Pentax K-3
Without battery: 715 g (25.2 oz)
The Pentax K-3 is a 24-megapixel Pentax high-end digital single-lens reflex camera with an APS-C sensor, announced on 7 October 2013.[1] The Pentax K-3 is the successor to both the K-5 II and K-5 IIs models, which have a 16-megapixel sensor. The K-5 II (and most other cameras of its time) had an optical low pass filter or anti-aliasing (AA) filter that can prevent the appearance of moire patterning on the captured image. This filter reduces the sharpness of the image, so Pentax also produced the K-5 IIs which omitted this filter. In the K-3, Pentax obviated the need for providing two separate models by including a selectable AA filter "simulator". This mechanism vibrates the sensor when switched on, slightly blurring the image in a way that replaces the function of the optical AA filter, providing the same benefit as the filter in the K-5 II and other cameras with an optical AA filter. When the AA simulator is disabled, the sensor records a sharper image, as in the K-5 IIs.
The Pentax K-3 was also the first camera to support the Pentax FluCard for wireless remote capture and download of images.
The Pentax K-3 is a mid-size DSLR with a weather-sealed magnesium alloy body, and is priced at a relatively similar level to the newer upper-entry level Nikon D5500 DSLR[2] and $300 cheaper than the newer mid-range Nikon D7200 DSLR. The Pentax K-3 was ranked #2 in a comparison of mid-size DSLR class, was class-leading in image quality for portrait, street, daily and landscape photography, and ranked only slightly lower for sport photography. In-body stabilization also gives the Pentax K-3 an advantage, but its 800-gram weight is slightly more than average for a mid-size DSLR.[3]
Limited editions
When the K-3 was originally announced, Ricoh made available a Premium Silver Edition that included the camera body and battery grip with a silver paint finish as well as an exclusive red leather neck strap. According to Ricoh, this would match the silver versions of Pentax HD DA Limited lenses.[4] In July 2014, Ricoh announced the Prestige Edition, which included a K-3 and battery grip in a "gunmetal gray" finish as well as two batteries and black artificial leather neck strap,[5] embossed with the lettering "2014 TIPA BEST DIGITAL SLR EXPERT" and the Pentax K-3 logo.[6] Each edition was limited to 2000 units.[4][5]
Awards
The Pentax K-3 has won the TIPA Award "Best Digital SLR Expert" for 2014,[7] and the EISA Photo Award 2014-2015 for Best Advanced DSLR.[8]
References
- ^ "Ricoh announces Pentax K-3 24MP DSLR with selectable low pass filtering". 7 October 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
- ^ "Nikon D5500 vs Pentax K-3". Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ^ "Pentax K-3 vs Nikon D7200". Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ^ a b "Ricoh announces Pentax K-3 24MP DSLR with selectable low pass filtering". dpreview.com. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ a b "Ricoh announces Pentax K-3 Prestige Edition". dpreview.com. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ "Ricoh Unveils Pentax K-3 Prestige Edition". ubergizmo.com. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ "TIPA - TECHNICAL IMAGE PRESS ASSOCIATION - Award details". www.tipa.com. Archived from the original on 23 May 2014.
- ^ "fotomagazin.de". fotomagazin.de. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
External links
- Microsite for K-3
- Product page of Pentax K-3, Pentax UK
- Product page of Pentax K-3, Pentax US
Reviews
- Nikon D600 vs. Pentax K-3 Image Comparison: Pentax Sweeps Nikon, Digital Camera Review
- Pentax K-3 Review, Imaging Resource
- Pentax K3 Camera Review, Ben Evans
- Pentax K-3 Hands on Review - YouTube, Spyros Heniadis (16:29 duration)
- Pentax K-3: Tests and Reviews, DxOMark
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Type | Sensor | Class | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DSLR | MF | Professional | 645D | 645Z | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FF | K-1 | K-1 II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
APS-C | High-end | K-3 II | K-3 III | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
K-3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Advanced | K-7 | K-5 | K-5 II / K-5 IIs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
*ist D | K10D | K20D | KP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Midrange | K100D | 100DS | K200D | K-30 | K-50 | K-70 | KF | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Entry-level | *ist DS | *ist DS2 | K-r | K-500 | K-S2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
*ist DL | DL2 | K110D | K-m/K2000 | K-x | K-S1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MILC | APS-C | K-mount | K-01 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1/1.7" | Q-mount | Q7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Q-S1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1/2.3" | Q | Q10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DSLR | Prototypes |
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Type | Sensor | Class | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
- Weather sealed
- In-body stabilization (italic)
- No optical low-pass filter (bold)