This is the Pentax K-3 Mark III

reh321 · 04-01-2021, 01:21 PM

Originally posted by FozzFoster

the SDM is sluggish to say the least in comparison to PLM.

could your comment be a reflection of the amount of mass to be moved?
It has been said that the PLM can be used only when the focusing unit is of low mass.

**FozzFoster** · 04-01-2021, 01:25 PM

Originally posted by reh321

could your comment be a reflection of the amount of mass to be moved?

Perhaps. And the SDM on this lens was released in like 2007 so design has come a long way since then.. the SDM on say the DFA* 85mm (big chunk of glass released in 2020) I'm sure is much more responsive than the SDM on my 50-135.

Zygonyx · 04-01-2021, 01:28 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Mike.P®

Probably because it was pretty obvious he wasn't in the least bit interested in the camera.

For sure, this video is only ironic vapourwave.
The peak of irony is when he takes a "low-light" shot in his back saying its OK, without looking at the result...

**c.a.m** · 04-01-2021, 01:29 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by FozzFoster

I know there was a rumour about eye-af firmware being released.

There is a reference in one of the Challenger stories:

"The camera also features a new RGB-Ir AE sensor with around 307,000 pixels, in comparison to the RGB sensor with around 86,000 pixels installed on previous models. Thanks to the sensor’s improved resolving power, the camera automatically selects the optimum focus point, after the AE sensor detects the subject’s face and pupils."

Image tracking performance The essential feature of a flagship model | Challengers | PENTAX K-3 Mark III | RICOH IMAGING

But it's not clear whether Face- or Eye-AF is available in viewfinder shooting or only in Live View. The use of the RGB AE sensor would imply viewfinder use, because the mirror must be down for the AE sensor to function. The Operating Manual indicates a Face Detection mode in LV.

- Craig

Last edited by c.a.m; 04-01-2021 at 01:38 PM.

**jacamar** · 04-01-2021, 01:36 PM

My big question is about the speed of autofocus for bird photography with my DA* 300mm, with and without the DA 1.4x TC. Lightning speed isn't normally a big issue for me until I'm trying to photograph flitting, fast moving songbirds like warblers, when the time lag with my K-3 can be very frustrating. I have some good bird in flight shots using settings found on the forum but that's a bit hit and miss - I've lost some really good opportunities and don't even attempt swallows flying by, which some cameras/lenses seem to be able to do.
I'm guessing that for a bird in the bush there are two factors - the speed of locking in the focus which would be the camera, and the mechanics of moving the the lens elements, which would be the lens motor. So maybe I can expect some improvement in that but not the speed of a PLM lens. For birds in flight I'm thinking the new tracking ability would give me a substantiial improvement , from what I have read so far.

Kunzite · 04-01-2021, 01:38 PM - **3 Likes**

Originally posted by FozzFoster

Perhaps. And the SDM on this lens was released in like 2007 so design has come a long way since then.. the SDM on say the DFA* 85mm (big chunk of glass released in 2020) I'm sure is much more responsive than the SDM on my 50-135.

They look about the same though

(Actually that's the D FA* 50mm f/1.4's SDM; the D FA* 85mm's is beefier, with 1.3x the torque)

**FozzFoster** · 04-01-2021, 01:38 PM

Originally posted by c.a.m

Image tracking performance The essential feature of a flagship model | Challengers | PENTAX K-3 Mark III | RICOH IMAGING

Originally posted by The Squirrel Mafia

I know that the only way this camera will achieve the most optimal AF performance is to attach a fast focusing lens like the like the DA 55-300mm PLM & the upcoming DA* 16-50mm PLM, but how well will it drive screw drive lenses? Will screw drive lenses focus faster with the K-3III than they did with the K-3II & KP? All the DA Limiteds are screw driven, so that's why I'm wondering. It's not a deal breaker for me since I usually take it way slower when I put on a prime & they usually tend to be screw driven, but I am curious about screw driven lenses in general on the K-3III.

Thanks for suggesting this one c.a.m!

What I find particularly interesting is the comment made at 2:50 regarding how much focus tracking has improved "Even when using a lens previously believed not to be suitable for image-tracking photography".

https://youtu.be/PeUGBFFw4ok?t=170

mtkeller · 04-01-2021, 01:40 PM

In one of the earlier videos, Wakashiro-san indicated that he thought we would all enjoy improvements even with the DA* 300mm. I’m super curious to get this on my screwdrive Tamron 70–200 for sports, in addition to the DA* 300mm SDM (both of them with and without the DA 1.4x TC).

Mike.P® · 04-01-2021, 01:42 PM

Is eye AF even possible through a OVF? ... don't think I have seen it from any other manufacturer before.

The Squirrel Mafia · 04-01-2021, 01:43 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by FozzFoster

Thanks for suggesting this one c.a.m!

What I find particularly interesting is the comment made at 2:50 regarding how much focus tracking has improved "Even when using a lens previously believed not to be suitable for image-tracking photography".

https://youtu.be/PeUGBFFw4ok?t=170

Hmmmmm..... I wonder if the K-3III has an updated screw motor. That plus the updated AF system could make those old screw drive lenses semi-usable for tracking? An unknown paradox..... Hahaha!

**kwb** · 04-01-2021, 01:47 PM

Originally posted by c.a.m

There is a reference in one of the Challenger stories:

"The camera also features a new RGB-Ir AE sensor with around 307,000 pixels, in comparison to the RGB sensor with around 86,000 pixels installed on previous models. Thanks to the sensor’s improved resolving power, the camera automatically selects the optimum focus point, after the AE sensor detects the subject’s face and pupils."

Image tracking performance The essential feature of a flagship model | Challengers | PENTAX K-3 Mark III | RICOH IMAGING

But it's not obvious whether Face- or Eye-AF is available in viewfinder shooting or only in Live View. The Operating Manual indicates a Face Detection mode in LV.

- Craig

Originally posted by Mike.P®

Is eye AF even possible through a OVF? ... don't think I have seen it from any other manufacturer before.

Wakashiro san specifically stated at CP+ that K-3 III can focus on the eye etc. when using OVF. Besides, AE sensor receives light only when the mirror is down. Subject recognition using AE sensor means that it's for shooting with OVF.

"Face detect" OTOH in Pentax manual is something that's been available for quite some time for live view shooting. K-50, K-70, KP, K-1, K-3, they all have that.

repaap · 04-01-2021, 02:01 PM

Originally posted by Mike.P®

Is eye AF even possible through a OVF? ... don't think I have seen it from any other manufacturer before.

There is now 2 things on that list:

1.05 magnification
Eye af with DSLR

Wonder where will this go from here!

---------- Post added 04-02-21 at 00:02 ----------

Originally posted by kwb

Wakashiro san specifically stated at CP+ that K-3 III can focus on the eye etc. when using OVF. Besides, AE sensor receives light only when the mirror is down. Subject recognition using AE sensor means that it's for shooting with OVF.

"Face detect" OTOH in Pentax manual is something that's been available for quite some time for live view shooting. K-50, K-70, KP, K-1, K-3, they all have that.

It is quite good with K-1. It is in LV thou and that is a bit slow..good thing is that it works.

angerdan · 04-01-2021, 02:10 PM

Originally posted by c.a.m

But it's not clear whether Face- or Eye-AF is available in viewfinder shooting or only in Live View. The use of the RGB AE sensor would imply viewfinder use, because the mirror must be down for the AE sensor to function.

Of course face, pupil/eye and bird/animal-detection is available in viefinder (PDAF) shhooting.
It's described here:
New K-3 III video from Ricoh: OVF face, eye and bird detection is coming. - PentaxForums.com
Image tracking performance The essential feature of a flagship model | Challengers | PENTAX K-3 Mark III | RICOH IMAGING

You Tube

You Tube

**FozzFoster** · 04-01-2021, 02:16 PM

Originally posted by angerdan

is available

"Is available" or is it coming in a firmware update?
Because there is zero reference to eye-af or bird-af in the manual - only face detect in LV.

---------- Post added 04-01-21 at 03:18 PM ----------

I've seen lots of reference that 'it can focus on pupils' but is there a setting for me to select that detects pupils in pdaf? or is the af assuming that I want to detect pupils at all times?

mtkeller · 04-01-2021, 02:36 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by FozzFoster

"Is available" or is it coming in a firmware update?
Because there is zero reference to eye-af or bird-af in the manual - only face detect in LV.

---------- Post added 04-01-21 at 03:18 PM ----------

I've seen lots of reference that 'it can focus on pupils' but is there a setting for me to select that detects pupils in pdaf? or is the af assuming that I want to detect pupils at all times?

The manual is super thin on details of all sorts. I am wondering if, now that the "product stories" series is done, we will get a series of guides with videos and screenshots helping owners use their cameras. That's much more how people learn about photography nowadays than reading manuals anyway.

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04-01-2021, 01:21 PM	#256
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,177	Originally posted by FozzFoster the SDM is sluggish to say the least in comparison to PLM. could your comment be a reflection of the amount of mass to be moved? It has been said that the PLM can be used only when the focusing unit is of low mass.

04-01-2021, 01:25 PM	#257
FozzFoster Custom User Title Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by reh321 could your comment be a reflection of the amount of mass to be moved? Perhaps. And the SDM on this lens was released in like 2007 so design has come a long way since then.. the SDM on say the DFA* 85mm (big chunk of glass released in 2020) I'm sure is much more responsive than the SDM on my 50-135.

04-01-2021, 01:28 PM - 1 Like	#258
Zygonyx Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ile de France Posts: 4,033	Originally posted by Mike.P® Probably because it was pretty obvious he wasn't in the least bit interested in the camera. For sure, this video is only ironic vapourwave. The peak of irony is when he takes a "low-light" shot in his back saying its OK, without looking at the result...

04-01-2021, 01:29 PM - 1 Like	#259
c.a.m Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,189	Originally posted by FozzFoster I know there was a rumour about eye-af firmware being released. There is a reference in one of the Challenger stories: "The camera also features a new RGB-Ir AE sensor with around 307,000 pixels, in comparison to the RGB sensor with around 86,000 pixels installed on previous models. Thanks to the sensor’s improved resolving power, the camera automatically selects the optimum focus point, after the AE sensor detects the subject’s face and pupils." Image tracking performance The essential feature of a flagship model \| Challengers \| PENTAX K-3 Mark III \| RICOH IMAGING But it's not clear whether Face- or Eye-AF is available in viewfinder shooting or only in Live View. The use of the RGB AE sensor would imply viewfinder use, because the mirror must be down for the AE sensor to function. The Operating Manual indicates a Face Detection mode in LV. - Craig Last edited by c.a.m; 04-01-2021 at 01:38 PM.

04-01-2021, 01:36 PM	#260
jacamar Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Toronto Photos: Albums Posts: 3,443	My big question is about the speed of autofocus for bird photography with my DA* 300mm, with and without the DA 1.4x TC. Lightning speed isn't normally a big issue for me until I'm trying to photograph flitting, fast moving songbirds like warblers, when the time lag with my K-3 can be very frustrating. I have some good bird in flight shots using settings found on the forum but that's a bit hit and miss - I've lost some really good opportunities and don't even attempt swallows flying by, which some cameras/lenses seem to be able to do. I'm guessing that for a bird in the bush there are two factors - the speed of locking in the focus which would be the camera, and the mechanics of moving the the lens elements, which would be the lens motor. So maybe I can expect some improvement in that but not the speed of a PLM lens. For birds in flight I'm thinking the new tracking ability would give me a substantiial improvement , from what I have read so far.

04-01-2021, 01:38 PM - 3 Likes	#261
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	Originally posted by FozzFoster Perhaps. And the SDM on this lens was released in like 2007 so design has come a long way since then.. the SDM on say the DFA* 85mm (big chunk of glass released in 2020) I'm sure is much more responsive than the SDM on my 50-135. They look about the same though (Actually that's the D FA* 50mm f/1.4's SDM; the D FA* 85mm's is beefier, with 1.3x the torque)

04-01-2021, 01:38 PM	#262
FozzFoster Custom User Title Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by c.a.m Image tracking performance The essential feature of a flagship model \| Challengers \| PENTAX K-3 Mark III \| RICOH IMAGING Originally posted by The Squirrel Mafia I know that the only way this camera will achieve the most optimal AF performance is to attach a fast focusing lens like the like the DA 55-300mm PLM & the upcoming DA* 16-50mm PLM, but how well will it drive screw drive lenses? Will screw drive lenses focus faster with the K-3III than they did with the K-3II & KP? All the DA Limiteds are screw driven, so that's why I'm wondering. It's not a deal breaker for me since I usually take it way slower when I put on a prime & they usually tend to be screw driven, but I am curious about screw driven lenses in general on the K-3III. Thanks for suggesting this one c.a.m! What I find particularly interesting is the comment made at 2:50 regarding how much focus tracking has improved "Even when using a lens previously believed not to be suitable for image-tracking photography". https://youtu.be/PeUGBFFw4ok?t=170

04-01-2021, 01:40 PM	#263
mtkeller Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Sioux City, IA Photos: Gallery Posts: 938	In one of the earlier videos, Wakashiro-san indicated that he thought we would all enjoy improvements even with the DA* 300mm. I’m super curious to get this on my screwdrive Tamron 70–200 for sports, in addition to the DA* 300mm SDM (both of them with and without the DA 1.4x TC).

04-01-2021, 01:42 PM	#264
Mike.P® Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Milton, Hampshire, UK Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,154	Is eye AF even possible through a OVF? ... don't think I have seen it from any other manufacturer before.

04-01-2021, 01:43 PM - 1 Like	#265
The Squirrel Mafia Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 3,054	Originally posted by FozzFoster Thanks for suggesting this one c.a.m! What I find particularly interesting is the comment made at 2:50 regarding how much focus tracking has improved "Even when using a lens previously believed not to be suitable for image-tracking photography". https://youtu.be/PeUGBFFw4ok?t=170 Hmmmmm..... I wonder if the K-3III has an updated screw motor. That plus the updated AF system could make those old screw drive lenses semi-usable for tracking? An unknown paradox..... Hahaha!

04-01-2021, 01:47 PM	#266
kwb Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Pacific North West Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,223	Originally posted by c.a.m There is a reference in one of the Challenger stories: "The camera also features a new RGB-Ir AE sensor with around 307,000 pixels, in comparison to the RGB sensor with around 86,000 pixels installed on previous models. Thanks to the sensor’s improved resolving power, the camera automatically selects the optimum focus point, after the AE sensor detects the subject’s face and pupils." Image tracking performance The essential feature of a flagship model \| Challengers \| PENTAX K-3 Mark III \| RICOH IMAGING But it's not obvious whether Face- or Eye-AF is available in viewfinder shooting or only in Live View. The Operating Manual indicates a Face Detection mode in LV. - Craig Originally posted by Mike.P® Is eye AF even possible through a OVF? ... don't think I have seen it from any other manufacturer before. Wakashiro san specifically stated at CP+ that K-3 III can focus on the eye etc. when using OVF. Besides, AE sensor receives light only when the mirror is down. Subject recognition using AE sensor means that it's for shooting with OVF. "Face detect" OTOH in Pentax manual is something that's been available for quite some time for live view shooting. K-50, K-70, KP, K-1, K-3, they all have that.

04-01-2021, 02:01 PM	#267
repaap Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,242	Originally posted by Mike.P® Is eye AF even possible through a OVF? ... don't think I have seen it from any other manufacturer before. There is now 2 things on that list: 1.05 magnification Eye af with DSLR Wonder where will this go from here! ---------- Post added 04-02-21 at 00:02 ---------- Originally posted by kwb Wakashiro san specifically stated at CP+ that K-3 III can focus on the eye etc. when using OVF. Besides, AE sensor receives light only when the mirror is down. Subject recognition using AE sensor means that it's for shooting with OVF. "Face detect" OTOH in Pentax manual is something that's been available for quite some time for live view shooting. K-50, K-70, KP, K-1, K-3, they all have that. It is quite good with K-1. It is in LV thou and that is a bit slow..good thing is that it works.

04-01-2021, 02:16 PM	#269
FozzFoster Custom User Title Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by angerdan is available "Is available" or is it coming in a firmware update? Because there is zero reference to eye-af or bird-af in the manual - only face detect in LV. ---------- Post added 04-01-21 at 03:18 PM ---------- I've seen lots of reference that 'it can focus on pupils' but is there a setting for me to select that detects pupils in pdaf? or is the af assuming that I want to detect pupils at all times?

04-01-2021, 02:36 PM - 2 Likes	#270
mtkeller Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Sioux City, IA Photos: Gallery Posts: 938	Originally posted by FozzFoster "Is available" or is it coming in a firmware update? Because there is zero reference to eye-af or bird-af in the manual - only face detect in LV. ---------- Post added 04-01-21 at 03:18 PM ---------- I've seen lots of reference that 'it can focus on pupils' but is there a setting for me to select that detects pupils in pdaf? or is the af assuming that I want to detect pupils at all times? The manual is super thin on details of all sorts. I am wondering if, now that the "product stories" series is done, we will get a series of guides with videos and screenshots helping owners use their cameras. That's much more how people learn about photography nowadays than reading manuals anyway.