Pentax has recently increased the frequency with which it introduces new DSLRs; the K-3 II is the company’s third introduction in less than a calendar year. The K-3 has been replaced by the current top-of-the-line DSLR from the firm, which also includes the introduction of several new capabilities intended to steal the thunder of enthusiast cameras from industry giants Canon and Nikon.
Although it only has an APS-C-sized sensor, the K-3 II sits at the very top of Pentax’s product line. However, it competes most closely with mid-range or enthusiast cameras like the Nikon D7200 and Canon EOS 70D, at least in terms of pricing.
Pentax K-3II Pentax DSLR
- 24 effective mega-pixels in an APS-C sized CMOS sensor with ISO range of 100-51200.Resolution:24.35 Megapixels
- Built-in GPS with Astro Tracer Function for Astro photography with built in compass function
- 24 effective mega-pixels in an APS-C sized CMOS sensor with ISO range of 100-51200.Resolution:24.35 Megapixels
- Built-in GPS with Astro Tracer Function for Astro photography with built in compass function
- Pixel Shift Resolution by in body shake reduction function for razor sharp images with excellent detail and color reproduction
- FLU, Eye-fi Wireless, and SDX Memory card compatibility for easy image transfer to mobile devices and remote control of camera
- Dual SD card slot
The High Res Shot mode included in the Olympus OM-D E-M5 II is conceptually similar to the Pixel Shift Resolution System found in the Pentax K-3 II, which is the camera’s standout feature and what Pentax refers to as their “Pixel Shift Resolution System.” In this case, however, it is not meant to increase the number of pixels but rather to improve the amount of color information collected for each pixel.
Pentax K-3 II Build Quality
The K-3 II gives off the impression of being a well-built piece of equipment, both visually and tactilely. The grip and other portions of the camera have a textured finish, which provides a fair deal of additional purchase and contributes to the overall impression that the camera is of excellent quality. You may rest your middle finger in a comfortable indentation on the handle, and the back of the camera has a prominent thumb rest for you to rest your thumb on.
The abundance of dials and buttons on the Pentax K-3 II indicates that it is designed more for amateur than professional photographers. One of the scroll wheels is located on the back of the camera, and it fits comfortably under your hand. Another scroll wheel is located in front of the shutter release, and it fits comfortably under your forefinger.
The speed of the shutter is controlled by the front dial by default, while the aperture is adjusted using the rear dial. It is a very natural way to operate. Both will function if you are shooting in the Manual mode; however, only one of the two will work if you are shooting in the Shutter priority mode or the Aperture priority mode.
The dial that controls the exposure mode is located on the upper left of the camera. In addition to the standard automatic, semi-automatic, and manual shooting modes, the Pentax has two ways that are unique to the brand: sensitivity priority, in which you set the ISO value and the camera chooses the aperture and shutter speed, and shutter-and-aperture priority, in which you set the aperture and shutter speed and the camera chooses the ISO. Both of these modes are available in both the digital and film SLR models.
Pentax K-3 II Performance
Images taken with the K-3 II impressed us just as much as those taken with the K-3 did. JPEG photographs have much power even when taken straight from the camera.
You have several options to pick from in the Picture Control menu, giving you the ability to select the style that is most appropriate for the environment or subject that you are photographing. If you want the colors in a nature or wildlife picture to be more vivid, for example, you might choose the Bright or Vibrant preset. On the other hand, if you want the tones in a portrait to be a little bit more muted, you could use the Natural or Portrait preset.
When you look at the photographs in DNG (raw format), the colors are a little bit more subdued, which provides you with a good deal of leeway when it comes to making the color adjustments that you want in post-production.
Pentax K-3 II Image Quality
The Pentax K-3 II was capable of producing photographs of a very high grade. The Pentax K-3 II adequately handles the noise. It may be seen beginning at ISO 1600 and becoming more plainly discernible at faster settings such as ISO 3200 and 6400 when viewing photographs at 100% magnification on screen (particularly in the RAW files).
On paper, the quickest settings of 12800, 25600, and mainly 512000 appear considerably better than when captured by the camera. The color saturation is steady over the whole ISO range, which is quite impressive.
The JPEG photographs with 24 megapixels were a touch soft right out of the camera when the default sharpening option was used. For the best results, you should do further sharpening in an application such as Adobe Photoshop; alternatively, you may modify the setting directly in the camera.
While using the telephoto end of the zoom range or when hand-holding the camera in low-light settings, image stabilization that is built into the camera body is an excellent feature that works exceptionally well. It is compatible with any lens that you choose to connect to the K-3 II is an additional advantage.
The Digital Filters enable you to generate distinctive effects in a short amount of time. At the same time, the Custom Images allow you to adjust to fit your needs better and may be used in place of the digital darkroom in many situations.
The D-Range choices assist in making the most out of both the shadows and highlights in a high-contrast scene (and it works for both JPEG and RAW files), while the HDR mode significantly widens the dynamic range of a JPEG by merging three shots with varied exposures in-camera.
The new anti-aliasing simulator helps to eliminate moire without the need for an accurate optical filter to do so. At the same time, the multi-exposure mode combines two and 2,000 separate JPEG or RAW photos into a single image.
Pentax K-3 II Specs
Body type | Mid-size SLR |
---|---|
Max resolution | 6016 x 4000 |
Other resolutions | 4608 x 3072, 3072 x 2048, 1920 x 1080 |
Image ratio w:h | 3:2 |
Effective pixels | 24 megapixels |
Sensor photo detectors | 25 megapixels |
Sensor size | APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) |
Sensor type | CMOS |
Processor | Prime III |
ISO | Auto, 100 – 51200 |
White balance presets | 9 |
Custom white balance | Yes (3 slots) |
Image stabilization | Sensor-shift |
Image stabilization notes | 4.5 stops of shake reduction |
Uncompressed format | RAW |
JPEG quality levels | Best, better, good |
Autofocus | Contrast Detect (sensor)Phase DetectMulti-areaCenterSelective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousFace DetectionLive View |
Digital zoom | No |
Manual focus | Yes |
Number of focus points | 27 |
Lens mount | Pentax KAF2 |
Focal length multiplier | 1.5× |
Articulated LCD | Fixed |
Screen size | 3.2″ |
Screen dots | 1,037,000 |
Touch screen | No |
Screen type | TFT LCD monitor |
Live view | Yes |
Viewfinder type | Optical (pentaprism) |
Viewfinder coverage | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.95× (0.63× 35mm equiv.) |
Minimum shutter speed | 30 sec |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/8000 sec |
Aperture priority | Yes |
Shutter priority | Yes |
Manual exposure mode | Yes |
Subject / scene modes | No |
Built-in flash | No |
External flash | Yes (Hot shoe, flash sync port) |
Flash modes | 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, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync (available with dedicated external flash) |
Continuous drive | 8.3 fps |
Self-timer | Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) |
Metering modes | MultiCenter-weightedSpot |
Exposure compensation | ±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) |
AE Bracketing | ±2 (2, 3, 5 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) |
WB Bracketing | No |
Resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) |
Format | MPEG-4, H.264 |
Microphone | Mono |
Speaker | Mono |
Storage types | Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC |
USB | USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) |
HDMI | Yes (mini) |
Microphone port | Yes |
Headphone port | Yes |
Wireless | Optional |
Wireless notes | Special version of Flu Card available |
Remote control | Yes (optional, wired or wireless) |
Environmentally sealed | Yes (Weather and dust resistant) |
Battery | Battery Pack |
Battery description | Lithium-Ion D-LI90 rechargeable battery & charger |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 720 |
Weight (inc. batteries) | 800 g (1.76 lb / 28.22 oz) |
Dimensions | 131 x 100 x 77 mm (5.16 x 3.94 x 3.03″) |
Orientation sensor | Yes |
Timelapse recording | Yes (up to 9999 pictures) |
GPS | Built-in |
GPS notes | Records lat/long, altitude, time, and direction |
Pentax K-3 II Verdict
Pentax has not completely redesigned its already very good K-3 to produce the K-3 II; however, the company has added some innovative and potentially beneficial technology to the camera, encouraging many enthusiast photographers to take a second look at a camera that is not a Canon or a Nikon.
The Pixel Shift Resolution Technology is something that piques my curiosity, and it’s encouraging to see different firms come up with novel approaches to improve the quality of the photographs they create.
The difference between regular images and those shot in Pixel Shift mode is so subtle that it is difficult to discern for most subjects. However, if you are a photographer who enjoys capturing extremely high-detail macro and still-life images, you might find this feature helpful.
Putting pixel shifting to the side, photographs captured at the usual resolution are superb. They include an abundance of detail and brilliant colors, and they may be modified to cater to specific subjects or individual preferences.
Pentax K-3 II Price
Pentax K-3II Pentax DSLR
- 24 effective mega-pixels in an APS-C sized CMOS sensor with ISO range of 100-51200.Resolution:24.35 Megapixels
- Built-in GPS with Astro Tracer Function for Astro photography with built in compass function
- 24 effective mega-pixels in an APS-C sized CMOS sensor with ISO range of 100-51200.Resolution:24.35 Megapixels
- Built-in GPS with Astro Tracer Function for Astro photography with built in compass function
- Pixel Shift Resolution by in body shake reduction function for razor sharp images with excellent detail and color reproduction
- FLU, Eye-fi Wireless, and SDX Memory card compatibility for easy image transfer to mobile devices and remote control of camera
- Dual SD card slot