978]

What I like the most is the recognition of Pentax' strong points - ergonomics, interface, build. I also feel that the grip might be slightly larger than ideal, but it's very comfortable and very secure to hold the camera. Then, the buttons, the build... These are the reasons why many of us didn't jumped ship; other cameras just feel... nowhere near like this. Unfortunately the one thing I care about (regarding this camera), the AF, is still unanswered with a satisfactory precision. But I have another message on that...

[@bondgabebond4907]

What I liked was the absolute simplicity of my old Nikon FE2. All that stuff is nonsense if you know how to shoot photos. Try using an old camera like a Pentax Spotmatic F and really learn how to shoot.

[@alexsarbu3978]

@@bondgabebond4907 Try shooting bee eaters and kingfishers in flight with your old Nikon FE2. The K-3iii isn't a barebone learning camera. It's a powerful tool for fast paced photography.

[@stuartgraham7200]

I thought it strange that you didn't test the K3iii with a KAF 4 PLM capable lens. It may have made a big difference in the tracking rate and the video focus. Especially as the video showed someone wearing glasses. Many cameras can have focus issues shooting through glass especially those of shaped spectacle lenses.

[@danigonzalez4299]

Thank you guys! I got a pre-production unit to play with for a week and i've been today shooting Formula E in Montecarlo and I went to the same spots I was having issues with AF with my K3-II (using the same telephoto lens) and oh boy that is faster. Way way better. My only thought was if it was on pair with the D500. And you solved my doubt 😁😁 Thanks!

[@SummersSnaps]

Very good and fair review. My only concern is for Pentax to attract fresh blood to their system. Hopefully they will get a much needed cashflow boost from this camera but the next thing they do has to be really important and considered. Something stellar that not only makes for an attractive prospect for existing users to upgrade or get into, but also something that is actually competing with the rest of the bunch (albeit still being a dslr). Very interesting times for Pentax.

[@bertjilk3456]

I’m pretty sure they’ve all but given up on the fresh blood market. They simply can’t afford the R & D costs of matching every new development. The trend for the past few years has been to give existing users a decent upgrade every three or four years. How long that is a sustainable business model is anyone’s guess!

[@SummersSnaps]

@@bertjilk3456 It's simply not a sustainable business model because (sadly) Pentaxians die. The best they can hope for now is to carve out a niche, something like epic durable landscape cameras and leave the AF and video to the others. If you're going to the Arctic... take Pentax.

[@bertjilk3456]

@@SummersSnaps I don’t know if there are many niches left to carve out, unfortunately. They did the ‘durable’ thing already, and others have caught up in that department. They had a golden opportunity with the 645 to really own the MF market (that camera really had people talking), but they haven’t released a new 645 lens in maybe 5 years. Again, others have caught up and overtaken them now. And then the K-1 came about 2 or 3 years too late. Sadly, I think they missed the best chance to capitalise on their position about 5 or 6 years ago. Unless they come up with something absolutely spectacular that no-one else has thought of, the slow decline we’ve been witnessing will just continue until the pin is pulled.

[@SummersSnaps]

@@bertjilk3456 Inclined to agree. I have dipped the toe into Fuji and I cannot shake the feeling that this should have been the Pentax route. Sadly Pentax left the door wide open and Fuji waltzed right in and took it all away from them :(

[@67comet]

I've bounced around Nikon Cannon and Pentax. I keep coming back to Pentax. I think it's a mix between lens longevity {my old 1970s glass works on my 2020+ cameras}, and body/button comfort. Thanks for a pretty good review.

[@arunashamal]

like Nikon's 70s glass don't work with their new cameras! lol when does pentaxians stop pointing out that lame talking point?

[@pafaccount4454]

Some Nikon lenses can't be adapted over because their long mount. Nikon's older glass also hasn't aged as well. On their new mount screwdrive lenses don't focus, even with an adapter.

[@joshhyyym]

The K-3 iii really seems like a great camera. Hopefully Pentax has made some good choices in sticking with dSLRs

[@photocraigo9474]

Thanks guys. That is a very professional and measured review. It would be good to come back when the new 16-55mm DA* lens is released for some extra performance tests.

[@timlong9913]

Loved the framing of Chris with his hands outstretched with the dino in the background in the same orientation on the right side. I have to imagine these guys were cracking up when they came up with that one.

[@gillesst-jean1361]

It would be nice to add, to any review, the firmware version of the cameras. Sometimes a brand new camera may not have the latest fixes or bell and wistles upon release. I saw a K3III review where there was a firmaware comparison from version 1.5 to 2.1. The jump to version 2 made a huge change in many functions .

[@CaptainJonathan]

Anyone else think Pentax is the Sega of the camera world? Doing amazing things, often better than the competition, but still short enough in other areas that they don't get the shine they deserve? If I had money to throw around I'd love to pick up one of these. But my D500 still serves it's purpose.

[@danielschmaderer]

The D500 is a beast of a camera and the best DSLR I’ve ever owned. Definitely miss owning that camera.

[@nogerboher5266]

I shot with a D5 and a D500 all the way up until a few months ago when I replaced the D500 with a Z6ll. I am still waiting for a mirrorless that is good enough for me to replace my D5. The Canons R5 didn't really impress me to say the least - at least not compared to my D5 - and I won't even begin to talk about Sony cameras.

[@jshanni2066]

So the one negative I can find is the fixed screen. That makes the camera a little bit more specialized than is ideal (for my use). Yes, the main reason to buy an slr is literally the optical viewfinder. But for all-round use, at minimum a tilting screen is very handy. So I need to factor in - for landscapes etc, is there a risk I choose to leave the K3iii at home when I otherwise wouldn't? And if it becomes a specific use camera , is that use sports and live action? If so, is the D500 the smarter choice? The fixed screen introduces philosophical reasoning in the current market.

[@LE672AJ]

I wonder how this performs with some of the old school vintage Pentax lenses. Many good ones for dirt cheap out there these days.

[@eldritchshiner]

In a nutshell, fantastic. I'm super pleased and find the K3.3 even better at it than all previous bodies (I have virtually every one, lol)

[@johnbuscher]

@@eldritchshiner Makes me want one just to supplement my K-1. It’s a little pricey for me, so I may not buy it for a while, but it’s nice to see a new body from Pentax with a decent upgrade.

[@sotitofanschop]

My k5 was stolen years ago along with most of my gear. I still miss it dearly as I could not find another afterwards. A couple of lenses survived so I’ve always looked at Pentax to come back as I miss a lot the way it worked. Felt great in hand, low light shooting was amazing. This camera might be it.

[@miked.7722]

i've got a very low usage K5 and some good glass for sale if you really miss the K5 as much as you say.

[@theharper1]

Do you think you could do an update using PLM lenses like the HDDA*16-50 PLM and HDDA 55-300 PLM? The lenses you used seriously limited the camera. The current firmware also greatly improves the AF and adds more colour profiles as well as Astrotracer 3 which doesn't need the external GPS. I don't think you mentioned the ability to link the K3iii to your phone via Bluetooth to embed gps data in photos using the phone gps.

[@DPGrupa]

Kobie M-C (youtuber) made a video on K-3iii menus and found a nose reduction settings. It seems like K-3iii allows to remove (or amplify) the 'baked' nose reduction.

[@CrazyycclowN]

That would just be the jpeg noise reduction, which is completely different from the "baked" noise reduction. Pentax has been doing the NR to raw files since the k70 and KP, using a special processor with a hardware accelerator specifically for noise reduction, which is why it's done so quickly. In theory, it provides the best possible NR since it's done as early in the image processing pipeline as possible, and is fine-tuned for the camera's exact sensor specs, and should provide minimal potential loss in detail when compared to post-process NR methods. There was some controversy when the K1ii upgrade (same sensor as mark i, but with added accelerator unit) showed that there technically was a loss in sharpness with the baked NR, but in practice it's not a big deal, and certainly didn't destroy details like Sony's infamous star-eating. The K3iii includes the latest iteration of the accelerator, and judging from the comparison with the Fuji sensor, at the very least doesn't display any noticeable loss in sharpness, and simply seems to be an improvement overall. Pentax in the past have stated that the accelerator isn't something that can be easily disabled or bypassed, which makes sense considering how intricately designed the image processing circuitry is. Personally, I don't see any reason why anyone would want to disable it anyway, as all digital cameras do special processing to the raw files, even if the manufacturer isn't transparent about it. I think it's safe to say that Pentax will continue to use versions of the accelerator going forwards by default, and since there's no appreciable downgrade in IQ compared to the competition, there's no reason to decry that decision.

[@DPGrupa]

@@CrazyycclowN Thanks for clearing it up! I had my suspicions that some 'baking' was unavoidable in digital cameras. I remember comparing K-1 and K-1ii images and it was very difficult to notice any loss of details. It felt like if I stare long enough, I will see details that are actually just noise.

[@quazisanjeed6395]

Never mind videos. I use DSLRs for still photography purposes. In that direction; I'm convinced Pentax K-3 Mark III is a great camera. When I need to do videos occasionally; I use a handycam. This is mainly because I can rely on this little wonder for recording videos for long durations so long as the battery charge or memory card lasts.

[@RichardBO9]

Great review. I thought you were very fair, which is somewhat rare these days. Now I want to know what Evelyn from the Camera Store thinks. 🤠

[@actiaint]

Try shooting Pentax in PEF not DNG - I got significant faster buffer handling and there is some evidence PEF retains more detail and is now useable in LR

[@snowwalker9999]

Based on this review I think it's a great capable camera. I've always wanted to own a Pentax because of its IBIS weatherproofing and IQ. I just cannot justify that price for an APSC DSLR. However if Canon 90D had IBIS I think it would have cost the same or more.

[@arunashamal]

@M Tech Nikon z6ii is also $2000....lol. Pentaxians must be born suckers to pay that amount for this camera

[@arunashamal]

@Fred Johnson d500 is a better camera than the pentax even though it is 5 years older. You should've read my comment, it wasn't a recommendation for mirrorless it was juxtaposition of price how nikons latest tech is still cheaper compared to the pentax when you are getting so much more with the z6

[@87solarsky]

The function unavailable opinion was most helpful. Thank you.

[@sunesnigel]

Nice camera and all but no mentioning of the release of Chris's puddle book?!?

[@wzukr]

I think the most interesting thing on that new camera is the enhanced auto-focus system. As I shot (almost exclusively) only birds that was always a deficit in the Pentax bodies since I started photography (Chinon CP 5, Pentax Z50P, Pentax MZ-S, Pentax K10D, Pentax K3 and finally K-1).

[@jsrainesphoto]

The athleticism in the background was unbelievable!

[@driverv86]

The image quality is quite lovely.

[@StevenBrener]

Wondering if the AF could be further improved with firmware updates - although it seems like they reached a pretty high level now with this cam

[@D1N02]

Would be a great upgrade to my K-5, But that is collecting dust since I got the K-1 and a ton of full frame glass. This isn't really aimed at my kind of photography any more, but for action and birding and stuff great.

[@pix4japan]

Been debating upgrading from the KP. Very informative review. Thank you!

[@class_a]

Very nice commentary by Chris. Too bad that he could not get a small prime to use with this pretty compact camera, e.g., the FA 43/1.9 Limited. It could have been worth noting that Pentax has one of the best APS-C lens line ups in the industry. Jordan, unfortunately used one of of the most unfortunate lighting setups one can think of, making the video look bad and I do not believe it is not possible to get video footage in focus out of the K-3 III. Perhaps manual focus is required but what Jordan achieved here, is pretty bad, unfortunately.

[@sturmgold]

Still waiting for a Pentax K-01 II ♡

[@radosawhuawei6186]

Me too ;)

[@JohnMFlores]

K-01 fam!

[@rmgwheelsspokeslab.7767]

Long long long awaited video... come on!... that camera deserves being tested on something faster than those dinosaurs!!! D500 user but Pentax lover. :) I´m still waiting for someone explaining me how is it possible my D500 can´t even reach 800 frames per charge even after having "passed" the "Ok" from Nikon Spain technical service... As Pentax users are saying the fastest lens availaible is the PLM ones. That would have been fair to use it at the test. Wow, I´m positively surprised. it seems Pentax corrected a lot the unreal-mangenta-reds. Even at the video it seems they have got a much better and realistic skin tones (not so cold and pinky) A pity the buffer size. Still waiting for the in depth review.

[@prodigyxl]

one more great point for Pentax: the limited lens line-up!!! They're all fantastic pieces of equipment!

[@petergottlieb]

Yes, they are great lenses and why I switched to Pentax 10 years ago.

[@arunashamal]

I guess you will have to justify it anyway you can...lol..

[@petergottlieb]

@@arunashamal I have used lots of cameras over the years from all the major manufacturers. I don’t actually need to justify what I like. I just like it and like the photos I can take with it. Works for me. Enjoy your camera, whatever it happens to be.

[@FinalManaTrigger]

those prices though...

[@slimphotog]

@Fred Johnson the new mirrorless lenses from Sony, Canon, and Nikon are pricing hobbyists out of the market. $300 for a kit lens, $600 for a nifty 50, etc. Pentax needs to put better AF in a $900 body next and keep selling the cheap glass for beginners.

[@BikepackingJourney]

I am happy user of pentax k70 with kit lens 50mm 1.8 and 18-135mm. Planning to get another pentax. I will buy K1 mark II or if I am lucky they will release K1 mark III. I am true pentaxian and will stay with this brand 👍🏻

[@timwra]

2:41 That diss on his family!

[@MrCervuselaphus]

..and the price is..? and; I would dearly love any new camera to have an instruction book that; 1. I dont need a microscope to read, 2.has the information about the illustrating photo on the same page. 3. made for the larger hands. Looks good, So its advanced since the K-1000 then?

[@dct124]

18:40 why is this an issue? Every camera brand should bake in NR into RAW files if they're gonna look this good and save me the headache of editing in LR or Topaz Denoise.

They could at least give us the choice of adding NR or not in the RAW file. Indeed, it can save editing time, but if I was planning on doing serious enlargements, I'd prefer having full control over the amount and type of NR.

[@larryzapata2614]

I want this but $2,000.00 USD is so EXPENSIVE!!! I'll have to wait for Black Friday to see if it get less insane EXPENSIVE!!!

[@paologiordano.photos]

I waited for this for so long my god

[@HoLeeChit11]

That’s what your mrs said.

[@paologiordano.photos]

@@HoLeeChit11 she actually did say that

[@HoLeeChit11]

@@paologiordano.photos 😅😂🤣

[@krustysurfer]

Great review thank you for your honesty I own the Pentax k3 and your review makes me want to upgrade I know it's not necessarily the equipment but more the photographer I can get great photos out of my camera that I own however the Pentax k3m3 has fixed it seems most of the autofocus issues that plagued earlier dslrs even the full frame suffered from shoddy audio focus engine/... However does it warrant me having to pay three times what I can buy my camera body for if you can find them? $1,800 is a pretty penny with that kind of money I could change platforms and get a nice lens or two so the question comes down to image quality is the image quality there for a sports and wildlife photographer or for doing still photography? Do Pentax lenses measure up to the other Giants in photography? That is a million dollar question or I should say the $1,800 question thanks again for the review Aloha from the Great Lakes USA

[@thomastaylor9237]

Nice review. Looks like a very good camera. My 16-85 WR and 55-300 PLM WR would go well with the K-3iii. However, I already have the K-1 and K-3ii. Shooting mostly landscapes, and using Fuji for video, there is no need for me to upgrade. I’m waiting on the K-1iii.

[@15ThousandDayCrisis]

Though I suspect your 55-300 PLM with the K-33 would be a compelling combo for wildlife/action....even more so than a K-1 III.

[@thomastaylor9237]

@@15ThousandDayCrisis I agree. I’ll see where the price of the K-3iii is in a year or more. I might be enticed to pick one up! I still want to see what a K-1iii will look like.

[@jackjstrange]

When it was first announced, as a K3 user, I got very interested. I only wanted two improvements... a tilt or flippy screen and vastly improved AF. I didn't get the screen and the AF seems meh. The $2000 price is non-competitive. Last year, I jumped to Panasonic LUMIX and am thrilled that I did. Jack

[@danigonzalez4299]

The AF is not meh

[@momchilyordanov8190]

Actually, it looks like a cool and capable camera. But first - the price and second - the perspective for the future. Just no way...

[@alexsarbu3978]

The perspective for the future is better than for Canon EF and Nikon F, me thinks... ;)

[@stephanweiskorn6760]

Excellent video 😮!

[@jasonWilliamson3d]

highlight roll offs look very nice in the pentax vs fuji. Despite 'baked in noise reduction' detail fidelity looks more natural in the pentax.

[@EmoEmu]

An interesting perspective: IF you're a new photographer and you're looking to get into a DSLR system most likely to get new bodies in the future... Pentax actually... makes sense. Under those very specific conditions. The chance of getting a new DSLR from the other brands like Nikon and Canon is getting really slim and Sony already said it's not happening. Pentax just might be it and could end up surpassing the others. Maybe. Maaaaaybe.

[@xaGe__]

Nice review guys! Shame they removed the internal GPS that my K-3 II has from the III.

[@MUSTDOS]

18:25 as if Fuji wasn't caught on multiple occasions cheating in their sensor ISO boost rating

[@Michael-fw5ef]

When you buy the 50mm and 100mm Pentax macros for your DA camera, you can use them on your FF Pentax at a later date because they are actually FF lenses. That will save you big dough down the road. Pentax is the best system when you factor in how little it costs - overall - to shoot the platform.

[@ML-gb7cn]

So some poeple are still reading this as the D500 is better than the K-3 III... but only by some of the metrics (Buffer, AF and Battery) which is fantastic, very few cameras can beat the d500 in these areas and and most of them cost much more than the K-3 III. However the K-3 III has better IQ, and onboard IS, viewfinder and a load of other features. Is it better than D500 in every way...clearly not but it definately better in some. I initially thought this camera was a bit too expensive but I'm cheap. Is it worth 2000 dollars? Is the 1D X mark III worth 6500 dollars? Who cares, the people that want to buy it will and the people that dont wont. Decent review by the way, I lived in Alberta for three years and always meant to Drumheller and never did, next time you should head even further into the badlands.

[@yungsookevinhong7943]

You can use pentax image sync as the replacement of tilted screen or at the live tether. It is an extra tool but the screen camn be bigger

[@yungsookevinhong7943]

What about shooting video over 14 frame pers sec for long shooting for tracking move

[@yungsookevinhong7943]

Pixel shift can be hand held, therefore one we good use is extreme high ISO in stacking as noise reduction tool. It is almost the same theory as pixel binding but on multiple exposure,

[@yungsookevinhong7943]

The Atom can be a very good side tool for video on K3 iii, and It would be fun to see it work with the monochrome K3iii, we can convert to 8 bit log on Atoms for better range capture.

[@ericthestone]

I am keeping my Jurassic K1000! Lol

[@8bittim]

Literally just got the premium kit in the mail. I own an s5, but I'm not using half the features because I'm not a videographer. I gotta say, the body on the pentax is phenomenal. Truly a well crafted body. I wish other cameras had the type of grip the pentax has. Now will I keep it? Idk yet. For someone who is soley a hobby photographer. This is pretty great but you can buy full frame cameras with a kit lens for less than the price of the body. It's a mixed bag mostly because of price. Alot to think on.

[@HusbandnWifeDuo]

Love from Ontario, Canada! Just out of curiosity, what camera bag are you carrying? I am liking it.

[@zackthebongripper7274]

The K3 mk.III is gorgeous.

[@toddm6999]

I cannot stand electronic viewfinder...nice review as usual...

[@billyjunks]

Seems like a great camera, Pentaxian must be excited

[@standhd]

Yes we are. Pentax STRONG, Pentax PROUD!

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

Before watching,... Bet they didn't test the HDMI output and see if it's still doing the resolution/framerate swap on pressing Record that the K-3i, K-3ii, K-1i, K-1ii, KP do. edit : Doesn't look like the external HDMI recording was comprehensively tested :( @ Jordan - does the crop to 4K imply 1:1 pixel output of a 4K area on the sensor? If so, that would make using the K-3iii with B4 mount ENG lenses possible, and 'should' reduce Moire. (or an area that has 4K worth of Blue or Red pixels in the Bayer pattern?) @ Chris - Yeah, the Pentax Forum has been split on the LCD - the "It's a Stillllllls Camera" luddites saying they don't want a flippy screen and everyone else asking "Where's the flip screen?" Does the baked in NR change when it's switched off in the settings? - older Pentax's the amount of NR could be changed for different ISO numbers. (Off, low. med. high)

[@r.l.7160]

This is by far the best review of the Pentax K3III. Thank you for your excellent, honest review. I like this camera more after your review, but I still feel it's way over-priced! I think this would be a great camera with its 2014 specs for around $800- $1300.

[@FinalManaTrigger]

Yep, I say it's a $1200 camera at best.

[@chuckdavidson5483]

800 shots in the battery is AOK for me. The thought of having to go through 300 images to find the good ones - sweet jebus no. I like editing, but a card that full is horrifying. Thanks for a great review.

[@skydj100]

Nice hair cut !!

[@petemellows]

I’m looking to switch down to APS-C from the K1MII just for sports. This camera seems to have what I need. I would prefer, of course, to have a K1MIII! But how long do I wait for that? It’s been 5 years now.

[@polacofederos]

Great review as always. Seems like an interesting upgrade, i own a K-1 and a K-3ii. As you mentioned K-1 is amazing, so thinking if would be worthy to wait till these upgrades reach the Next K-1iii if ever or just go for It. Time will tell.

[@eldritchshiner]

Hey, life is short.

[@polacofederos]

@@eldritchshiner seems so

[@opalyankaBG]

Wouldn't the sensors on the K-3 III and the X-T3 be very similar, if not the same?

[@FinalManaTrigger]

Fuji sensors don't use bayer filters, so no, they are not the same.

[@spidermann5000]

the crop in 4K is a bummer, i would need a 8mm something fisheye to get what my 15mm gives me... on the other hand there is nothing worth using beyond 85mm in my collection so its hard to tell if its loss or gain.

[@FruitaBus]

I've been craving a Pentax lately. Years ago I had the K-5 and a handful of lenses. I regret selling it - according to my nostalgia anyways. Luckily you can get the K-3 or K-3 II with some lenses for under $1,000 easily.