Pentax K-3 II Review

Autofocus and Performance

The K-3 II shares its core hardware and AF module with the K-3.  However, its algorithm for continuous viewfinder autofocus has been tweaked.

The findings in our Pentax K-3 autofocus analysis and performance analysis still apply to the K-3 II, so we recommend that you read them prior to continuing.

Pentax K-3 II with 150-450mm Lens

While quantitative tests are beyond the scope of this review, we found the K-3 II to be more responsive when photographing subjects moving toward or away from the camera in burst mode.  We tested subjects such as running horses and cars.  The K-3 II is able to re-focus between photos more quickly than any other Pentax body.  Our findings agree with certain user reports posted on the forum.

In the grand scheme of things, this is a slight improvement which could likely have been addressed through a firmware update in other Pentax bodies.  The K-3 II's continuous autofocus is still shy of the industry leaders, but we are happy that things continue to move in the right direction.

We feel that all but the most demanding sports/action photographers will be happy with the Pentax K-3 II's autofocus speed, burst shooting, and everyday performance.