Parsippany, NJ—Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation unveiled the Pentax K-3 Mark III. The new flagship APS-C-format digital SLR camera is designed around the Pentax Principles. The DSLR offers advanced functions and enhanced imaging performance “with a goal of optimizing the fun and excitement of photography in a wide variety of conditions,” Ricoh announced.
“The development of the Pentax K-3 Mark III was a longtime labor of love,” said Kaz Eguchi, president, Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation. “At Ricoh, our goal is to develop high-quality cameras with the power to capture images that speak louder than words and inspire photographers to continue pursuing their passion for photography every day.”
Moreover, the K-3 Mark III builds on the Pentax legacy of image quality, incorporating a 25.73-effective-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS image sensor. Coupled with an AA (antialiasing)-filter-free optical design, the camera produces super-high-resolution images. The camera’s AA-filter simulator, which reduces moiré patterns to the same level as an optical AA filter, applies microscopic vibrations to the sensor at the sub-pixel level during exposure. Unlike a conventional optical AA filter, the simulator provides on/off switching and level selection.
In addition, the camera uses a newly developed Prime V imaging engine and new-generation accelerator unit that deliver better defined images with minimal noise. They also retain high-resolution reproduction at all sensitivities. What’s more, the K-3 Mark III boasts an ultrahigh sensitivity of ISO 1,600,000. It also employs a new SAFOX 13 autofocus system with 101 focus sensors.
Pentax K-3 Mark III Key Features
The DSLR incorporates an optical viewfinder with a nearly 100% field of view and 1.05x magnification. A high-refraction glass prism assures comfortable viewing with a wide field of view equivalent to that of a full-frame SLR. Also, by using a distortion-correcting optical element and optimizing the lens coatings, it delivers a true-to-life viewfinder image free of distortion. What’s more, its brightness is improved by nearly 10% over the Pentax K-3 II’s viewfinder.
The viewfinder also integrates a Natural Bright Matte III focusing screen, for ease of focus during manual focusing. It additionally delivers a clear subject image with faithful reproduction of the bokeh (defocus) effect. Further, its transparent display lets users monitor operational data in the viewfinder window.
The DSLR provides user-friendly shooting functions, as well as improved efficiency and operability over its predecessor. These include a 1.62M-dot, 3.2-inch touch-screen LCD monitor—the first touch screen in the Pentax K series. The screen allows intuitive operation of various functions, including scrolling menu selection and image zooming during playback.
Moreover, the monitor’s air-gapless construction has a special resin material injected into the gap between LCD layers and a protective tempered-glass cover. This reduces reflections and the dispersion of light to improve visibility during outdoor shooting. The viewfinder eyepiece also protrudes away from the screen, so the user’s nose does not contact the camera. Additionally, at the bottom of the eyepiece is an eye sensor that turns the monitor off the moment the photographer looks into the viewfinder, preventing monitor illumination from affecting visibility.
Furthermore, the outdoor-friendly monitor has a night vision LCD display function. As a result, users may quickly adjust the monitor’s brightness level depending on conditions.
Other Pentax Tech
Another feature is the Pentax Real-time Scene Analysis system; it’s supported by artificial intelligence. The system detects a subject’s face/eyes using image recognition technology and makes a real-time analysis of the subject’s movement. As a result, it assists in optimizing exposure settings and improving autofocusing accuracy.
Pentax SR II Shake Reduction technology also delivers 5-axis, 5.5-shutter-step shake compensation. The built-in mechanism means the camera effectively minimizes camera shake for blur-free images even when using a telephoto lens; when shooting low-light scenes without flash; or when photographing sunsets. In addition to horizontal and vertical camera shake caused by pitch and yaw, the five-axis mechanism compensates for shake caused by horizontal and vertical shift (often generated in macro photography) and shake caused by roll.
In addition, Pixel-Shift Resolution technology captures four images of a scene by shifting the sensor by a single pixel for each image. It synthesizes them into a single composite image. The system obtains all color data in each pixel to provide super-high-resolution images with more truthful colors and finer details. The camera also offers on/off switching of its motion correction function. It automatically detects only moving elements during continuous shooting and minimizes negative effects during the synthesizing process.
Furthermore, the DSLR features a new SAFOX 13 phase-matching AF module. It has 101 focus sensors, 25 of which are cross-type sensors positioned in the middle. As a result, it achieves focus on the subject at minimum brightness levels as low as -4 EV. Also, by using a high-capacity RGBIr image sensor with 307,000 pixels and a new tracking algorithm, the camera tracks subjects moving at varying speed or in irregular motion. Also, an AF point selector lever lets users select the desired focus point more intuitively (up to 41 points).
Additional Features
The DSLR shoots continuously at 12 frames per second in AF.S mode, or 11 fps in the AF.C mode. What’s more, it records 4K movie clips (3,840×2,160 pixels; 30p/24p) as well as Full HD clips in the H-264 recording format.
It also has a stereo microphone input terminal and headset terminal. Subsequently, users can manually set the audio recording level and monitor the sound pressure level for microphone input. And thanks to quiet touch-screen control on the LCD monitor, shooting function and exposure compensation levels are set without operational noise.
Other features include Pentax’s Hyper Operation system with an advanced mode for more flexible exposure control; an operation control lock function to prevent accidental errors of setting buttons and the four-way controller; an upgraded smart function with a dedicated button for selection of settings without using on-screen menus; a button customization function to assign functions to 10 control buttons; a DR II (Dust Removal II) mechanism; and also an HDR function.
In addition, the DSLR integrates Bluetooth and wireless LAN for connection with mobile devices. Consequently, when users install the dedicated Image Sync app in a mobile device, they can see live view images on the smartphone screen or capture images and change camera settings using the mobile device. The app also allows them to transfer images to a mobile device and upload them to SNS sites. 
The camera also has a dual SD card slot, and its battery is rechargeable via a USB Type-C terminal.
The K-3 Mark III’s top, bottom, front and rear panels are made of lightweight, high-rigidity magnesium alloy and it features dust and weather resistance. It also provides cold-resistant performance for operation at 14°F. Supporting the rugged body is a shutter unit rated for 300,000 shutter-release actions.
Optional Accessories
To complement the K-3 Mark II, Ricoh will also offer the D-BG8 battery grip. With dustproof, weather-resistant construction, it provides an extra set of control buttons (shutter release, smart function, AF/AE lock, exposure compensation and green); a focus point selector lever; as well as a pair of electronic dials to facilitate vertical-position shooting. The camera’s large-capacity D-LI90P lithium-ion battery powers the grip.
Another optional accessory is the O-HC177 hot shoe cover for dressing up the camera. The stainless alloy cover integrates with the camera’s pentaprism part.
Ricoh will release the Pentax K-3 Mark III in late April, with preorders beginning on April 6 at 5 p.m. ET. The camera body will have a suggested retail price of $1,999.95. Ricoh will also offer two limited-edition kits: the Pentax K-3 Mark III black premium kit and the silver premium kit. These packages will comprise a camera body, a battery grip (the silver premium kit comes with a silver body and a silver battery grip), an exclusive leather strap and a spare battery. The premium kits will ship late April with SRPs of $2,299.95.
