[repaap]

For the benefit of others who are reading this - there is no simple answer.

Yes, the K-3 III does not have a dedicated AF processor (as far as we know; but that would be a 3 processor architecture - highly unlikely).
Yes, the K-3 III have a better processor - they call it PRIME V. And the improved Image Accelerator Unit, which takes over from the main processor's tasks.
But we cannot say if the K-3 III's better processor + IAU can offset a dedicated AF processor.

I think that you are spot on. What is remarkable with Pentax and also Ricoh is that they seem to optimise their workflow. I suppose that some would prefer more of processing power. And another processor. If one will take a while and think of why. They first of all had a change to change all. Perhaps this would be too much. And for nothing. But for what we have seen so far, prime, accelerator and SR has taken a huge step forward. We do not know how those does share tasks. Or do we?

One thing connected to this system is that new RGB sensor. Which should be one of the biggest things when you analyse the bigger picture. How and why and what ham as been done .

To be absolutely honest. If it does work and can be updated. I actually don’t even care

[BryantCP]

...in reply to KWB.

"As far as I know a part of Nikon D810's top LCD is always on, cannot remember other makers. Anyway, it sounds like a useful feature with truly negligible impact on battery (see below)."

Even older Nikons like the D700 has an always-on display showing the numbers of shots remaining on the memory card. Shows as: [xxx] for instance [217] in the upper right corner of the top display.

[Kunzite]

It's not only the top LCD, but also the viewfinder screen - you can see, on the K-1, how the image becomes darker if you remove the battery.
It's not something to worry about.

[Parry]

This actually looks promising if the next iteration of the K-1 matches or surpasses this.

What's the £ price for the K-3III? I only ask to gauge the likely price of the next K-1. I'm at an impasse right now, about to sell all stuff Pentax with exception of the three FA Limited's.

[Cerebum]

One thing I do repeat over and over again is that it's good to have a choice.
And I also have a GR III. It does why my DSLRs can't - fits in a t-shirt pocket.

Pocket camera purist! 😁

[boriscleto]

The only thing I care about now is finding out if this new AF will help me find out the air speed velocity of a unladen swallow.

[Serkevan]

The only thing I care about now is finding out if this new AF will help me find out the air speed velocity of a unladen swallow.

African or European, though?

[luftfluss]

The only thing I care about now is finding out if this new AF will help me find out the air speed velocity of a unladen swallow.

An African or European swallow?

[repaap]

This actually looks promising if the next iteration of the K-1 matches or surpasses this.

What's the £ price for the K-3III? I only ask to gauge the likely price of the next K-1. I'm at an impasse right now, about to sell all stuff Pentax with exception of the three FA Limited's.

I do agree and I suppose that next gen K-1 is on the table as we speak. if you think how much K-3III improved over previous gen, then K-1 should be very impressive. It will not be cheap thou. If this K-3 will be 1800-2000€ I suppose K-1III(or what ever it will be) should be 2500? Still, that should not be too bad actually and can have more bells and whistle than this K-3III.

[TwoUptons]

African or European, though?

That’s localized in the menus.
Driven by your gps position and a quick check with the local Audubon folks.

Also does not work with dead parrots...

-Eric (not Idle)

[phoebus]

That’s localized in the menus.
Driven by your gps position and a quick check with the local Audubon folks.

Also does not work with dead parrots...

-Eric (not Idle)

It’s not dead, it’s pining for the fjords..

[RobG]

The f/2.8 AF "points" in the centre have a wider AF measuring base than the regular AF "points".

By "base" I assume you mean the f-stop of the lens wide open.

Regular AF areas have an f/5.6 base and are therefore less precise than the f/2.8 AF areas in the centre. The wider the AF base, the more precise the focusing, but the earlier they go "blind" as well. Regular AF areas support AF up until about f/8 wide open AF, the more precise ones won't work with lenses that are slower than f/4 wide open.

Which is presumably why Pentax aim for f4 fixed aperture lenses like the DA*300 f4 and DA 16-45 f4. Thanks for the explanation!

It was pretty straight forward that an f2.8 sensor would be more sensitive than an f5.6 sensor, but the term I was curious about was measuring flux luminance.

---------- Post added 01-03-21 at 09:06 AM ----------

-Eric (not Idle)

Are all your posts called Eric?

[beholder3]

It was pretty straight forward that an f2.8 sensor would be more sensitive than an f5.6 sensor, but the term I was curious about was measuring flux luminance.

I would reject the term "sensitive" here as this has nothign to do with "sensitivity" in the sense that it usually is used in.
f/2.8 sensor just watch the subject through areas more to the edges of the lens and therefore any deviation from correct focus means that they see bigger shifts between the two "images" each line sensor collects. These bigger shifts allow added precision.


They are neither more sensitive (as in: low light) nor do they allow quicker focussing.

It is exactly the same what the angle of the two prisms on a split screen focusing screen do: Datei:Mattscheibe mit Schnittbildindikator-2735.jpg ? Wikipedia
The difference of the shift between the two split images is caused by them looking left/right to the edges through the lens. If you increase the angles of the split parts they are using F4 or F2.8 or F1.4 or whatever. And they will go black with any lens with an aperture that is so small that no image is coming through on the edge where the prism is looking.

[RobG]

I would reject the term "sensitive" here as this has nothign to do with "sensitivity" in the sense that it usually is used in.

OK. I'll see if I can find more information about how cross focus sensors work, because I'm sorry, but I couldn't follow the information which you posted. Yes, I know what a split image focus prism is like because the first SLR I used had one (the Chinon CE4s). But also I didn't see anything in your reply about flux luminance.

[MMVIII]

I would reject the term "sensitive" here as this has nothign to do with "sensitivity" in the sense that it usually is used in.
f/2.8 sensor just watch the subject through areas more to the edges of the lens and therefore any deviation from correct focus means that they see bigger shifts between the two "images" each line sensor collects. These bigger shifts allow added precision.


They are neither more sensitive (as in: low light) nor do they allow quicker focussing.

It is exactly the same what the angle of the two prisms on a split screen focusing screen do: Datei:Mattscheibe mit Schnittbildindikator-2735.jpg ? Wikipedia
The difference of the shift between the two split images is caused by them looking left/right to the edges through the lens. If you increase the angles of the split parts they are using F4 or F2.8 or F1.4 or whatever. And they will go black with any lens with an aperture that is so small that no image is coming through on the edge where the prism is looking.

Nice explanation! Thanks! That also explains why these preciser sensors can only be in the center of the frame, eccentricity would cut them off on one side.