Pentax K-3 Mark III (Silver) with HD DA 20-40mm Lens (Silver)

I debated whether to upgrade from my K3 as it an excellent camera that I have come to understand well, both its strengths and weaknesses. I'm writing this review so that you can also add it to your decisions about your future purchase of the K3iii. The problem is there are hardly any faults, its damned near perfect, the viewfinder, the configurable rear screen that allows you to chose the touch buttons you want and where they go, the feature that turns off the rear screen when you put the camera up to your eye, love that. Then there is the clarity of image the new processor turns out, amazing. All these things made me very happy that I had gone ahead and bought this (ouch) expensive camera. I would also urge anyone thinking about buying this to download the manual and read it, you will get a good idea of the changes, if you are a Pentax user and its capabilities.There are some faults. For me the new joystick feature is something I don't think I will use, I don't take those type of shots, and it also lies across the path of the oh so useful Green Button. The problem is the joystick alters the position of the focus and I have taken several shots and then after checking exposure settings etc, using the Green Button, found I have shifted the focus to the left or right. It is easily corrected before shooting, just press the joystick down to centre focus but hopefully a firmware update will allow some form of lockout for those who don't require this feature to be live all the time.The other thing that was disappointing was the overall package that came with the K3iii. I mean the plug is self assembly! The lead is also only USB C at one end the other is USB A, there is also no battery charger you have to plug the camera in through the USB C port. At this price I also felt that Pentax could have made an effort and chucked in a lens cloth or a soft case, but what I would really have liked was a strap that was long enough for someone over 6 foot, we do exist and the strap is just that bit to short requiring me to buy one online that came from a seventies model Pentax when people were presumably taller.I also think the battery is another item that lets this camera down. Batteries have come a long way but this old beast first reared its head in the Pentax K7; my MacBook has an eighteen hour battery life and charges in no time compared to the first generation of Macs in 2009, but Pentax are still using this old type and it takes an age to charge up, and beware fast chargers on it.The biggest pain is having to forward/back focus all my lenses again, maybe one day there will be an auto feature for that, but the effort is worth it.I think that, when reading this back, it is obvious that my gripes are small fry compared to the functionality of the Pentax K3iii, it is excellent, but....As an after thought anyone who hasn't should go to the Pentax forum and read the reviews there, it is an excellent place for all things Pentax.Update: The original version of this camera I bought on Amazon I sent back and got a refund, why? Well it had clearly been used and was missing the manual and when I checked the Shutter count, let's say it wasn't zero. Amazon were great and gave me a refund with no problem. I bought the Pentax k3iii elsewhere and it is still amazing, there is also the ability to lock out the annoying focus shift, you just need to read the manual and it is all in there. In addition the update to the firmware allows for astrophotography with no additional purchases other than a tripod. Truly amazing.

I have had a K-70 for 5 years and with almost 50 000 activations, I knew that it would not last forever... or maybe it will.Anyway, with the K-3iii being on offer with my favourite lens, I took the plunge. While very pleased with my K-70, the K3iii feels far more professional in the hand. I am still getting used to the controls and keep on forgetting about the touch screen.Auto focus is greatly improved. The grip is comfortable in my smallish hands.I needed to make a choice between the K3iii and K1ii. I am happy with the APS-C format and the K3iii is better featured and a little smaller/lighter. Four of my seven lenses give full frame coverage but the K3iii means that I can continue to use my DA lenses.My photography is very varied: landscape, cityscapes, travel, family, macro, wildlife and sports.Bought as a 60th birthday present to myself, I am hoping it lasts me until I am 70!

Bought for safari trip to South Africa, brilliant photos and easy to use but lots to learn about this feature rich camera

Compared to the k3 mark 1, the k3iii is a major upgrade. The new view finder is large and bright. Noise levels are not bad at all even at 3200. Auto focus on this camera is much superior. Definitely a lot more in focus bird photos. Also with the latest firmware there is astro tracer 3 so there is no need for the gps unit for deep sky objects. You will still need the gps unit for wide angle night shots with earth bound foregrounds.

I have used the Pentax K series of DSLRs since the K20D (15 years ago). As such I know the system well. The Mk3 is a huge step up from the Mk2 K3 - for one thing the accuracy of exposure is excellent. It makes a huge difference post processing when 99 times out of 100 it's exposed correctly. Focussing is far superior too. For the first time I have been able to shoot wildlife without the camera suddenly focussing on grass between me and the animal.Pentax have provided loads of firmware updates since it was released and added major features like Astrotracer type 3 - look it up - it's incredible.I also like the fact that you can customise the buttons.It's a pricey camera but my goodness it's a good one. Build quality is incredible.

Fantastic camera. Main advantage is a real viewfinder that is as big as a FF camera viewfinder.AF works properly even in dark conditions.

A bit expensive but worth the cost

I am a big fan of Pentax and have had, and do presently own a lot of Pentax gear. However this model does have a few disappointment's from it's predecessor, the K3ii.No GPS this time around. No coloured focus confirmation in the viewfinder. The top display is very small and difficult to read by comparison. The lack of a tilt and turn back screen on a 'flagship' camera of this type is a big omission. Overall it is overcomplicated.

Un appareil qui me renvoie 30 ans en arrière, avec un argentique chargé en noir et blanc, à traquer un sujet s" adaptant à ce type de photo, le rendu est somptueux avec une gamme de gris étendue.

Pour les Pentaxistes, vous ne serez pas dépaysé et la prise en main sera rapide. La refonte du menu est parfaite. Le toucher du déclencheur est vraiment un plus par rapport au précédent boîtier. Le positionnement du bouton de lecture est plus intuitif pour un contrôle rapide après prise de vue. L'autofocus est très performant, enfin... Le bouton Mode AF, très pratique pour changer rapidement le suivi. La fonction SFn très utile à l'usage.Associé à un super Téléobjectif DAF 150-450, c'est l'outil absolu pour des prises de vue animalière et des shooting sportifs en bord de route et/ou de circuit. Potentiel énorme.Superbe boîtier digne d'un pro.

Ich bin restlos begeistert! Gestochen scharfe Bilder, super Weißabgleich, extreme Lichtempfindlichkeit, (meistens) superschneller Autofokus, 2 Kartenslots für doppelte Speicherung - Raidverbund, Laden und kopieren über USB-C Anschluss. Ich habe nach 15 Jahren meine Pentax K200D, mit der ich hoch zufrieden war und über 8.000 teilweise Superfotos gemacht habe durch die Pentax K3-Silver ersetzt. Mit der K3 habe ich für mich eine neue Dimension der Fotografie begonnen. Trotzdem verwende ich meine alten K-Objektive weiter. Spiegellose Systemkameras können mir gestohlen bleiben, denn sie waren schon vor 30 Jahren (Kameras optischen ohne Sucher) ein Irrweg.Schwachpunkte:SchwerAlt bekanntes Autofokusproblem verbessert aber nicht restlos behobenGummiabdeckung des USB-Steckers! Wie lange hält der wohl?Bildlöschen im Bildwiedergabemodus.Alles in Allem ist diese Kamera aber ein Supergerät! Da können sich Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus... mit ihren Systemkameras, auf die noch dazu die alten Objektive nicht passen nicht mit.

Alles bestens, top Ware, sehr zuverlässig und schnell. Gut zu empfehlen

Nach langem Überlegen, ob Systemwechsel nun doch die K-3 iii. Nach der K-5 bin ich von der K-3 mehr als begeistert. Schnell, extrem viele Features, Pentax typische Qualität. Ein echtes Upgrade. Keine Reue.Was fehlt? Ein bewegliches Display.Aufgefallen? Im LV-Modus ist die Fokussiergeschwindigkeit meiner Objektive deutlich herabgesetzt. Aber es stört nicht wirklich, denn ich habe die K-3 iii, weil ich ein Fan eines optischen Suchers bin.