Pentax K-3 SLR Camera - Body Only

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Awesome camera. Totally awesome I have been shooting Pentax cameras for years now and do not intend to stop any time soon. My K20d is getting a little old so I decided to spring for the K-3 and wow is it a step in the right direction. A HUGE step. Flawless ergonomics, two card slots, HUGE range of lens options, good high ISO performance and range, resolution is great, Shake Reduction on every lens. I could go on and on about why this camera is awesome but the specs speak for themselves. It delivers on every single point they advertise it on and then some. You wont regret this purchase.

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Ive been a Pentax user for a few years. My previous cameras were the K-7 and K-01. The K-3 is leaps and bounds ahead of both. The autofocus is always spot-on. Ive taken about 200 shots so far; the AF hasnt missed one. Many of these were in low-light. I havent tried the continuous AF on moving subjects, yet. The detail capture is stellar. Kudos to Pentax/Ricoh for removing the AA filter. High ISO and noise: I was impressed. The amount of noise with extreme ISO levels (12,800 - 25,600) at 100% is about the same as the last generation of APS-C cameras. But heres the catch: you have way more pixels to work with, so the noise performance is actually great. If you were to downsize a high-ISO image from the K-3 and compare it to a high-ISO image from last generation, the K-3 would look significantly better. (Though it already looks really good before you even clean it up.) Body: I havent really tested this camera yet, but it seems to be built as tough as the previous top-end Pentax DSLRs. I put my K-7 through all kinds of abuse: rain, snow, the tropics, and a minor chemical accident. 20,000 shots and a few years later - still works like the day I got it (the 18-55 WR kit lens, too). The ergonomics have not changed a lot, but the K-3 seems slightly more comfortable to hold and easy to operate (thanks to a couple of button layout changes) than the K-7. YMMV. -----The 18-135 lens---- The bundled lens is a mixed bag. The build quality and autofocus are excellent. The zoom range is very useful. The sharpness in the center of the image is good. But the border sharpness is a huge letdown. I believe the trusty (and cheaper) old 18-55 WR has better border sharpness, which makes a difference in landscape photography (at least if you are pixel-peeper or plan on printing big poster-size prints). If youre after excellent image quality with weather-sealing, better look to the DA* 16-50. Or save yourself some money and buy the DA 18-55 WR if you only need good image quality. I would only recommend the 18-135 bundle if you want the versatility of a wide-to-telephoto zoom and youre willing to give up image quality around the edges of the frame.

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Okay....so Ive always had Pentax Cameras, so I may be a bit biased. This is my third Pentax DLSR and I had 2 SLRs and a film Point and Shoot before this. After buying my last one (a D200), I had thought about moving to a different brand... When the K3s came out and the price for the K3 dropped, I decided that I didnt need to make the move. The K3 has everything that I need from a camera, and the flash and lenses that I already own will work on it and it was a no brainier. With all of that said, this camera is a joy to use. Menu system is good, and the amount of the controls available outside of that are great. It fits my hand well and its weather sealing, along with the weather sealed lenses, make it great to take out on the boat, or for those moody pictures in drizzle, lighter rain, or fog. Color accuracy seems great to me and the low noise levels allow me to take pictures of my son playing college hockey. Overall, I really like this camera and am overjoyed that I could get it at a great cost. I just hope that I dont get lured in by their new full-frame camera.

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If you are interested in this camera, I assume you are either motivated to not buy Nikon or Canon, or at minimum you are not opposed to the idea of being a little different. For the cost of explaining to you friends that Pentax does still make very good cameras, you get a feature set that above and beyond what the "Big Two" offer at this price. Along that line, this is Pentaxs current flagship camera. That means they held nothing back. There are no capabilities reserved for more expensive cameras in the line, and that should eliminate any buyers remorse. If you enjoy using manual focus, a Pentax Camera is a no brainer. Their DSLRs use the classic Pentax K mount. This allows you to mount (without an adapter) an arsenal of great old lenses. Did I mention in-body image stabilization? Not only can you build a small library of lenses, but utilize modern (and very effective) image stabilization on every one. In the K-3 Pentax dedicated a servo to its image stabilization. As for the K-3... I also own a K-30 and purchased the K-3 to be a primary body, with the K-30 serving backup, in order to start taking on portrait contracts. Do not let the APS-C sensor size steer you away. Many pros are now shooting Fujifilm (APS-C) and Olympus (m4/3). The focus peaking is very accurate and easy to use. The dual SD card slots is a nice pro feature. However, if you were hoping for WiFi, this is only achieved via SD card. Considering the trend towards connected cameras, this is unfortunate. But if you shoot RAW and dedicate your time to a post-processing workflow, than WiFi may be unnecessary. The IQ is brilliant and the colors and WB are the best I have seen from Pentax. The shutter/mirror sound is very quiet and precise sounding. And if you are interested in video capabilities, Pentax has finally taken you into consideration with the K-3. The camera is very customizable if you take the time to explore the labyrinth of menu screens. Overall, this camera is a leap forward for the company. PS. A firmware update was just released so any issues you may read about prior to Dec. 19th may have been addressed in the new firmware.

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Up front, please be advised that this camera does not come with the required Micro-B USB 3.0 cord, which I found out at 9:30PM, eager to look at my first shots with the new Pentax. I upgraded from a three year old Pentax K-5, which is an amazing camera in its own right. There is a certain quality to the images I got from the K-5, the dynamic range that enables the camera to draw photos unlike any other I have seen. The K3 has the same sensor characteristics, albeit in a much larger 24mp package and much much sharper thanks to the removed deep pass filter (which can be simulated by the sensor if needed). So far I have had no need for the filter after taking 1000+ shots, even though test shots of some fabric did display moiré patterns which were almost gone turning on the deep pass filter simulator (there are two stages available). The clarity and crispness is amazing! The RAW images the K3 spits out contain data from the darkest blacks to the brightest whites, giving enormous room for developing the RAW photos to JPEG. Comparable cameras like the Canon 70D have all the bells and whistles, like built in wireless, touch screen, video autofocus etc. That is nice to have if you like gadgets, if you like cameras, get the K3. Itll wipe the floor with the 70D in photographic output. The only feature I envy the 70D for is the swivel screen, which would be a great photographic tool to have. Maybe itll be implemented in the next model. The dual cards are great for shooting RAW+JPEG for example, or just using the convenience it provides to have massive amounts of storage available if needed. The live view function has been massively improved over the K5, the focus being several times snappier and accurate. I took over 600 shots last weekend alone in combination with the mind-blowing Pentax 35mm 2.8 Limited Macro and the Sigma 70mm 2.8 Macro. The bokeh, colors and contrast these lenses paint onto the K3s sensor are pure art! Cant say it any differently. If you are starting out and arent yet locked into any camera brand, give the K3 a go. It is an innovative, solid as a tank, pure camera, aimed at taking the best photos possible.

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If you have questions I would be happy to answer them. There are literally hundreds of other user reviews for this item, so I will not be duplicating it. It is very simple Pentax cameras are made by photographers FOR photographers. The layout of buttons, the feel of this well built machine, the worry-free magnesium alloy weather sealed body, and most importantly the always awesome Pentax image quality. This thing is a beast. And for the prices they are selling this for it is a WHITE HOT steal of a bargain. Just order, make sure you have the latest firmware, 2 SD cards ready to roll, some juice in the battery and you are ready to take amazing photos. There is NO CAMERA COMPANY that gives you so much for your money. The only words of caution I would give is that this is not an entry level camera; this is on the opposite side of the spectrum semi-pro/professional level. It won the TIPA 2014 Expert level DSLR award and the EISA 2015 advanced DSLR awards. If you are new to DSLRs I would recommend a Pentax K-50 (also selling for a ridiculous low price) or the KS-2, those two are slightly more user friendly, but still pretty advanced. You can always go for the KS-1 which I do believe is now the Pentax entry level camera system. Either way if you care about stills photography you cannot go wrong with Pentax. I love them from day one a K-x entry level system, then on to a K-30 and now the big leagues with the K-3. Dont hesitate and buy buy buy.... UPDATE 8-18-2015: SO the tornado sirens are blaring, lightning is flashing all around, take shelter? NO! Take pictures. So I run inside to grab who knows what and place my new baby on top of the washing machine. I then go to run outside and look down and my baby has fallen 4.5 to the ground. I will not bore you with the details of broken filters and potentially ruined threads, what I will tell you is this camera is a TANK. It hit the ground from far away and didnt even have a single scratch on it. THANK YOU Ricoh/Pentax for making this thing out of Mag-alloy. The camera AND the lens are fine, besides some potential thread damage. I do not have to worry about replacing a $350-400 lens and a $600+ camera. XOXOXO Ricoh/Pentax you have a customer FOR LIFE!!!

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This new enthusiast level camera shows that Pentax/Ricoh is serious about staying in the DSLR game. It is a top-to-bottom redesign, replacing the already good K-5ii and K-5iis. Feature-wise, spec-wise and performance-wise, the K-3 easily competes with the Nikon D7100 and Canon 70d. But in some ways it has even a little more to offer. Notably, this is the only camera on earth that can emulate having an AA filter, (to use when moire might be a risk), but without the full-time sacrifice of detail imposed by installing a true low pass filter. In addition, Im not sure anyone else offers a star-tracking feature that uses GPS (optional) and the mirror to follow the earths rotation. Very cool. But most importantly, this cameras anti-shake is built into the body, not the lenses - meaning it works even with any old K-mount lens you find at a garage sale. And the system works quite well, buying you 3ev or so. Pros will enjoy having two SD slots, very fast continuous shooting and a slick new auto-focus system that is (finally!) first rate - as good as anyones. The K-3 is pretty forgiving about low light / high ISO shooting. Youll see some noise at 3200 but it cleans up pretty easily. While the video has greatly improved over prior models, there is still no continuous AF, making other choices more attractive for those planning to record their little girls first ballet. (Think Canon.) This camera is for still-shooters, who will fall in love with it. For existing Pentax owners, the upgrade is largely familiar in terms of control placement. What moved, mostly, needed to. Using the camera is a breeze once you learn the controls, and there are many. Within a week, though, I found I could control the camera even in the dark, so the layout must be fairly intuitive. Better, so much can be controlled from buttons and switches that I almost never need to navigate the menu. Image quality is superb, and with 24mp one can crop deeply and retain surprisingly sharp detail. Colors are rich but authentic and white balance, so far, has been spot-on using the auto setting. Ricoh has placed their badge on the cameras back - I guess thats OK, as long as the Pentax name stays on the front. While nobody else is close to the Big Two in this market, Id hate to see the Pentax brand weakened or supplanted. That said, we can thank Ricoh and their deep pockets for building a superior enthusiast-grade DSLR. Hope they keep them coming!

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I love this camera. I upgraded from the Canon T3i, and went back and forth between this one and the Nikon D7100. I actually ordered the 7100, got it, and returned it for the K3. The 7100 feels like a plastic toy compared to the K3. This things just *feels* amazing in hands. Sturdy, waterproof, solid. I couldnt afford a lens for the first month I had it, but I found some older manual Pentax lenses at a thrift store for $10. I know that good glass is important, but the old manual lenses worked great for the first month. I ended up buying the Pentax 50mm 1.8 and 35mm 2.4 lens, which is less than $200 for both. Im a hobby photographer, but this camera most definitely has the capability of capturing professional photos. It handles well in low light, and has produced some lovely images for me. Some people complain about the autofocus, but it works just fine if you dial in the focus settings. I wont be upgrading any time soon, and if I do it will be when Pentax comes out with a full-frame camera.

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Photography was my hobby starting in the 70s I started learning as a Jr High School yearbook photographer. This progressed from a hobby in the 80s to a way to make a living. Sometimes in the late 80s I began to despise even picking up a camera. My hobby was ruined. In a nutshell I layed my Nikon SLR down and vowed never to pick up a camera again. Fast forward to 2016, this is where the review actually starts. For some reason I started looking for a DSLR. After always shooting Nikon I started to look there. Everything in my price range was lackluster. Then I happened across the K-3. In its price range it was leaps and bounds ahead of the other manufacturers. This camera is built like a tank. The weather sealing is incredible, the lens selection is incredible. Not only would you pay 40% more for a camera of this caliber from the other guys. But you would still come up short of this K-3. It can be very easy to use.Or sometimes a little difficult. If there was one single complaint it would be the wifi card that you need to add in to get wifi. I found that to be very lack luster. As a matter of fact I went with the X2 Pro card from Eyefi. It has been real fun using this camera for hobbyist type shooting. It gives you the ability to control any settings to get your pics to turn out they way you want them to. It is amazing how much easier it is to shoot with digital vs film. It makes photography a breeze. And even though this is a prosumer range camera even an amateur photographer can get excellent results with the K-3. Thanks Pentax for allowing photography to be a hobby again.

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Ok so Ive had this camera for around 3 months now, so I thought I would wright my review now. So when I purchased this camera I knew that I would be testing its durability within 3 days of the cameras arrival; as we were taking a trip to Holiday Valley Ski Resort in New York during the winter time. I was able to get some nice shots and excellent video despite the camera being exposed to winds equivalent to about -10 degrees... So, I took this camera PAST what the manufacturers limits were and it still preformed perfectly with ice crystals frozen all over the camera body including buttons! All I had to do was take the camera indoors for about 10 mins and all the ice thawed to test its waterproofing. Ive taken this camera in the HEAVY snow on about 2-4 separate occasions and it handled the intense cold and wet snow flakes like a beast! Ive also exposed this camera to hard rain and humid weather, all the while the camera lived up to its many weather sealing. Ive not yet exposed the camera to extreme dust or sands, but I am confident that it would take it also like a beast! Ive been using the 18-135mm WR lens with a high quality UV filter to seal the lens off, and no problems concerning the weather sealing on the lens. MAKE SURE YOU SEAL YOUR LENS OFF WITH A FILTER TO MAKE IT 100% SEALED Theres a few minor glitches, one is that sometimes it acts like it wants to lock focusing in manual mode making a constant "Beep" sound like its telling you that the autofocus points are locked in place, other than an annoyance its not to big of a problem. A piece of the eyecup has already torn off, but that may just have been my own fault. Video mode is pretty darn good for what I have used it for! People say that the mic is terrible and that the video is O.K., but I took this camera to a exotic car event and it managed to capture all the engine revs and crackles as the cars zoomed off! Sure I guess its not "professional grade" but I cant tell a difference cause it worked just fine for me. The pictures this camera takes are great quality. I shoot all 24mp as well as shooting RAW, and I get sharp crisp images. Sometimes with the midday sun, my camera tends to over expose my RAW image, but nothing I cant handle in post processing. The 8fps burst mode is INSANE! When I need to capture every moment, I drop my pictures down to 14mp in JPEG and let this thing loose! It sounds so satisfying! The battery life is incredible! Unless Im taking constant video, 1 battery will last me a full day with the camera being on (I keep the screen off always and have my LCD panel brightness OFF during the day time) if not 2 or 3 days! I bought the battery grip that Pentax sells just for those long days of constant use or times you forget your charger (yes that happened to me recently). All photos in this review were shot in RAW DNG, with my K3, then edited. They are also MY photos lol. In total, Ill give this camera a good 9/10 I hope this review helps you decide to buy this camera instead of a $1,500 equivalent of Canon or Nikon :) This camera is truly a large bang for the buck! It offers everything for a small price that other name brands would skyrocket. I highly recommend getting the 18-135mm lens with it as I hardly use anything else due do how expansive the lens is. And the battery grip with a spare battery in it works wonders if you know youll need it!

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