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11-08-2013, 09:57 PM   #1
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K-3 Build Quality

Greetings,

I'm anxious to upgrade to the new K-3 and would like make the purchase in about a month. I currently have a K10D and K-5 and am quite happy with the overall quality of the cameras as far as how well constructed they are and how durable they feel. I'm hope the K-3 hasn't been cheapened in any way to make it feel less than 'professional grade' if you know what I mean.

I remember looking at Canon's price equivalent camera when I bought my K10D in 2008 and distinctly remember how flimsy it felt. Not that ruggedness is the ultimate decision factor for a camera but to me having something that feels well built helps with a level of confidence.

So...is the quality of the K-3 still there?

Thanx...Blake

11-08-2013, 10:05 PM   #2
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The quality of the K3 is still there and then some, awesome camera build wise and when I use it the results (af/ picture quality) makes me want to use the old K10 & K7 as paper weights.
11-08-2013, 10:09 PM   #3
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QuoteOriginally posted by BlakeShellman Quote
Greetings,

I'm anxious to upgrade to the new K-3 and would like make the purchase in about a month. I currently have a K10D and K-5 and am quite happy with the overall quality of the cameras as far as how well constructed they are and how durable they feel. I'm hope the K-3 hasn't been cheapened in any way to make it feel less than 'professional grade' if you know what I mean.

I remember looking at Canon's price equivalent camera when I bought my K10D in 2008 and distinctly remember how flimsy it felt. Not that ruggedness is the ultimate decision factor for a camera but to me having something that feels well built helps with a level of confidence.

So...is the quality of the K-3 still there?

Thanx...Blake
It feels just as good as the K-5, but on top of that you get a quieter (& faster) shutter and a larger screen. The new screen is to die for IMO- not necessarily because of its size, but because it's 3:2, so there are no more black bars in live view or in playback mode.

Adam
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11-08-2013, 10:10 PM   #4
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Never had k10d but compared to k-5, I give k-3 a 10 and k-5 an 8. K-3 feels solid, everything tight, fit & finish just superb, shutter sound is exquisite. A bit heavier, and still a quarter inch too short for my little finger to fit on the grip, but quality? Just awesome.

11-08-2013, 10:11 PM   #5
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I don't know how they did it, but they managed to make the K-3 feel even more solid than the K-5.
11-08-2013, 10:16 PM   #6
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I feels better than my K-5 and K-5 IIs.

Why? I think the bit of extra weight helps, but the control wheels have a little bit more resistance, which feels more precise and helps me avoid accidental changes. The three switches also have a better feel to them. The pop-up flash also flips into place with a slightly dampened thunk rather than a click.
11-08-2013, 10:17 PM   #7
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Agreed, and that shutter....I mean seriously, it's the sexiest sounding shutter I've ever heard. Many pros shooting with much more expensive gear would kill for a shutter sound like that.

11-08-2013, 10:27 PM   #8
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Just shot NCAA Division 1 basketball with the K-3 and the Tamron 70-200 f2.8. AF definitely felt snappy, the shutter sound and speed are awesome, and the shutter button has really good feedback. It doesn't mush like on the k-5. I just wish the grip was shipping from B&H.
11-08-2013, 10:36 PM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by bgdisc Quote
I just wish the grip was shipping from B&H.
It is. Mine's supposed to be here Tuesday. I don't think they got very many in their first shipment though.
11-08-2013, 10:36 PM   #10
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This might be an odd question but how sturdy is the eye-pad mounted?

The ones on my K-30's have been driving me mad. I've lost them 4 times. 2 times completely lost, 2 times collected and delivered by someone else, and it seems they just become loser over time. During the last wedding I did, the eye-pad kept slipping off over and over again - it was starting to get ridiculous so I used a piece of a napkin to gain a tighter fit - it has so far worked though there is a piece of the napkin sticking out. It doesn't look good and I'll replace it with thin strips of tape - still, I shouldn't have to worry about losing stuff from the camera like that :/
11-08-2013, 10:39 PM   #11
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QuoteOriginally posted by Zafar Iqbal Quote
This might be an odd question but how sturdy is the eye-pad mounted?

The ones on my K-30's have been driving me mad. I've lost them 4 times. 2 times completely lost, 2 times collected and delivered by someone else, and it seems they just become loser over time. During the last wedding I did, the eye-pad kept slipping off over and over again - it was starting to get ridiculous so I used a piece of a napkin to gain a tighter fit - it has so far worked though there is a piece of the napkin sticking out. It doesn't look good and I'll replace it with thin strips of tape - still, I shouldn't have to worry about losing stuff from the camera like that :/
Wow, that's a new one on me. Mine have always been tight enough that it takes a concerted effort to get them off. I actually use Tenbas now, and they're even tighter.
11-08-2013, 11:13 PM   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by johnmflores Quote
I don't know how they did it, but they managed to make the K-3 feel even more solid than the K-5.
For one, the K-3 is less plastic than the K-5.
The back panel on the K-5 is plastic. The back panel on the K-3 is magnesium.
11-09-2013, 01:11 AM - 1 Like   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by Sandy Hancock Quote
I feels better than my K-5 and K-5 IIs.
Feeling yourself again Sandy or is that a Popeye impersonation?
11-09-2013, 01:15 AM - 1 Like   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by DogLover Quote
Agreed, and that shutter....I mean seriously, it's the sexiest sounding shutter I've ever heard. Many pros shooting with much more expensive gear would kill for a shutter sound like that.
I wish you hadn't said that. On Monday I'm attending my Dad's funeral and I'm taking my D800e's to Melbourne with me, but I'd have much rather use my K-5 had I still the 50-135 zoom. The D800 shutter sounds like someone slamming a gate shut.
11-09-2013, 01:16 AM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by geomez Quote
The back panel on the K-5 is plastic.
No. The whole K-5 chassis is metal. The only plastic at the back is the LCD and some of the body bits surrounding it, where there need to be switches etc. I bet the chassis of the K-3 closely resembles the K-5's.
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