| Author: | | New Member Registered: November, 2019 Posts: 1
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 1, 2023 | Recommended | Price: $560.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Well-built. Intuitive Controls. Great Image Quality. | | Cons: | Personally I'd like more ISO range at lower end of scale,eg ISO 64/50/25 | | Years Owned: 6 years
Ergonomics: 9
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 9
Autofocus: 8
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 9
New or Used: Used
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A latecomer to digital photography, after fifty years as a keen amateur and semi-professional film photographer, my K-3 was my first DSLR.
A well-built camera with totally intuitive controls, I took to it like a proverbial 'duck to water' and was instantly rewarded with very satisfying results. It now acts mainly as back-up to my K-1, but can always deliver the goods when I call on it to do so. I use it exclusively with prime lenses and frequently fitted with a D-BG5 battery grip, which is a real boon when shooting in portrait mode and aids my handling of the K-3 as I have big hands.
Image quality is excellent in J-PEG, certainly good enough for cropping down to square format for the 16" square 'head-shot' portraits I produce these days.
Like my K-1, it has more facilities than I either need or will ever use. Despite this I think it's a brilliant camera and I'm well-pleased it was my entry point into digital photography.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2017 Location: Ronneburg Posts: 1
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 2, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $484.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | very high IQ, Excellent handling, solid build Quality, WR, USB 3.0, bright optical viewfinder | | Cons: | non for me, i don't film only take photos | | Years Owned: half
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 9
Autofocus: 9
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 10
New or Used: Used
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After usage a ist DS K10d /K20d/K-x/ K-5 in this sequence.
What can i say? it is a real pleasure to use this awesome tool.
You'll never disappointed in the majority shot situations, assumed the camera has the preferred positions of the user adjustments.
And of course, never use this camera with bad lenses, if it is possible only prime lenses and better zooms.
Otherwise the potential of the camera does not come to validity.
For me to date the best APS-C Pentax.
PS: I am not a native speaker, please apologize some mistakes in the grammar and word order. | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: June, 2011 Posts: 485
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 26, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $400.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | image quality, build quality, feel, weather sealing | | Cons: | video and auto-focusing (when compared to competitors) | | Years Owned: 3
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 8
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 10
New or Used: Used
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I LOVED this camera. I'm using a K-1 now, and there is still not a week that goes by without me remembering this camera and wishing I still had it. That's how good it is.
In short, it has everything you need. The IQ is modern and keeps up with the best, the durability and reliability is top notch - I admit I have used this camera in rain and snow just pushing it to get one last shot before shutting it off and running for cover so I wouldn't destroy it. Never missed a beat.
I came to this camera from a Canon 70d, which is a fine camera in and of itself. I noticed the K-3 was WAY worse with auto-focus. It was slow, it would hunt, you couldn't always rely on it. In part, I could have done more to understand the auto-focus system and tweaks its modes to get the best out of it. But I didn't have to for the Canon. I just set it to the mode that seemed to make sense and it worked. The video was also worse, and still is bad. If you're coming from Pentax you know this and probably don't care, but it's worth mentioning if you care about hybrid shooting.
Okay, so why didn't I go back to Canon? Because when I picked up this camera I was in photographers heaven. It felt like a tool, not a toy. It felt purpose built. It quickly felt like an extension of my body. All of that mattered way more to me in the long-run, because I missed too many shots with the Canon because I just never got used to the menus, buttons and dials.
Image quality wise, the K-3 dominated, in my opinion. I love Canon colors, but the K-3's looked more mature. The files were better to deal with. The dynamic range was better. I just liked the images better.
Nowadays, you can get this camera for $300-400, which is amazing. Paired with the right glass and I don't think you can go wrong.
| | | | | Closed Account Registered: March, 2015 Posts: 8,694
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 22, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $1,015.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | 24 megapixels, build quality. ergonomics, great features, low light auto-focus | | Cons: | None for me | | Years Owned: December 2013
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 10
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 9
New or Used: New
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This camera body is a true gem IMO. The button layout is very intuitive for me and a pleasure to use. The low light auto-focus is fantastic. I teamed mine with a genuine D-BG5 grip and find this combination excellent. The specifications for this camera are common knowledge now, so I don't need to go into them, but if you want a great APS-C body, this would be my recommendation. With many owners of this camera moving to the Full Frame K-1, some bargains are sure to be had. There are no issues with this body anymore as the mirror flap problem was sorted out long ago with a firmware update. The photographs in the member galleries are a testament as to how good this camera is. I have included 2 of mine which I am quite happy with, just to show the versatility of the K-3. If you get a chance to pick one up, I can highly recommend this body.
 | | | | | | | Junior Member Registered: February, 2008 Location: UK Posts: 34 | | Review Date: March 28, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $1,200.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | 100% view finder, Weather Resistant, In Camera SR | | Cons: | No Tilting Screen, Although more AF points Actually not as good as K5 IMHO | | Years Owned: 2014
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 8
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 10
New or Used: New
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I don't think it's possible to find a better APSC camera from any manufacture at present. Image quality is excellent, build quality is first rate not that i would try but i swear i could hammer a nail in with this and not do it any damage. There's several reason why i buy Pentax every time which are 100% OVF, SR, WR and Build Quality. The only thing i would really like to see is a tilting LCD screen. I know people bang on about 4K video but Pentax knows its strength lies in Stills imagery and they excel at this. If you want Video i'd buy another brand but if you want great Stills Images then the K3 or its successor the K3II wont let you down.
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: September, 2013 Posts: 62 | | Review Date: January 16, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $700.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | metal body, dedicated grip, TOP camera at all | | Cons: | not found yet | | Years Owned: 1
Ergonomics: 9
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 9
Autofocus: 10
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 9
New or Used: New
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upgraded from K-30
I can say the camera is made at the highest level.
metal body, very efficient work of all the buttons and dials.
it is the TOP camera without doubts.
very strong an solid.
very fast and precise AF.
very silent shutter.
Only one strange moment, I must point out - it is imposed on the 4-way controller access to changing color profiles. I do not need use this function to much often. with this button You can change the color profile accidentaly and unexpectedly get really strange colors in the photos.
in the case of shooting on RAW it is not so important, but... in any case the camera is very good.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: September, 2012 Posts: 29 | | Review Date: January 4, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $800.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | great build quality and ergonomics, good stabilization, great IQ | | Cons: | shortish battery life | | Years Owned: less than 1
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 9
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 9
New or Used: Used
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Upgraded to the K3 from the K30. The K3 is awesome value for money when you compare it to Nikon/Canon rivals. The RAW files this camera produces are a joy to use. The build quality of this camera is awesome - the K3 makes similar priced cameras such as the D5500 feel like a toy. My only complaint is that the battery life in a bit underwhelming compared to what is advertised - not a big issue though.
| | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2015 Posts: 19
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 24, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $1,000.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Good at high ISO, Superb colour, Easy to navigate menus | | Cons: | None yet | | Years Owned: 6 Months
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 10
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 10
New or Used: New
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I recently upgraded to the K-3 from the K-x. The difference between the two cameras is, obviously, huge. The K-x is an older entry level DSLR, the K-3 is new and an advanced level camera. I read many K-3 reviews before purchase, so I knew it was going to be a very capable camera.
My first few shots with the K-3 were, to me, quite impressive. When I compared them with shots I have seen online that have been shot with the same camera, I was a little disappointed with what I was getting. They were not very sharp. Initially, I suspected that it might be that my lenses, budget zoom lenses, might need to be calibarated or upgraded. While looking at my pictures on the PC I began to notice a trend, I was expecting the camera to be sharp outside of my abilities, i.e. combined wide aperture and low shutter speed.
Now that I have started thinking more about the picture when I am taking it, as is expected of a camera at this level, the sharpness in my images is improving.
At present, I can't think of anything that I do not like about this camera, admittedly I haven't tried all of its features, but all I have used so far have been great. Here are a few of my favourite features:
86,000px Scene Metering - I think this is just awesome. I find that it meters accurately and makes post processing easy.
Pentax Menu System - The menus on the K-3 are exactly the same as on the K-x. Some items may have moved and there are many more items, but it is easy to navigate. This made the upgrade so much easier.
Pentax Colour Rendering - I loved the colours that came straight out of the K-x, I almost never had to adjust them in post. The colours, straight out of the K-3, are just as good and don't need to be enhanced.
Autofocus - In the K-3 this is a massive improvement it locks on quickly, even in scenes where the K-x would have struggled, e.g. shooting a small bird through the branches of a tree.
Dynamic Range - A few pictures I have taken have impressed me with just how much the sensor captures. See my niece below.
Lens - SMC Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED @ 300mm; ISO - 1600; f - 8.0; T - 1/200s (handheld)
This is a shot I do to practice handholding long shots, and, to see just how much the camera and lens can resolve. The couple in the foreground are about 150 to 200m from me. The yellow rails in the centre are 1,600m from me.
Lens - SMC Pentax-DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL @ 55mm; ISO - 200; f - 5.6; T - 1/100s
I took this picture of my niece using the AF540FGZ II wirelessly off camera and bounced off the ceiling, with the camera flash as control. The batteries in the flash died so the picture came out really dark (top right is how it was RAW with no adjustment). I had to really push it in processing (+3ev and a lot in leveling) to get it to lighten up. I was expecting to see a lot of noise from pushing the processing so much, but there was so little that I consider the fixed picture to be more than acceptable.
Lens - SMC Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED @ 300mm; ISO - 800; f - 8.0; T - 1/200s
I got lucky with this shot as the bird let me get really close, less than 5m. The detail in the feathers, even at the relatively high ISO is just amazing. See the 100% crop below.
 
Lens - SMC Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED @ 300mm; ISO - 640; f - 8.0; T - 1/200s
I was expecting this picture to be a lot darker than it is. This little robin was sitting low down in a hedge and was very well shaded. The metering system in the K-3 performed brilliantly to get this so beautifully lit.
My post processing skills are not brilliant so I keep processing to a minimum, levels, clarity and sharpening.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: November, 2012 Location: Newark, Delaware Posts: 1,035 | | Review Date: January 9, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $800.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | image quality, build quality, controls live view autofocus. | | Cons: | flimsy strap, no USB cable provided, manual is skimpy on information | | Years Owned: less than 1
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
Autofocus: 9
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 9
New or Used: New
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Improved on the already great K-5 wherever improvements could be made. A great camera overall. I especially like the autofocus improvement with screwdrive limited lenses and live view autofocus with macro lenses. Build quality is exceptional. The glass monitor screen seems like it will be less sensitive to scratches than the plastic screen on my K-5. The only cons are minor but it seems cheap to have left out the USB cable. I am sure it is inexpensive but it would have been nice to have it in the box as it was with K-5. While I am at it, I will likely get an aftermarket strap of a better quality more suitable to this very high quality camera.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: November, 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 594
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 14, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $1,000.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Fast focus, low light auto focus, fast saving to memory cards | | Cons: | Heavier than K5. Have to work out best jpg settings for hi iso | | Years Owned: 0.1
Ergonomics: 9
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 9
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 9
New or Used: New
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I have had a K5 classic for several years. I was tempted by the K5 IIs but ultimately waited for the K3 to reach a price point I was happy with.
The Pentax K3 is a fantastic camera.
The negatives are limited to:
- having to workout the best hi iso jpg settings after having the K5 for so long;
- the small increase in weight versus the K5. Its only 60gms but you notice it;
- movie recording (but I don't use it anyway);
- reduced dynamic range at 100 iso. The K5 at iso 80 is over 14ev that even most full frames cannot compete with so its tough competition);
- its lost the monochrome digital filter that I really liked using.
The positives are many and quite important in everyday use:
- a lot faster focussing in general terms;
- a lot faster focussing in tungsten or low light conditions;
- useful extra focus points for portrait shooting;
- a lot faster saving to memory cards (compared to the pedestrian K5);
- it makes all your lenses better due to the improved AF (my DA17-70 is actually a very good lens now, even at 70mm that everyone complains about);
- extra megapixels for cropping or even massive prints is useful. The cropping ability is more useful for me though;
- live view focussing is a lot faster;
- addition of focus peaking (compared to K5);
- increase in size of optical viewfinder (you don't notice the size increase so much but its brightness is definitely an improvement over the K5);
- general image quality is very good once you've figured the camera out (again after having the K7 and then K5 for so long you do have to go through a small learning process);
- I have even used the outside focus points in tungsten lighting and it worked. Happy about that as never worked eith K5 classic.
Overall, its the speed improvement of the K3 combined with still great ergonomics and image quality that make the K3 so great. Collectively it makes for a satisfying and worthy upgrade to the K5 classic.
If I had the K5 II it would be a harder sell as the AF in the K5 II is actually pretty good and of course the image quality of the previous generation 16MP sensor was nothing short of superb.
However, versus all other Pentax camera's and all other brand APS-C camera's the Pentax K3 is equal if not better than perhaps only the Canon 7D MK II. Note: I write off the Nikon D7100 due to its pathetic raw buffer.
As to any future improvements in a Pentax APS-C camera. Well these would be limited to:
- Including native wi-fi support;
- any AF improvements (although the current lenses I believe are a bigger road block);
- increasing the spread of the AF point area so that it covers a wider area;
- movies (although I would rarely use it for this).
The most fundamental improvement for me would be increasing the spread of the AF points.
You can see from my viewpoint it going to be very difficult for me to ever want to replace the K3 except for a full frame camera. The K3 is that good!
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: October, 2006 Location: North Face of Mount Shasta Posts: 120 | | Review Date: September 9, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $1,000.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Considering I'm coming from a K20d, about everything. | | Cons: | Not much yet, I'm not a big video shooter so the one area that the reviews consistently refer to with reservation (i.e. lack of video sophistication and somewhat sluggish live view) is of little concern to me. | |
I started out with the K1000, then the ME Super and istDS. I then purchased my ever reliable K20d. At 192,000 clicks, inconsistency in auto focus became her new middle name . She has been a long time companion and friend, one that was going to be difficult to replace. But it was time to look for that replacement.
I was originally looking to find a used K5 IIs ... by all reports, an excellent camera and the prices were outrageously good. During my search, I happened upon a Silver edition K3 with grip and FluCard ... after some very friendly negotiation ... I was able to secure it for a wonderful price. I couldn't pass it up, and I'm so very glad I didn't.
This camera is such a pleasure to use and the results are spectacular. Response from your ever input seems instantaneous. The auto focus is deadly fast and accurate. It has brought new life to all my lenses. My sigmas with HSM are more consistent and all of my Pentax screw drives are so fast now it's a little scary. Instead of the normal grinding sound you are used to hearing, they now have this increased speed high pitched whine. It's no more pleasant than the old sound, but it is quicker and more precise.
Image quality is what it's all about and the K3 doesn't disappoint. The sharpness out of the camera is wonderful, the colors seem very natural and realistically saturated. Resolution is just short of astounding and the noise levels may not aqppear as low as the k5 series, but it should give you enormous resolution with state of the art level noise levels. The K3 produces images that just have "the" look ... the one that Pentax has built it's reputation on.
I haven't found the learning curve all that difficult to pick up and most every control feels to be where it should be. It's comfortable and intuitive to use. The LCD screen is simply beautifully and much easier to use in bright light.
There is now doubt that this camera will be a proud successor to the role of Flagship for Pentax. I just can't wait to develop the same relationship with the K3 that I had with my K20d .... one of comfort, trust and extension of myself. If you are already invested in Pentax ... this will be a camera that is very hard to pass up.
cheers ...
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: December, 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 1,549
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 28, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $1,200.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Great to use | | Cons: | Bit heavy to lug around | | Years Owned: 3 months
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 9
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 10
New or Used: New
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So many nice, thoughtful features that you discover over time - it really is a camera designed by people who use a camera every day. I rated Autofocus 9, but only because the manual doesn't explain all the modes properly, so I'm still working it out. I haven't missed any shots, though...  The weight is a pain when it's in a bag, when held in the hands, it's perfect.
| | | | | Moderator
Site Supporter Registered: February, 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Posts: 11,276
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 25, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $1,600.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Ergonomics! and all the rest you have already heard about | | Cons: | It doesn't natively export 4k video by built in WiFi | | New or Used: New
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Come on. This camera rates worse than the K-5 II? For real??
Pants down, it is a better camera than my K-5 IIs in essentially every respect. Anyone who can't get better low light shots from the K-3 isn't trying.
jackassp, you can have my K-5 IIs any day if you want to swap it for your K-3.
| | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2014 Posts: 1 | | Review Date: August 5, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $1,400.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | | | Cons: | | | Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 10
Features: 10
Value: 9
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 9
New or Used: New
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I joined with the K100D with Pentax and then i had the K20D, K-x, K-r, K-5 and now the K-3. I've never been so satisfied with a Pentax as is currently the K-3.
The option with the Flucard i find awesome. The autofocus now applies also when it is dark its target and the noise is also acceptable for 24MP.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: February, 2007 Location: South Florida, USA Posts: 437 | | Review Date: July 29, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $865.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Built like a tank | | Cons: | Weighs like a tank | | Years Owned: 1
Ergonomics: 9
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 9
Autofocus: 9
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 10
New or Used: Used
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Moved up from a Nikon D7000. Features are more straight forward. Weatherproof is a big plus for my work.Buffer is huge. I feel like I could use this for 10 years or more.
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