The Pentax K-3 is the latest flagship DSLR from Ricoh and one which, on paper, offers a number of interesting upgrades over its predecessors. We recently spent a couple of weeks with the surprisingly compact DSLR to see if features including an enhanced in-body shake reduction and a Pixel Shift Resolution mode can help the camera compete with the likes of the Canon EOS 7D and Nikon D7200.
- Following on from the Pentax K-3 which was released in 2013, the Pentax K-3 II is currently the firm’s enthusiast-focused flagship DSLR – sitting above the more entry-level K-S1 and K-S2, and below the medium format 645Z. Next year we’re due to see the launch of a full-frame Pentax DSLR, but until then this crop sensor DSLR is where we get to see the headline features doing their thing.
- 24.35-megapixels
- APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) CMOS sensor
- Sensor-shift shake reduction
- Pixel Shift Resolution
- 27-point AF
- GPS
- 8.3 fps continuous shooting
- ISO 100 - 51200
- Full HD 1080p video
- Stainless steel and magnesium alloy build
- Weather-sealed
Given the hype mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras get for being small, it’s sometimes easy to forget that crop sensored DSLRs can themselves be significantly smaller than their full frame counterparts. Picking up the Pentax K-3 II we were pleasantly surprised by both its size and weight. It strikes a good balance of portability and ergonomics.
Using a stainless steel and magnesium alloy build, the camera also feels solid in the way you would expect from a flagship device. Pentax has a pedigree for producing rugged and weather-sealed cameras, and the K-3 II is no exception. A total of 92 protection seals mean you can (lens allowing) use it in weather conditions in which many other cameras would be better left at home. The K-3 II also feels so tough that you might be inclined to use it to hammer a nail into a wall, but please don’t.
As we’ve already said, the Pentax K-3 II is a nice size and reasonable weight for the sort of camera it is. While it has a slightly blocky and square appearance to it, it feels good in the hand with a deep grip making it easy to hold and carry. It also has all of the physical controls that you’d expect of a flagship DSLR, with plenty of satisfying buttons and dials.
Nice touches include the locking mode dial which sits on the top of the camera, and the classic green back-light on the top information display. The one physical feature of the camera which we didn’t like was the eye-cup on the optical viewfinder which felt flimsy. That said, the viewfinder itself offers 100 percent frame coverage which makes composing shots with the camera a pleasure.
The GUI which is used on the 3.2-inch rear screen is clear and easy to navigate if you are already used to using a high-end camera, though there will be a learning curve for those upgrading from their smartphone or a point-and-shoot. Shooting modes range from Green Mode (where almost everything is set to auto and you are essentially using a big interchangeable lens point-and-shoot) through shutter and aperture priority modes, up to fully manual where you are in entire creative control, and where this camera excels.
No comments