[rprii]

Hello all,

I am totally psyched about the latest Pentax K-3!

But my only concern is that I made a substantial investment in Pentax K-5 accessories, such as batteries, external DC power supply for the K-5, the battery grip, hot shoe mounted mic, Pentax GPS Unit O-GPS1, etc. Are these accessories compatible? I was speaking with a Camera shop clerk on the weekend and he told me that NONE of my K-5 accessories (even the O-GPS1) would be compatible with the K-3.

Even the O-GPS1? That cannot be true!

Can someone please set the record straight?

My decision to pre-order is going to be based upon how many accessories I'll need to replace.

Thank you

I was also "totally psyched" about the K3 . . . even noticed that the accessories seemed to be compatible with the K5IIs (of which I have 2) . . . until I noticed that the grip indicated model number BG-5. Funny, everything is backward compatible except for the most expensive accessory. The difference in the physical specs of the K3 vs the K5 are so small that I cannot believe that Pentax (Ricoh) would have found it difficult to make them identical. But, this minor difference does allow them to, potentially, add an extra $200 to every sale.
This "small difference" is enough to make me wait until they work out any bugs in the software and, perhaps, come out with the K3s. I have been looking at most of the samples on this site (and others) and, quite frankly, do not see enough difference to justify the investment.
Paul

[rawr]

do not see enough difference to justify the investment

It depends on what you need it for. I wanted a K-5 backup body, with better AF under low-light and mixed lighting, and the price difference between the K-3 and a K-5IIs was only about $150. So K-3 was an easy decision.

[pete-tarmigan]

I think the limitation is that you cannot recharge new batteries with an old charger. But you'll get the new charger with the camera, so that's not really an issue (K-5 owners should be careful when buying new batteries, though).

The model names and numbers of the batteries and battery charger listed on Ricoh corporate sites for both the K-5II(s) and the K-3 are identical:

battery charger: K-BC90U, model no. 39835
battery: D-LI90(E), model no. 39993

If they are identical, doesn't that mean that there is no compatibility issue whatsoever?

[derekkite]

Batteries work fine, the chargers are different for some safety reason.

Just installed my OME-53 works just fine.

[rprii]

It depends on what you need it for. I wanted a K-5 backup body, with better AF under low-light and mixed lighting, and the price difference between the K-3 and a K-5IIs was only about $150. So K-3 was an easy decision.

If I really needed/wanted a new body, yes, I would go with the K3. However, having 2 K5IIs bodies plus 2 BG-4 grips, I just cannot justify the expense of a K3 AND a BG-5 (199.00) grip . . . total around $ 1,450.
In searching for a new K5 body, I found prices around $ 850 . . . a new K3 body priced out around $ 1, 250. To me, that is about a difference of $ 450 . . . how did you find a K3 that "was only about $ 150" more? That would set it at about $ 1, 000 . . . at that price I might consider acquiring a K3. Please let me know.
Thanks, Paul

[rawr]

how did you find a K3 that "was only about $ 150" more?

Come to Australia.
Grey (from Hong Kong) K-5 II body: $800
Non-grey price of a K-5 II at a popular online store: $1099.
Non-grey price of a K-5 IIs at the same store: $1197.
Non-grey price of a K-3 at the same store: $1344

No doubt the K-5 IIs price will start to drop here, but it hasn't done much dropping so far.

[Joojoo2010]

Pentax has been thinking about us cos even batteries are same. Grip can not be same. I am happy

[Sandy Hancock]

This thread could have been closed after the second post.

[Joojoo2010]

Looks like magnifier eyecup ome53 also fit k3, good no need to buy new one. But i do not know my L-plate still fits...omg thats expensive to buy new one so it better fit k3

[rawr]

But i do not know my L-plate still fits

There is a post somewhere in the K-3 area where a user said their L plate fit the K-3 without any problem. Search a bit and you'll probably find the post.

[Joojoo2010]

Thats very good news. Lets hope my lplate model will fit also, then all my k5 gear will fit to k3. Its really making much more easy to get k3 now knowing that no need to replace anything else!!! Tnx

[rawr]

Thats very good news.

Well, maybe not completely good news, depending on which model L-plate you have:

For anyone wondering about Really Right Stuff plates: the custom RRS L-plate for the K-7/K-5/II/s does not fit the K-3. The RRS "multi-camera" plate BP-CS does fit beautifully, and clears the battery door.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/172-pentax-k-3/241138-k-3-user-reviews-3.html#post2561847

[Joojoo2010]

I am using SUNWAYFOTO Arca-Swiss compatible Universal L Plate DPL-02. Its universal but actually i think its soppused to use with bigger Ff bodies, i did buy this for future coming FF camera in mind also. But as a result on k5 plate screw position is on limit and there is no extra in one direction to adjust anymore...probably this plate will fit i believe but lets see...

[Digitalis]

his thread could have been closed after the second post.

Unfortunately for us certain camera shop employees are idiots, I suppose there is little we can do about that.

Today I had a colleagues student ask me if the Hasselblad H series cameras were any good.

[Joojoo2010]

Unfortunately for us certain camera shop employees are idiots, I suppose there is little we can do about that.

Today I had a colleagues student ask me if the Hasselblad H series cameras were any good.

I was looking new ball head from one Rajala shop, rajala is biggest camera dealer in this country and pros use rajala much i think. I did say i want arca compatible ball head. Salelady did say with wide smile on her face 'arca what is that, newer heard from arca?' I did walk out...