My connection with Pentax runs deep. I remember accompanying my family to the shops when my dad first picked up a Pentax SLR for our inaugural overseas trip back to Vietnam, after migrating to Australia. He chose it based on his familiarity with the Pentax K1000 from his youth. The camera served us well, capturing our memories from trip to Thailand and Vietnam. Though back then, I found myself in front of the camera more often than behind it to be honest.
Add several years and young Zak was making his own money and wanted to get into photography after taking it for a semester in University. Pentax had the freshly released ist*D which aesthetically appealed to the freshly minted Industrial Designer I pretended to be. I shot plenty A LOT with it, annoying so and went through a few subsequent models.
The day came where I thought about doing it for a living and the young naive me convinced myself I needed something more “professional” whatever that might meant and made the switch to Nikon. Not knowing then that it has more to do with what’s behind the camera than the camera itself.
Roll forward to present day with far more experience and knowledge, thanks to C.R. Kennedy, the opportunity to try the latest Pentax K3 Mark III came up. Like an old high school friend who you drifted apart from, I was curious as to how they were doing.
So here we are! The Pentax K3 Mark III. It is a feature packed rugged body with an impressive sensor and a myriad of cool features. I’ve used it extensively over the past several months and put it through its paces in real world scenarios from event work to landscape photography and even hiking VIDEOS! Yes! No need to rub your eyes. You read that correctly!
As a photographic tool it offers all you could ask for. Great autofocus, solid ergonomics, a bright optical viewfinder and great low light capabilities. In the right hands it is capable of creating some amazing images. Some special features included are the Pixel Shift mode which allows for big megapixel files, great for static subjects and Astrotracer feature for those who love shooting nightscapes. Utilizing the stabilizer motors to move the sensor in line with the Earths movement to allow for longer exposures of stars without streaking. It offers everything its mirrorless counterparts do in a far more solid magnesium body.
Being a DSLR you may be surprised by this but, the K3 Mark III is actually capable of capturing some amazing video in full 4K. The sensor offers great dynamic range and the colours are very pleasing and true to life as you find in the images. Having shot 4 separate hiking videos I am very impressed with its capabilities and the results from it.
If I were pressed I would say the lack of a Log picture profile is its weakness in this department. Furthermore some more bitrate options would not go astray to make it more post processing friendly if you wish to get more creative with the final product.
My time with the Pentax K3 Mark III has come to an end as unfortunately someone at CRK remembered they loaned this out to me and now I MUST return it (sigh….)
So having used it for this period of time what are my thoughts on it? It would be hard say that the Pentax K3 Mark III is not an impressive piece of gear with the ability to create spectacular visual masterpieces in the right hands. Speaking of in hand. The feel of DSLR is hard to beat coming from mirrorless cameras that are a bit stingy on hand grip sometimes. The girthy grip also houses a battery offering up to 800 shots by the way.
The technology loaded into it does not fall short of any of the competition either. Offering class leading image quality back side illuminated sensor, a new fast focusing AF system and an impressive 5.5 stops of in body stabilization.
It is a truly a brilliant camera but to play devil’s advocate I would have to point out that the critics would say it is too heavy compared to its modern mirrorless rivals and honestly that is all they would be able to say I think. This camera does leave me in a bit of a weird spot though. It leaves me wondering why Pentax would not want to jam all this amazing tech into a new mirrorless body. Understandably it would be pricey to develop a new mount and fill it with lenses but also they could maybe broker a deal with the L mount alliance?!?!? It would allow Pentax to instantly have a wide array of third party lenses and just include a K to L Mount Adapter for older K Mount Lens owners with the camera. Anyway that is loud wishful thinking on my part.
It does make me happy to see my old friend Pentax still doing well and still producing such great products. Competition is good for the entire market just like a rising tide lifts all boats. If you are someone considering buying one of these cameras and a little bit of extra weight isn’t and issue. You’ll love the camera.