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Review Summary
2025-04-16T04:14:17
I can't believe I waited so long to get this camera. It will greatly improve my wildlife photo success.
DARREN R.
2021-12-15T07:47:58
There is noting like looking through an optical viewfinder and this is the best optical veiwfinder on any camera. Image quality and color rendition are outing standing. 4K video is very good. Autofocus and subject tracking are greatly improved and are on par with the Nikon D500. which I also own. The 24-40mm Limited is a great walk around lens, and is perfect for street photography. It produces very accurate color.
Darryl L.
2021-12-07T11:55:00
This camera has great erognimics. The build quality is outstanding. The focus is greatly improve over previous Pentax DSLR. The new snsor yeild excelent imaga quality and color rendition. For those folks that are optical view finders this is the camera.
Darryl L.
2021-12-04T03:02:02
Incredible camera! Pentax really stepped up their game on this one
Mark E.
2021-12-03T04:55:32
I?m a Pentax shooter since 2012 with two K-3 bodies, one K-r and LOTS of accumulated glass. The K-3 Mark III is really a brand new camera, and it?s WONDERFUL! Aside from a relocated playback button, I needed to learn nothing new to just go out and shoot. Key controls are familiar to Pentax users, and K-3 shooters in particular. Improvements: slightly more sensor resolution and better color accuracy. Image stabilization from quite good to uncanny / class leading. Customization takes a quantum leap with many options to program buttons, dials and entire camera setups through 5 user modes. I use this stuff a lot already, and it makes me more efficient. The new viewfinder is huge, and hey - that's what the DSLR experience is all about! The back LDC is bigger and sharper. What is brand new and wonderful: super-quick and accurate AF acquisition, something Pentax has always struggled with, even in the FF K-1. Track a bird coming straight at you - or a jet fighter, doesn't matter - and with continuous AF turned on, one can nail perfect focus. Touch-screen menu control - and better menu organization. A new switch for viewfinder / live view / movie. Separate controls for drive mode and remote control use. What have we given up vs the K-3? Built-in flash. The K-3 Mark II had already lost that, as well. What's missing? Ahh...just one thing: an articulating screen. When shooting from very low positions, or shooting something overhead from a tripod - that feature would be SO handy. Maybe with the Mark IV? Who's it for? Pentaxians, or someone wanting a very high-end DSLR experience...and for whom jumping to a whole new system is no big deal. (Said another way, folks who value seeing what they're shooting directly through the lens AND who want the best hardware available.) Pentax has chosen to double-down on mirrors - they may not even be developing a mirrorless body. So they're committed to this older capture method. For me, that's perfect, but... Who is it not for? Someone starting out fresh in photography and seeking their first real camera should think twice. There's a reason every other manufacturer spends all their R&D budget on mirrorless systems today: that's the future. Lens makers have also begun to drop DSLR glass production. DSLR's may persist for decades to come, but as a niche. I happen to love the experience, but if I were just entering the game I'd be shopping mirrorless. Battery life notwithstanding, mirrorless makers have solved the problems that held them back for a while, matching or even surpassing DSLR in some areas.
RICK O.
2021-11-20T15:18:09
I am just starting to use this very nice camera. It has a bunch of options and such to learn from the manual. It is just a bit on the heavy side, but not bad at all if you are at all accustomed to a "real" camera. Controls work nice and are easy to reach for all the common stuff. Dynamic range looks good so far and auto-focus is so fast I don't always realize it has done it. Battery grip also works nice, but Pentax has dropped the AA battery option with it. (I like AA rechargeables since they recharge quickly - if you have a high-end charger - and the same batteries work in my portable flash.)
CLIFFORD C.
2021-08-16T10:09:17
Wow! What a step up from my Pentax K-70. The pictures are excellent. Has all the bells and whistles to create perfect photos. I?ve owned Pentax since 1966 when I bought my first one in Vietnam at the PX, in the Cholon district of Saigon. In all these years, I have never been disappointed in Pentax cameras. Since I upgraded to the K-3 III, I have bought a new lens, new filter, and extra battery. I feel like a professional photographer.
Van W.
2021-07-27T08:20:16
Still learning all the possible custom settings, because this camera is very, very, customizable, but in the meantime I have captured some great photos. I loved my previous Pentax K5ii, but this is another level up.
LINDA H.
2021-07-07T16:17:32
Love the 12 fps and fast auto focus. Major upgrade.
DIANE P.
2021-07-01T13:50:18
At last, a Pentax DSLR with a fast, accurate AF system! FAST!!! In fact, the AF may match the best DSLR's from the big 2 competitors, and perhaps the best mirrorless stuff as well. That alone is worth the upgrade from a K-3 or Mark II, but a better sensor, powerful new programmability - more on that later, a huge viewfinder and upgrades in every aspect of performance - well, this camera is a no-brainer for Pentax DSLR shooters. Also very nice: they key controls, (aperture, shutter speed, ISO), are all in the same place, allowing a K-3 shooter to go right to work. I am ecstatic with this new body and, together with my 2 K-3 bodies and many K-mount lenses, I'm joyfully locking into DSLR tech for at least another 5 years. OK, about programming: with the twist of a dedicated dial, I can change from using the 5 center focus points with center weighted metering, single shot, single focus with preset shutter, ISO and aperture settings - to a different set of exposure settings, center 5 plus the box of AF points immediately around that, continuous AF, continuous shooting and global metering. Just as an example. In practical terms, I go from shooting birds stationary in a tree to shooting them in flight, just that fast - one click of a dial. That's a powerful trick!
RICK O.
2021-06-08T07:01:42
Pentax has really down a nice job on this camera. The look of it, the feel of it, the quality of it - it screams Pentax. This camera has become my everyday camera and compliments my K1 nicely. I know there are a lot of individuals that miss the articulating screen, but honestly, I never really used it, so I am not missing it on this one. The touchscreen is a nice addition.
REBEKAH S.
2021-05-21T09:03:33
Great camera. DSLR with qualities of mirrorless.
JOHN H.
2021-05-07T10:18:27
Very nice like it very much, still learning all about ir
R C.
2021-04-30T21:36:28
The one we've been waiting for. A real action capable DSLR from Pentax. But oh man, is it so much more. Has to be the most well rounded DSLR from Pentax yet, capable of doing everything extremely well photographically, and quite decent video too! The few days I've had with it so far have been a wake up call, this is a gargantuan effort by Ricoh on all fronts. Pro's are loving it. Compared to my D500 it has better build, better weather sealing, a better viewfinder, better menu system, better ergonomics, and the AF system is very much comparable to my D500- that shocked me. This is the first Pentax I'll recommend for action photographers. There's so much more to say about it I don't know where to start. But if the price has you concerned remember this, five years ago the D500 was the same price, and hasn't really dropped much. This camera is absolutely loaded. Hats off to Ricoh for giving photographers another DSLR they wanted. The market will always want DSLR's in it, good for them to see the light. This one is a beauty and worth every penny.
Carl G.
2021-04-24T13:43:04
Holy smokes, this thing is a rock, and I mean that in a good way. Well-crafted, solid and substantial, it feels like a camera built for a decades use. The low light capability is impressive, with 25600 now my new max ISO. Yes that's eminently usable, particularly with a quick spin with Topaz. Eye-focus in the viewfinder on a DSLR. Seriously? Drunk bicyclist AF tracking too. 12 frame bursts on a leaf shutter good for 300,000 activations? That's a massive leap for Pentax. If you're one of those photographers who simply cannot work with mirrorless displays, or simply prefer the look and in-hand ergonics of a DSLR you'll kick yourself it you don't put the K3 III on your short list. It's too good to be a Pentax!
Warren M.
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Silver
TTL autofocus, auto-exposure SLR digital-still camera
PENTAX KAF2 bayonet mount (AF coupler, lens information contacts, K-mount with power contacts)
KAF4, KAF3, KAF2 (power zoom compatible), KAF, KA mount lens
Primary color filter, CMOS
Size: 0.91 x 0.61" (23.3 x 15.5mm)
Approx. 25.73 megapixels
Approx. 26.78 megapixels
Image sensor cleaning using ultrasonic vibrations "DR II"
ISO AUTO/100 to 1600000 (EV steps can be set to 1EV, 1/2EV or 1/3EV)
Sensor-shift shake reduction "SR II"(5-axis), Auto/Panning/Off
Moire reduction using SR unit. OFF/Low/High/Bracketing (2 images)/Bracketing (3 images)
RAW (PEF/DNG), JPEG (Exif 2.3), DCF2.0 compliant
JPEG: L(26M:6192x4128), M(15M:4752x3168), S(9M:3648x2432), XS(2M:1920x1280)
RAW: (26M:6192x4128)
RAW (14bit): PEF, DNG
JPEG: RAW + JPEG simultaneous capturing available
sRGB, AdobeRGB
SD, SDHC and SDXC Memory Cards UHS-1/UHS-II compatible (UHS-II is only available for the memory card inserted in the SD1 slot.)
Sequential Use, Save to Both, Separate RAW/JPG, Image copy between slots possible
Folder Name: Date (100_1018,101_1019...) or User assigned folder name (Default "PENTX")
File Name: "IMGP" or User assigned file name
File name numbering: Sequential, Reset
Pentaprism Finder
Approx. 100%
Approx. 1.05x (FA 50mmF1.4 at infinity)
Approx. 20.5mm (from the view window), Approx. 22.0mm (from the center of lens)
Approx. -4.0m to + 1.0m-1
Natural-Bright-Matte III focusing screen
AF Points, Grid Display, Electronic Level, AF Frame, Spot Metering Frame, Crop, Smart Function, Operation Control Lock
TTL method using image sensor
Contrast detection (Auto Area, Zone Select, Tracking, Select(L/M/S), Spot)
Focus Peaking, Face detection, Touch AF
Field of View approx. 100%, Magnified view (up to 16x)
Grid Display (4x4 Grid, Golden Section, Scale, Square(L), Square(S), Grid Color: Black/Gray/White), Histogram, Bright area warning, Composition Adjustment
Wide viewing angle TFT color LCD, Air-gapless glass
3.2" (aspect ratio 3:2)
Approx. 1620K dots
Capacitive sensing method
Brightness, Saturation and Colors adjustable
Adjustable +/-2 step
ON/OFF
Method using a combination of the image sensor and the RGBIr sensor
AUTO WB, Multi Auto WB, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent Light (D: Daylight Color, N: Daylight White, W: Cool White, L: Warm White), Tungsten Light, CTE, Manual WB (up to 3 settings), Color Temperature Configuration (up to 3 settings), Copying the white balance setting of a captured image
Adjustable +/-14 steps on A-B axis or G-M axis
TTL: Phase-matching autofocus
SAFOX 13, 101 point (25 cross type focus points)
EV-4 to 18 (ISO 100 / at normal temperature)
-4 EV is only available for AF points that support F2.8 light flux when an F2.8-light-flux compatible lens is attached.
Single AF (AF.S), Continuous AF (AF.C)
Auto Area, Zone Select, Select, Expanded Area (S, M, L), Select(S), Spot
Dedicated LED AF assist light
TTL open aperture metering using 307K pixel RGBIr sensor, Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot and Highlight-weighted
EV-3 to 20 (ISO100 at 50mm F1.4)
Scene Analyze Auto, Program, Sensitivity Priority, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Shutter & Aperture Priority, Manual, Bulb, Flash X-sync Speed, USER1, USER2, USER3, USER4, USER5
+/-5EV (1/2EV steps or 1/3EV steps can be selected)
Button type (timer type: two times the meter operating time set in Custom Setting);
Continuous as long as the shutter button is halfway pressed
Electronically controlled vertical-run focal plane shutter
Electronic shutter when using Pixel Shift Resolution
Auto:1/8000 to 30 sec., Manual:1/8000 to 30 sec. (1/3EV steps or 1/2EV steps), Bulb (Timed exposure setting possible from 1 sec. to 20min.)
Single Frame, Continuous (H, M, L), Bracketing (2, 3 or 5 frames), Depth of Field Bracketing, Motion Bracketing, Mirror-up, Multi-Exposure (Average/Additive/Bright), Interval Shooting, Interval Composite
12s, 2s
0s, 3s
Max. approx. 12 fps, JPEG ( L: at Continuous H): up to approx. 37 frames, RAW: up to approx. 32 frames, RAW+: up to approx. 30 frames
Max. approx. 7.0 fps, JPEG (L: at Continuous M): up to approx. 60 frames, RAW: up to approx. 37 frames, RAW+: up to approx. 33 frames
Max. approx. 2.5 fps, JPEG ( L: at Continuous L): up to approx. 90 frames, RAW: up to approx. 39 frames, RAW+: up to approx. 37 frames
Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
1/200sec.
-2.0 - +1.0EV
Auto Select, Bright, Natural, Portrait, Landscape, Vibrant, Radiant, Muted, Flat, Bleach Bypass, Reversal Film, Monochrome, Cross Processing
Random, Preset 1-3, Favorite 1-3
Extract Color, Replace Color, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Color, Unicolor Bold, Tone Expansion, Bold Monochrome, Grainy Monochrome
Adjustable +/-4 step
Type1/Type2
Auto, HDR1, HDR2, HDR3, Advanced HDR, Exposure bracket value adjustable, Automatic composition correction function
Available, Motion Correction On/Off
Distortion Correction, Peripheral Illumin. Correction, Lateral Chromatic Aberration Correction, Diffraction Correction
Highlight Correction, Shadow Correction
Slow Shutter Speed NR, High-ISO Noise Reduction
SR On: correction up to 1 degree, SR Off: correction up to 2 degrees
Adjustment range of +/-1.5mm up, down, left or right ( +/-1mm when rotated); Rotating range of +/-1 degree
Displayed in viewfinder (Horizontal and vertical); Displayed on LCD monitor (Horizontal and vertical)
Auto, Normal, Hi-speed Priority, DOF Priority (Deep), DOF Priority (Shallow), MTF Priority
MPEG-4 AVC/H.264(MOV)
4K (3840x2160, 30p/24p)
Full HD (1920x1080, 60p/30p/24p)
Built-in stereo microphone, external microphone (Stereo recording compatible)
Recording Sound Level adjustable, Wind Noise Reduction
Up to 25 minutes or 4GB; automatically stops recording if the internal temperature of the camera becomes high.
AUTO WB, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent Light (D: Daylight Color, N: Daylight White, W: Cool White, L: Warm White), Tungsten Light, CTE,
Manual WB (up to 3 settings), Color Temperature Configuration (up to 3 settings), Copying the white balance setting of a captured image
Auto Select, Bright, Natural, Portrait, Landscape, Vibrant, Radiant, Muted, Flat, Bleach Bypass, Reversal Film, Monochrome, Cross Processing
Random, Preset 1-3, Favorite 1-3.
Extract Color, Replace Color, Retro, High Contrast, Invert Color, Unicolor Bold, Bold Monochrome
Single frame, Multi-image display (20, 48, 70 segmentation), Display magnification (up to 16, 100% display, quick zoom and Focus Magnification available), Grid display (4x4 Grid, Golden Section, Scale, Square(L), Square(S), Grid Color: Black/Gray/White), Rotating, Histogram (Y histogram, RGB histogram)
Bright area warning, Auto Image Rotation, Detailed information, Copyright Information (Photographer, Copyright holder), GPS information (latitude, longitude, altitude, Coordinated Universal Time) , Orientation, Folder Display, Calendar Filmstrip Display
Single image, All images, Selected images, Folder, Images on the selected shooting date, Instant review image
Base Parameter Adj, Extract Color, Replace Color, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Color, Unicolor Bold, Tone Expansion, Bold Monochrome, Grainy Monochrome, Miniature, Soft, Fish-eye, Slim, Monochrome, Frame Composite
RAW file select:
Select Single Image, Select Multiple Images, Select a folder, Select a shooting date
RAW Development Parameter:
White Balance, Custom Image, Sensitivity, Digital filter, Clarity, Skin Tone, HDR, Pixel Shift Resolution, Distortion Correction
Peripheral Illumin. Corr., Lateral Chromatic Aberration Correction, Diffraction Correction, Color Fringe Correction, High-ISO Noise Reduction, Shadow Correction, File Format (JPEG/TIFF), JPEG Recorded Pixels, JPEG Quality, Aspect Ratio, Color Space
Protect, Image Rotation, Image Copy, File Transfer, Save RAW Data in buffer memory, Resize, Cropping (Aspect ratio and Slant adjustment available),
Levels Adjustment, WB Adjustment, Color Moire Correction, Movie Edit (Divide or delete selected frames), Capturing a JPEG still picture from a movie
USER Mode, Fx Button, AF/AE Lock Settings, Preview Dial, E-Dial Programming, Smart Function, Monitor Touch Operation, Eye Sensor, Viewfinder Display, LCD Panel, Monitor Display, Instant Review, Zoom Review, Warning Display, Control Panel, Memory, EV Steps, ISO Sensitivity Steps, Color Temperature Steps, Input MF Lens Focal Length, Save Rotation Information, Aperture Information Record, AF Fine Adjustment, Copyright Information
English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek, Russian, Thai, Korean, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese
Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery D-LI90
AC Adapter Kit K-AC166(Optional)
Number of recordable images: Approx. 800 images
Playback time: Approx. 250 minutes
USB Terminal (USB Type-C), External cable switch terminal (2.5mm diameter), X-sync socket, HDMI output terminal (Type D), Stereo microphone input terminal, Headphone terminal
USB 3.2 Gen1, Data Transfer: MTP/CD-ROM, Battery Recharge/Power Supply (Optional AC Adapter required)
IEEE 802.11b/g/n
2412MHz-2462MHz (1ch-11ch)
Authentication: WPA2, Encryption: AES
Bluetooth v4.2 (Bluetooth Low Energy)
2402MHz-2480MHz (CH0-CH39)
14 Degree F-104 Degree F (-10 Degree C-40 Degree C)
85% or less (no condensation)
Windows: Windows 10(FCU/CU) (32bit/64bit), Windows 8.1 (32bit/64bit)
Mac: macOS 11.0 Big Sur, macOS 10.15 Catalina, macOS 10.14 Mojave, macOS 10.13 High Sierra, macOS 10.12 Sierra
Windows: Intel Core i5 or higher
Mac: Intel Core i5 or higher
Windows: 8GB or more
Mac: 8GB or more
Windows: Program installation and start-up: 100 MB or more of available space
Image file saving: Approximately 15 MB per file (JPEG) / approximately 50MB (RAW)
Mac: Program installation and start-up: 100 MB or more of available space
Image file saving: Approximately 15 MB per file (JPEG) / approximately 50MB (RAW)
Windows: 1280 x 1024 dots, 24 bit full-color or more
Mac: 1280 x 1024 pixels, 24 bit full-color or more
Required, Included
Lithium-ion
1
-
13.392 Wh
Approx. 5.29 x 4.07 x 2.89" (134.5 x 103.5 x 73.5mm) (excluding protrusions)
Approx. 28.92 oz (820g) (Including dedicated battery and SD Memory Card)
Approx. 25.92 oz (735g) (Body only)
192223176898
Home Run!
By Carl G.
The one we've been waiting for. A real action capable DSLR from Pentax. But oh man, is it so much more. Has to be the most well rounded DSLR from Pentax yet, capable of doing everything extremely well photographically, and quite decent video too! The few days I've had with it so far have been a wake up call, this is a gargantuan effort by Ricoh on all fronts. Pro's are loving it. Compared to my D500 it has better build, better weather sealing, a better viewfinder, better menu system, better e...
View full Review
K-3 Mark III - best new DSLR out there
By REBEKAH S.
Pentax has really down a nice job on this camera. The look of it, the feel of it, the quality of it - it screams Pentax. This camera has become my everyday camera and compliments my K1 nicely. I know there are a lot of individuals that miss the articulating screen, but honestly, I never really used it, so I am not missing it on this one. The touchscreen is a nice addition.
While maintaining the legacy of PENTAX's exceptional image quality, the K-3 Mark III APS-C-Format DSLR Camera Body in Silver, paired with the Pentax HD DA 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE Telephoto Zoom Lens, offers a high-quality, advanced, and professional photography experience. This durable and versatile camera is equipped with a back-illuminated CMOS image sensor, boasting approximately 25.73 effective megapixels, ensuring super-high-resolution images that are perfect for both professional photographers and photography enthusiasts.
The camera's AA-filter-free optical design, coupled with the sensor, produces images with stunning clarity and detail. The new, super-bright optical viewfinder offers a nearly 100% field of view and approximately 1.05 times magnification, immersing the photographer fully in the shooting experience. The high-refraction glass prism viewfinder provides a wide field of view equivalent to that of a full-frame SLR, ensuring comfortable viewing and true-to-life images free of distortion.
The K-3 Mark III features a high-performance, five-axis shake-reduction system and the innovative Pixel Shift Resolution System, both contributing to sharp, blur-free images. The camera's PENTAX Real-time Scene Analysis System, supported by the latest artificial intelligence technology, optimizes exposure settings and improves autofocusing accuracy, ensuring accurate subject detection and reliable scene judgment.
The camera is equipped with a high-definition 3.2-inch touch-screen LCD monitor, the first touch screen in the PENTAX K series, improving efficiency and operability. The compact, rugged body is dustproof and weather-resistant, making it suitable for use in extreme environmental conditions.
The camera also features a newly developed SAFOX 13 phase-matching AF sensor module for dependable, high-precision autofocus operations. It has 101 focus sensors, 25 of which are cross-type sensors positioned in the middle, assuring pinpoint focus on the subject at minimum brightness levels as low as -4 EV.
The K-3 Mark III also offers high-speed continuous shooting at a top speed of approximately 12 images per second, thanks to a newly developed mirror-driving mechanism. The camera also features a range of user-friendly shooting functions to improve shooting efficiency and operability.
The camera's body, made of lightweight, high-rigidity magnesium alloy, is dustproof, weather-resistant, and cold-resistant, ensuring stable operation even at -10 degrees Celsius. The camera also features a durable, dependable shutter unit, verified in an endurance test of 300,000 shutter-release actions.
The K-3 Mark III also captures 4K-resolution movie clips or Full HD movie clips in the H-264 recording format. Equipped with a stereo microphone input terminal and headset terminal, it allows the user to manually set the audio recording level and monitor the sound pressure level for microphone input.
The camera provides two wireless interface options - Bluetooth and Wireless LAN - for connection with mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. By installing the dedicated Image Sync application in a mobile device, the user can view Live View images on a smartphone screen or capture images and change camera settings using the mobile device. This advanced, high-quality DSLR camera and lens kit is perfect for capturing a wide range of photography, from landscapes and portraits to sports.
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