Pentax K-3 mark III review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ส.ค. 2024
- Pentax K-3 Mark III - a photographer’s review
My name is Mike Muizebelt and I’m a professional wildlife and nature photographer from the Netherlands. I’ve been using Pentax camera’s for over 30 years now and I’m a European Pentax brand ambassador. My current workhorses are the medium format Pentax 645Z and the full frame Pentax K-1’s. On the 5th of February 2021, I received one of the first Pentax K-3 mark III’s to test it out in the field. In this review I’ll take you through my real-world experiences with this new APS-C flagship camera from Pentax.
As I had an early firmware on the camera and the RAW files were not supported by the software on my computer, I won’t discuss the technical qualities of the files. All images in this review were made with the Pentax K-3 mark III.
A full review can also be found on my website: www.mikemuizeb...
Thank you for the review. I am glad for all the PENTAXians that AF is much improved. I love this brand.
My pleasure Farzin! I'm positive that the AF will be much loved with all current and future Pentaxians!
Deze video heeft mij overtuigt om mijn K20 D te vervangen door de nieuwe K3 III. De autofocus van mijn huidige camera kan de beelden niet volgen die ik met mijn nieuwe Pentax lens 150-450mm zou willen maken. Daarom is het belangrijk om mij te overtuigen van de kwaliteiten van deze nieuwe Pentax camera. Bedankt voor uw duidelijke beschrijving.
Simple but amazingly fresh looking photos
Thanks so much, I appreciate it!
Thank you for the review! Glad to hear from a photographer using it and glad to see you like it. I hope to be able to get it some time soon. I have always shot Pentax but this will be my first higher end model and I am excited to see the positive review on it.
My pleasure Shelly, I'm sure you will really love the K-3 mark III. It's got so much customisability that you really can make it your own personalised camera
Thanks for the review. Absolutely loved your pictures!!!
Thanks so much :-)👍
Old is gold
Thanks for the nice review. Looking forward to further testing.
My pleasure and thank you!
Wow, wonderful images and a very impressive camera! I really appreciate the early video Mike, and will send it on to a few people I know who are Pentax users. Dank u wel, groeten uit Pennsylvania!
Hi Christopher, thanks for taking the time to comment and your virtual thumbs up :-). Much appreciated!
Excellent review love the photos :)
Thanks so much Alistair!
Thanks! Good to see that the newest camera is already in action and allowed to bring great results.
That's the way they should release camera's in my opinion let both the technicians and the end users tell their story. Thanks!
Thanks, nice images, clear explanations right to the point, looks like a winning combo photographer+K3-III.
Thank you it's a great camera for sure!
Thanks so much Mike!
You're very welcome!
Nice review mate!
Thanks my friend!
Amazing review men 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Thank you Clive!
Oh and yes the imagea are looking superb! Great job!
Thanks Dani!
Nice review! I like that the focus is mainly on the user experience and results, and not so much on the technical specs. Is it possible to have access to the raw files of some of the images?
Thanks so much. I was working most of the time with an early firmware so no RAW's at this time. No doubt they will be available through the official channels soon.
Great review! It also looks like a great camera. I hope all of those features make it into a K1-iii, but I still want the articulating screen.
I bought a small field monitor to attach to the camera. That really makes a difference when shooting at low angles!
@@mikemuizebelt kan je hiervoor ook een iphone gebruiken via de pentax app? Trouwens ook je andere video's op you tube vind ik interessant; William Gent Belgie
@@williabruggeman Dat denk ik haast wel, afgaande op mijn ervaring met de Pentax K-1. Je kan verbinden met zowel bluetooth als WiFi met de app en de camera op afstand bedienen. Ik weet alleen niet welke resolutie hierbij ondersteund wordt. Mijn veld-monitor geeft 1080p weer. En dank je voor de feedback op de andere video's; leuk om te horen!
I really love this brand. Thanks for a nice review.
You're welcome Erik. And so do I :-)
Your pictures are superb !!
First! Nice review, looking forward to trying it!
I'm sure you'll love it!
Good to see the preview Mike and good to see you.
This looks promising. I hope I won't have to wait too long for the improvements to show up in the newest version of the K-1.
Hi Darren, good to see your name pop-up here! I'm very very happy with the steps they have made in the AF department. Makes my wildlife-heart beat faster :-)
Thanks Mike! Looking forward to be able (in some months as i use always used gear) to test this camera for motorsports which is what I shoot and with my beloved Sigma 100-300 f4. Nowadays my K3-II and K3 Silver are great workhorses but an AF big improve will help a lot. Otherwhise the D500 would be a replacement and I dont wanna do this.
Hello Dani, I personally was blown away with the upgrade that the AF got in the K-3 mark III. Assuming that it will trickle down to future models, Pentax really is up to par with the rest out there!
@@mikemuizebelt yes! That is the camera i've been waiting for Mike. I have it clear. But as a budget/2nd hand buyer I'll need to wait for a while before getting one. Looks very promissing though!
@@danigonzalez4299 I hope for you that one comes available quite soon! :-)
So great to see a photographer wearing glasses compliment the viewfinder. That is my biggest gripe with SLR cameras - wearing glasses, I can't get my eye close enough to see the entire image as well as the information panels in the viewfinder. I have astigmatism, so contacts are not a good option for me (besides, I don't relish the thought of sticking something in my eye voluntarily!) And of course, thank you for the great review - I've been waiting for this camera for years as a possible replacement for my K-3.
My glasses are vari-focus and in the top there is minimal correction. But looking through the viewfinder should not be a problem!
I love the OX shot!
Thanks man! It were circumstances to die for :-)
Leuk om te zien Mike!
Hi David, het was super gaaf om al een flinke tijd "stiekum" te fotograferen met deze nieuwe camera!
@@mikemuizebelt snap ik, ik heb geen Pentax maar wordt hier wel enthousiast van!
Thanks for the review - very interesting and it is good that Pentax continues to deliver quality cameras. That said, I am disappointed that it doesn't have an articulated screen and that the GPS/Astrotracer function have not been included. I'm feeling frustrated! And nice photos!
Thank you Darrel! For me the current lineup op Pentax is very complete. The K-3 for action (when most of us use the viewfinder), The K-1 for landscape and high resolution work en the 645Z if every pixel counts and the distinguished look of the images. I personally added a small field monitor that sits on top of the K-3 for low-angle or landscape work.
@@mikemuizebelt A good idea to have a small field monitor - I hadn't thought of that. It would be very useful for astrophotography when the telescope often puts the camera at an awkward angle. Kind regards, Darrel
@@SteveZodiac777 I'm using the Feelworld F5 pro. In broad daylight it may lack some brightness, but it will be perfect in dusk and at night!
@@mikemuizebelt Thanks!
Awesome Review Mike
Thanks so much Stephen, much appreciated! I look forward to your findings!
I have multiple Pentax cameras and I had the opinion that they are enough but now I think I have to have one more!
That sounds very much like the feeling I had myself :-)
Nice review, finally a little incite into the AF capabilities, that's what I want from the camera.
Hello Lee, that upgrade to the autofocus can't be missed. It's a massive improvement compared to the previous models
@@mikemuizebelt Thank you.
Amazing, thank you!
My pleasure Gunnar!
Great review! It's obviously a camera that you can get great images out of, looking at your photos there. Would be very interested to see how it performs up to those 1mil+ ISOs though - if they are real, that makes it truly impressive!
1 million ISO is not a setting would use professionally, but I've no hesitation to use it at 12800 if needed.
I would like to see some low light, night time action shots.
I'll include those in a future version!
Thank you very much for sharing your experience and your photos 👍
08:44 😍 my favorite
My pleasure Claudio! The flying goose has it all... I agree :-) Personally love the light treaming through the feathers as well :-)
Awesome! Great pix! 🙏
Excellent review Mike and great pictures. A couple of questions: how did the lenses perform with the new AF system? Do you think the lens motors were quick enough, especially the 150-450, to not hold back the new AF system? Did you try the Pixel Shift Resolution hand-held? If not, can you try it hand-held for a future video?
I've used the 150-450 for a full day tracking the wave-boarders and it focus was fast and snappy. I didn't have the idea that they were holding the camera back. No pixel shift resolution tested due to early firmware, but will add it to the to-do list!
What gorgeous images. Especially the Highlander Bull. Does this camera have the star tracker functionality of the K1?
Richard, you will have to add the Pentax O-GPS1 unit as far as I know. And thanks for the nice comment!
Thanks for the review.
Most welcome Thomas!
Subscribed! Can’t wait to see what we can do with this setup. Do you think it’s good enough to supplant the K-1 for landscape use from the perspective of dynamic range? That and Astro would be the only thing I’d still use my K-1 for once I get this body.
From what I see, it performs equally good as my K-1 mark 2. So no hesitations to use it for landscape work!
@@mikemuizebelt that’s encouraging! We will see what happens when I get my body in.
Mooie review. Ik maak veel portret foto's, dus eye AF en gezichtsherkenning is heel belangrijk, vooral via de ovf. Ik ben erg benieuwd hoe de K3 III dat doet.
Zelf heb ik jarenlang Pentax gebruikt, maar onlangs overgestapt op de Nikon Z5.
Ik heb zelf te weinig portret fotografie gedaan, maar ik kijk ook uit naar de ervaringen van experts op dat gebied.
@@mikemuizebelt zou je dat kunnen testen op familie of vrienden? Ik ga er vanuit dat de camera aangeeft waarop hij probeert scherp te stellen 😉
It looks great! Thanks for the video! I mostly photograph birds, so I am really looking forward to getting my hands on this camera. Did you try video?
The way it tracks and follows it subjects are greatly improved. I've got no hestitations that it will do great with birds. Im a 100% photographer (as you can see formn this makeshift video) so I didn't test the video.
I recently had the opportunity to try out a K-1. I was not impressed by the viewfinder on this heavy camera. My old Pentax LX has a bigger and brighter viewfinder. Can't imagine that the viewfinder on the K-3 lll would be so fantastic.
In that case, don't switch and keep using the LX!
Subscribed! Nice video! One question about the AF-C, they told us that this camera is capable of tracking birds, cars, faces and eyes, in the sequence with the cyclist and the kitesurfer did you use the face tracking or another mode?
Also very interested in the Eye-AF capabilities (when using the OVF)
Hi Matthew and thanks! In the menu you can turn on the Subject recognition. You don't specify what subject it has to look for so I assume it's clever enough to distinguish a face from a bird. My settings were continuous AF, small group of AF points, area restriction off, first frame: focus priority, hold AF: low, use both AF and AE sensor to track subject and of course subject recognition on. There is quite a lot to select :-)
@@mikemuizebelt thank you a lot! Waiting for more videos!
Buena revision, queria ver el desempeño del autofoco, el cual para mi pentax ha sido mediocre (siendo una persona que ama pentax), pero esta camara devuelve la marca a las ligas mayores.
Nice review, and I love the images. All of the reviews are raving about the new autofocus system, but does it have eye autofocus for taking portraits?
It does, but my testing has been minimal so I can't really comment there.
Well done. Thank you.
My pleasure, thanks for watching!
@@mikemuizebelt Agreed, well done, seems Pentax has got a great AutoFocus system implemented. I see 16 thumbs down for this review as of May 6...seriously? You nailed the important points and provided some excellent photos, good enough for me! Thanks again, and look forward to your future photos from Africa!
Thanks for the video. You showed 3 or 4 images from the surfboard shoot. Overall from that shoot, how big was your keeper rate, where the AF did not go for a wave but stayed sharp on the surfer? Thx!
It's hard to tell as I was shooting handheld and with a small group of focus points. When I was able to keep the focus points on the wave-boarder about 80 to 90% are sharp. If I missed the focus due to operator error, not so much ;-)
At the end of the day I got better at predicting the movements so keep rate went up signicantly and of 10 shot burst sequences 8 would have perfect focus
Hi Mike - great review. How is Scheveningen (where we met in the late 2000s)? Photography full-time must be more interesting than hotels.
I just returned form the beach there Timothy. Where were you?
Nice to see you around again! Luckily the virtual world is small enough. And indeed, being a full time photoghrapher beats being a hotel manager every day ;-)
Dank voor de review Mike. Ik ben al aan het sparen, maar weet het nu zeker 😎.
Goed om te horen, ga je geen spijt van krijgen!
Really great review and pictures. I’m a long standing Pentax user and I’m starting to get into wildlife more and more. Usually a landscape first photographer so for me the K1 is wonderful, my question: is the AF significantly better than the K1 (MK 1), the burst rate is obviously double in the specs for the K3 Mk iii compared to the K1.
Hi Ben, the AF-C is greatly improved over the K-1. For me it will become the camera I pick up for wildlife work
Hi. Thanks for the video. As I mainly shoot in studio, I'd like to know if this camera has tethering capabilities. Thank you in advance for your reply!
As Lightroom has no current support for the K-3 mark III, I didnt test it there. But the menu states USB-Setting / MTP / Used when transferring images or performing tethered shooting. So it should have when software is released.
@@mikemuizebelt Thank you Mike!
wow that is the legendary Pentax 200mm macro? you should do a review of that lens!! nice video!
A very nice review of the camera. I'm really wanting to switch my K3ii to this. I only have one question, and it is about the HDMI output monitoring. On the K3ii this is useless for monitoring while filming because it gives a very low resolution image when showing the live feed (Not talking about playback, but while shooting) Is this different? Does it show a full 1080p image live while shooting?
I'm using it with a feelworld 1080p HDMI monitor and the output it receives is 1080p at 60Hz
Thanks, Mike . Very interesting and helpful presentation about this new camera. I live in South Afrika right now. Give me a call when you are down here and we'll have a Cappucino togehter and discuss about Pentax photography! Have a nice day and see in South Afrika...!
That would be great Ralph! Thanks for the offer and let's hope we are allowed to travel again soon!
It seems good but can make a full overview of the features
Great shots!! Can you use the touch LDC screen to focus? (Asking b/c if on a tripod very close to the ground, the viewfinder can be very challenging to use.) thanks
Definitely Steven! It's touch and focus (and release shutter if needed). Personally I've added a small field monitor for those low angle shots
Is the shutter noisy? My K-50, which I am very fond of, has the drawback of a very loud shutter, which isn't very good for wildlife photography.
I shoot a lot of dog agility so FAST accurate autofocus is a must. I switched from Pentax to Nikon (D500, and now it seems the Z6II) for the faster AF - wacko border collies and aussies stress test AF like no other. I also had the autofocus motor fail on my 300mm so I was starting to loose confidence in the lenses (not so much the bodies). If you have a chance to compare the AF to a D500 or the newer Sony's I'd be interested.
I don't know if you saw the AF sequence of the kitesurfer in my written review? www.mikemuizebelt.nl/pentax-k-3-mark-iii-review/
@@mikemuizebelt I did. I've shot kite surfers once; with the D500. That one experience did not challenge the AF like fast dogs. I suspect a lot has to do with the distance. Shorter distances, quick changes - harder to maintain focus.
nice presentation. Question: What software are you using for presentation, I've never see someone narrating that you could see you freely and not in a box or circle.
Thanks David, I"m sitting before a green screen. When combining I remove the green colour for a transparent layer.
I've just bought one. I have the KP which I love but looking for faster autofocus and fps.. looks like I won't be disappointed.. did you have latest firmware?
You're going to love it, congrats! The current firmware is 1.0 and that's out for about a week now. So most images were shot with pre-production firmware
Thanks for the nice review! One question from me : Does it refocus when shooting in continuous between the shots when the object is mooving?
It indeed focussus continuously during the bursts.
Which walkaround lens do you suggest using with this camera ?
I read that IQ is virtually on par with K1's. What are your impressions on that? Thanks for the review.
It may be even better than the K-1. But I'm not into technical tests so I look forward to DXO labs rating
Hi, what lens are you using? Is it the 400mm DA* or are you trying out a new Pentax wildlife lens?
It's the old FA* 200/4.0 macro. They really should re-release that one...
@@mikemuizebelt I hope they do release more lenses like that, I would be a customer.
It would be nice to see some shots with cheaper lenses, like Pentax DA 55-300 and Tamron SP 17-50. How autofocus works with Pentax HD FA 150-450?
I can't help you with examples of those lenes at this point, but I'm very pleased with the 150-450 performance!
@@mikemuizebelt Thank you!
Does anyone know if the body support AF eye tracking when recording? If it does that, I'm in love.
Does it have AF-C for video, unlike other Pentax cameras?
That's a hard one Jens. While in movie mode, AF/S is greyed out you you can't change the settings. In the Movie menu of the camera there is a settinmg that's calles "Movie Touch AF"on of the settings is "AF Point + Continuous AF". It may be user error or i tmay need further work in firmware, but I'm under the impression that with my settings it's not working (yet)
@@mikemuizebelt Does "yet" mean "not with the current firm ware"? Without AF-C for video it's only useable for B-roll and perhaps documentary footage. And stills, naturally.
@@jensbladt5498 I would not know. I'm also still waiting for the manual so all I know at this moment is from personal experience.
How does work in low contrast situations?
But no tilt screen and no astrotracer/GPS. I'll keep my K-3 ii...
How does the IQ and dynamic range compare either the K-1? I may just have to pick up one of these!
To me it's identical on the lower ISO settings, but for landscape work the K-1 will be my go-to camera
If only this came 4 years ago..hehe
What is that Len’s with the big Pentax lettering at the top.. during the beginning of the video.. the first few minutes at the start
That's an FA* 200/4.0 macro. One of the best Pentax ever made...
@@mikemuizebelt thank you. Looks like a very interesting Len’s.
I'm looking to buy either this camera , but if I can't afford it , the Pentax KP !
I want to shoot street photography and down the Harbourside in Bristol England ! How do you rate the KP Mike ?
Sod it !! I'm going to get this camera 📷
Beautiful photos, it looks like the K-3iii will be a great camera, but I won't be buying it as I already have K-5, K-3, KP and K-1. I don't need better AF or faster frame rate, image quality is king for me and the existing cameras I have already deliver that. I hope the K-3iii is successful, but I fear it will sell in small numbers, or it will be heavily discounted, as the initial selling price is too high.
For me the improved AF fills a gap that I was missing, but I agree, the current line-up is pewrfect as it is as well!
Will the touch screen work if a scree protector is added?
I would think so but haven't tested that
Can you show viewfinder snapshot? Info it shows and af point coverage.
th-cam.com/video/ybh4ux2srC8/w-d-xo.html
Do you know if Pentax has fixed it's solenoid issue?
I don't even know there is one......
This seems like a sponsored review, not a real review.
What is your relationship with Pentax? How did u got the camera for review?
I'm a brand ambassador for Pentax and the camera was send to me to test out.
All photos are soft why
Curious if you have 16-50 or 50-135 and how it focused. I’m never sure if my auto focus issues are camera related or sdm issues.
I sold mine when I went full frame so can't test them a.t.m. Early versions of SDM lenses sometimes had issues so it may the SDM version you are using.
Does it still have astrotracer?
Ryan, you will have to add the Pentax O-GPS1 unit as far as I know
@@mikemuizebelt Thanks for the response. Enjoyed the video.
Did you get the camera discounted or free, or just list price?
Is this the IRS asking? ;-)
@@mikemuizebelt, just scrutinizing my source.
Mike in Live View do you see a digital image through the Viewfinder?
No, it's just live view on the screen.
My viewscreen gets greasy enough from coming into contact with my cheek. Heaven knows what it would be like if I was using the touch screen facility. If I get the camera that would probably be the only element I'd never bother with. All the controls are available via buttons so why duplicate the controls on a screen?
The first thing that goes into my camerabag is not a camera......but a piece of cloth to wipe the screen from time to time :-)
he says auto focus sounds like out of focus
Tuning your shoes?
Not deliberately....
I love my K1 mark 1 and own Pentax FA primes...how do FA primes work on this APS body
The ones I've tested work perfectly. The fast f2.8 lenses have improved accuracy as far as I can tell at this point
@@mikemuizebelt The one lens I'm excited about is my Tamron 90mm 2.8 with on the K3.3 will make I think a nice 135mm portrait lens...your thoughts ?
Your hair is green! ;p
Hey! Now you tell me........ ;-)
does it have eye detect in live view?
I'm enjoying the viewfinder so much, I didn't test live view focussing yet. Will try that soon!
It has face detection but no explicit eye detection from what I experienced. LV draws a box around the face - so I'm not sure what it really focuses on.
@@stephenobermeier8374 Probably the same as the K1 liveview which draws the same box but really focuses on eyes
Has it got jpeg
Of course it has, I would always advise Raw though. Or a mix of both
@Safariphotography thankyou for advice Newbie here
the only bad thing about this camera is its price.
for the cost im not impressed. beautiful compositions
This is a comment of a pentaxian.
@@TheThomasites indeed. There is an AWFUL lot of competition in this price range, and I️ fear this will be left behind. Also giving cameras to sponsored reviewers is Ridiculous
With the investment I've got in Pentax glass and the autofocus "problems" I've got with previous models, this upgrade is a no brainer for me personally. But I understand your remark, it's not the cheapest option out there.
@@mikemuizebelt is it true there is no support for astrotracer?
@@mikedimimd its true actually but it might be because the ogps semmes to have superior tracking than the one implemented in the cameras such as the k1. The tracking is just more accurate
I want it so bad, but can't afford it equally badly. Sigh
I feel for you Ellicot :-(. Maybe one day!
@@mikemuizebelt Maybe Mike!
Nice review. I'm Jealous :)
Thanks Mel!
Why do you keep saying repeatedly that it's out of focus? :|
#pentax
I simply don't see anything on this camera that other cameras don't have, except it has no flip screen, an eye watering price tag and an APSC sensor. Maybe Pentax has finally put a usable AF system into this thing that is on par with the competition after 6 years of development. I have 2 Pentax cameras (K3, K5IIs, terrible AF on both) and 4 ltd. primes + 100mm macro. I will not upgrade to another superseded Pentax camera ($2000! Who is kidding who?). My Pentax lenses working very well on my small Leica CL with a Novoflex adapter.
the last samurai ... in 2021 who will buy a dslr ?
As far as I can tell, a lot of people just did :-)