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Pentax K-3 : Specifications and Opinions

The Pentax K-3 is a reflex camera with APS-C (1.5x) sensor and 24.3 megapixels manufactured from 2013 to 2015 (discontinued). The range of sensitivities, including ISO extension, is 100 - 51200 ISO and it has a continuous shooting (burst mode) of 8.3 FPS. The average price, when it has been added to the JuzaPhoto database, is 780 €;

53 users have given it an average vote of 9.3 out of 10

Pentax K-3, compare with:

Sensor
Format	APS-C, 23.5 x 15.7 mm (image ratio 3:2, crop factor 1.5x in comparison with FF)
Resolution	24.3 megapixel
ISO sensitivities	100 - 51200
File formats	JPEG, RAW
Esposure
Shutter speeds	30" - 1/8000
Exp. compensation	+/- 5 stops at 1/3 steps
Exp. modes	M, S, A, P, Scena
Metering modes	Multi-Area, Semi-Spot, Spot
Features
Mount	Pentax K (click here to view al compatible lenses)
Stabilization	Yes
Autofocus (AF areas)	27
Continuos shooting	8.3 FPS
Live View	Yes
MLU/SS	Yes, Mirrok Lock Up
Dust reduction	Yes
Video mode	1920x1080p @ 30 FPS
WiFi	No
GPS	No
Built and notes
Touchscreen	No
LCD	3.2", 640 x 480 pixels, fixed
Viewfinder	Optical, coverage 100%, 0.95x
Flash	Yes, guide number 13 meters
Storage	SD, SDHC, SDXC
Battery	Li-Ion
Weather sealing	Yes
Weight	800 g
Dimensions	131 x 100 x 77 mm
Buy	Pentax K-3, buy on Ebay

Reviews

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The following opinions have been automatically translated with Google Translate.

Luigi131160

sent on January 18, 2020

Pros: Compactness, construction, impression of general solidity and impeccable construction, 24 mpxl of those as god commands, stabilizer on the sensor, astro tracer and I stop here.

Cons: Needless to say the optics, dear those of Pentax and not available for some years now those of third brands, consequently used market falsified by poor availability, indication of battery charge not always reliable, ignition from stand-by only from the shutter button.

Opinion: I had already had the K3 along with the two versions of the K5, then because of the impossibility of finding long optics that fell and switched to yellow/black. Some time ago I got the monkey back for Pentax and I found it used at a ridiculous price with which with yellow/black you do not buy us even an entry. Nothing new I had already had, but after 4 years returning to use it was fantastic, another story, beautiful file, deep, balanced, workable, usable very well up to 1600 ISO with good light even at 3200. It may not seem like much but by the way I mean a photo, since I almost always use the full format of the flagships, with the colleague dx top of the range of the other I have to stop at 800 ISO. Then I read metropolitan legends that speak of tens of thousands of ISOs shot in the wind but do not believe it, every scarrafone is nice à mamma soja but a scrabble if it is such, such remains. For those who love astrophotography the pursuit with gps you will find it only in the House Pentax and a fantastic thing. Fantastic what Pentax can make that sensor do, simulate an anti-alliasing filter for example, not to mention the stabilization in the car that is just coming from other parts and that here has been home for over 10 years. In short, a fantastic body but we come to the sore note, to the tooth that commutes, the optics. They are the real Achilles heel in the Pentax house, especially in the field of canvases where the choice is bad and expensive, the fact that third-party builders have abandoned it for a few years has undoubtedly cut the legs to the brand. Practically we are stopped at the sigmone out of production now for at least 3 years and whose availability is reduced to the light, and that light costs a lot. Another flaw is the AF that was in fact back to the time it was out and that now makes any comparison impossible with the others, you have to call us and know that with this brand you have to give up something. Another thing That I don't like is the fact that when it goes on stand-by it just comes out of the shutter button, for those like me who are used to using the af-on to focus forces you to give a shot to the shutter button first and then focus, which if you have to seize the moment is a stroke, but go to explain it. However, in the calculation of the whole, given the price of the used now, I would say that if you find it will be 3/400 shots spent well.

Buck81

sent on June 18, 2019

Pros: Solidity,functions,detail,double SD slots,image quality,sensor stabilizer,top tropicalization

Cons: In some situations of light rendered with some red/magenta tones,AF not precise to large openings

Opinion: I write this review in the face of different experiences with different brands. I like to experiment,so in so many years,I had some of the best products Nikon,Canon,Fuji.... and now,Pentax. Made the transition from Fuji (fantastic)to Pentax with many doubts,given the comments always rather skeptical or even disparaging. To get started, I took a K5.... it ended that I found myself so good that I almost immediately made the switch to K3. I'm not afraid to say that the K3, is overall the best reflex apsc of those years. Its solidity is unparalleled. Fits with a brush in your hand and all the keys are at your fingertips. There is no lack of function and, indeed, it has unique ones! Simulation of the AA filter, stabilized sensor, catch-in-focus and many more. With 24mpx, there is no shortage of detail. Compared to the K5, the noise is noticed 1 or 2 Stop before,but beware: It is not in the least annoying and always remains better than many others, even recent. The AF is definitely better than the K5, it is more responsive, precise and fast, but with very bright optics, it does not always center the exact AF point, also has the "defect" common to many reflexes, to have the AF points a little too concentrated in the center , but in any case they cover the frame quite well for the different shooting needs. Let's come to the sore note... I happened to take pictures of magenta-colored flowers. Well, in this case I was grounded by the surrender..... well, yes, there are no other words to say it: terrifying. It's going to be light, I don't know... but it was all split. I will do further tests and I hope it is my mistake. There's also the false myth that Pentax has a poor lens set, but that's not exactly the case. Its bayonet K unchanged over time,makes it possible to use as many optics as imaginable... and the Catch-in-Focus feature, makes the focus very simple and perfect. Beware, however, because some vintage optics have a "poor" yield to TA and therefore the machine struggles to be as precise as AF. The stabilizer, works on any optics and also works well!! It lacks the orientable screen,but in my opinion it is not a flaw. It would have "weakened" a structure that is otherwise as solid as Thor's hammer! I mean, she's an incredible reflex. Pentax does not deserve to be considered inferior to the others, because it is not so at all. The K3, it's great in every way!

EDstrg

sent on August 19, 2018

Pros: Compact, stabilised, tropicalized, excellent build quality, good high ISO seal

Cons: AF continuous embarrassing, non-orientable screen

Opinion: I had a K5, I tried it and I fell in love: Single AF decidedly improved, good yield to high ISO, improved ergonomics and live view finally usable in fashion; With various firmware upgrades It is also improved and now also has the ability to use the new lenses to KAF4 bayonet. The thing that impressed me the most are the files that are very malleable. Compared to the K5 the noise at high ISO occurs first (due to the denser sensor) but nothing terrifying; The single autofocus is definitely improved though unfortunately the continuous one continues to be the real weakness of the Pentax machines in general.

Puffulvio

sent on August 14, 2018

Pros: Nice, comfortable and light. Stabilised, tropicalized and seemingly resistentissima. Very detailed images.

Cons: The cons are me, because it has a myriad of functions that I will never get to use...

Opinion: In the order I had KS1, K50 (the only one that I no longer), K1 and now also K3, the Silver edition, found used with 4,600 shots at an insane price (for those who sold it, for me the so-called luck...). I use it in most cases with a 55-300 PLM, while on K1 I almost always have the 28-105 from kit, and after a few months of use it strikes me the incredible detail of the photos first. Very vivid colors, very sensitive autofocus even with little light and speed more than good, whatever you say! I doubt that many of the Criticoni speak for hearsay, because in the use normally made of a camera the AF of the K3 is enough and advances. I do not think that everyone does sports photography or birdlife in flight grazing (without adding that this type of photos in addition to the machine that has the performance of technique that is not improvising...). Good burst. With the 40mm 2.8 limited it becomes tiny and offers an impressive total quality. High ISO? Certainly in the highest part of the ranking among competitors. Also because, and it must be said once and for all, the Pentax in instrumental tests are the only ones that have a perfect match between the ISO indicated and the actual, when the Fuji, which have the name of perfect machines in this area, it happens that 12,800 ISO set is actually less than 6,000... The files of the K3 have noise? Maybe less than what you think commonly! Defects? Maybe a few non-original optics, unfortunately! But the situation on K1 is even worse!

Fabioviti

sent on October 26, 2017

Pros: Tropicalization, ergonomics, sensor, workability of raw files, autofocus, weight, cost, possible customizations, battery life, build quality, great files

Cons: perhaps only a small amount of time gap from the moment of pressing the shutter button to the actual shutter release

Opinion: This car is a real gem. It's a ridiculous figure compared to the same level as other brands and works just as well. The plus are many and remarkable, starting from tropicalization of body and constructive quality. I have quite large hands I have equipped it with its original battery grip (another story than the Meike type or other brands I own for the K7), with this mount surely better and the coupling is solid and much moreover, of course, to doubling the autonomy of the charge.rnBatteries last a lifetime, you can safely face a Wedding session without completely completing one. The autofocus, much discussed by many, is actually very fast, especially with optics with motorized focus. It also hooks up the subject even with low light and is hardly mistaken for a shot .... if it does it is because it has been pointed at a contrastless area.rn a very convenient bend and controls all at your fingertips. The double adjusting ringIon and ISO button near the shutter release button allow you to work quickly in Manual Mode without fatigue or pinging turns between the menus. The file that is blowing is another planet (compared to the K7 with which I can make a real comparison) . Much more workable and rich in information. The RAW shooting mode can be switched to 2 different formats: RAW PEF (Pentax owner) and RAW DNG (digital negative) I prefer and use. The RAW DNG is workable quietly with Camera RAW senzadover download plugins or other and are immediately visible with Picasa image viewer programs. My way of photographing is very similar to anyone who was using at analogical time without using filters or other such devices that I do not know about all the available automatics except for automatic white balance, which can also be set in multizone and works very well. The sensor is one of its strengths and the files that come from it outside are well balanced in both colors and contrastalready with the default settings, which are still customizable. The 24 megapixels allow you to make large format prints. I did prints of 85X127 cm and no picture of pixel pixels can be seen. It's possible to fine-tune the lenses (if I do not remember bad at 20) so you can work very quietly with everything.rnIn addition the bayonet K, which has remained unchanged since it was introduced, except for automation systems and stabilized sensors, allowing it to work with any adaptive lens making all the lenses stabilized. The dynamic range is very large, allowing unexpected recoveries with the K7 or with models previous.rn A fantastic and reliable car, often underestimated by anyone who has never experienced it.

There are 10 more reviews. Show all »

Photos taken with Pentax K-3

Pruno and the drilled mountain

by Gabribocc
106 comments, 1733 views

HI RES 10.4 MP

Groningen

by Beli Mawr Pothos
59 comments, 2413 views

HI RES 3.5 MP

Grass Snake

by Robsit
51 comments, 5532 views

The magic of the forest

by Gabribocc
97 comments, 1649 views

HI RES 24.1 MP

Camaiore Lido

by Gabribocc
61 comments, 1053 views

HI RES 19.9 MP

Redstart

by Paolo.m
49 comments, 5660 views

Comacchio

by Gabbia65
169 comments, 3092 views

HI RES 24.1 MP

The wall's march

by Gabribocc
60 comments, 909 views

HI RES 19.2 MP

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Barcelona as seen from the Falls Palace

by Gabribocc
63 comments, 1043 views

HI RES 23.3 MP

At the Sea of November

by Gabribocc
60 comments, 792 views

HI RES 16.6 MP

Rectified and corrected

by Saverio Perrotta
86 comments, 4713 views

HI RES 21.1 MP

Sunrise at Camaiore lido

by Gabribocc
52 comments, 825 views

HI RES 20.2 MP

Sunset over Barcelona

by Gabribocc
51 comments, 626 views

HI RES 16.4 MP

Self-portrait

by Gabribocc
57 comments, 774 views

HI RES 20.2 MP

Fire on the Valleys

by Manaus1965
44 comments, 802 views

Great Spotted Woodpecker (female)

by Paolo.m
56 comments, 3435 views

HI RES 15.9 MP

Among the mushrooms and goblins

by Gabribocc
49 comments, 502 views

HI RES 18.8 MP

To the sea

by Gabribocc
48 comments, 641 views

HI RES 19.6 MP

Catalan-most beautiful villages in Italy

by Pier Giorgio Franco
27 comments, 999 views

HI RES 8.2 MP

Deer in wheat

by Thum
13 comments, 603 views

Zaira Beachwear

by Msaranga
16 comments, 1444 views

The hunter Celtic

by Gabbia65
65 comments, 1482 views

HI RES 24.1 MP

Based, that is, my country

by Gabribocc
52 comments, 595 views

HI RES 20.3 MP

The sun that faces

by Gabribocc
38 comments, 538 views

HI RES 20.2 MP

Etna_7

by Eugenio Sacchetti
38 comments, 2655 views

M'illumino of immense

by Gabbia65
134 comments, 2139 views

HI RES 24.1 MP

Hoopoe with larva of cicada

by Paolo.m
44 comments, 3519 views

HI RES 9.7 MP

Steam locomotive

by Gabbia65
153 comments, 1990 views

HI RES 17.4 MP

Hawfinches

by Paolo.m
29 comments, 3611 views

Mosaic

by Al_ex
19 comments, 811 views

HI RES 6.2 MP

Arcodsi triumph and flare

by Gabribocc
36 comments, 360 views

HI RES 16.7 MP

Heron .... us porovato

by Robsit
34 comments, 2490 views

Finch

by Paolo.m
36 comments, 1452 views

HI RES 11.3 MP

Sharecropper

by Paolo.m
17 comments, 2049 views

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Marostica, chess game. Ingredient "pieces"

by Gabbia65
79 comments, 1135 views

HI RES 13.7 MP

Bellagio at sunset 14 June '16

by Francescoc
65 comments, 2236 views

HI RES 2.9 MP

Redstart

by Paolo.m
32 comments, 3578 views

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Reviews » Reflex and Mirrorless » Reflex and Mirrorless Pentax » Pentax K-3