K-3 Build Quality

rawr · 11-09-2013, 01:28 AM

Actually, geomez was right, I was wrong.
There is indeed more metal in the K-3's back panel than the K-5's. And yes indeed, the K-3 looks to be a more rigid, tougher body.

Attached Images

Vylen · 11-09-2013, 01:30 AM

Originally posted by rawr

I bet the chassis of the K-3 closely resembles the K-5's.

No, actually...

[EDIT] Beaten by two-minutes.. haha

Sandy Hancock · 11-09-2013, 01:46 AM

Originally posted by bossa

Feeling yourself again Sandy or is that a Popeye impersonation?

My forearms aren't quite that big Steve

Sandy Hancock · 11-09-2013, 01:49 AM

Originally posted by bossa

The D800 shutter sounds like someone slamming a gate shut.

The D800 is like a machine gun. The K-3 is like a pretty girl batting her eyelids.

rawr · 11-09-2013, 01:54 AM

Originally posted by Vylen

Beaten by two-minutes..

Slowpoke.

The K-5 is generally a tough beast, but the K-3's totally metal external body frame certainly seems to take that toughness to the next level.

VisualDarkness · 11-09-2013, 03:57 AM

Originally posted by Zafar Iqbal

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 :/

I have to fight my pads on the K-5's to get them off for cleaning, never had one of them loose.

**Ahab** · 11-09-2013, 08:21 AM

Originally posted by BlakeShellman

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

I'm surprised you have to ask that.

normhead · 11-09-2013, 08:46 AM

Tess, keeps asking me if I'm going to return the K-3, in some ways it's not much different in IQ from the K-5 for everyday use. I'm completely addicted to the feel (and burst mode, the shutter is incredible). Some things confuse me on it. More buttons get pressed by accident, all the time. But it's still better. It just feels more solid, and the sounds it makes reflect that. Less vibration, more solid feel.

wahid_satu · 11-09-2013, 09:28 AM

Originally posted by rawr

Actually, geomez was right, I was wrong.
There is indeed more metal in the K-3's back panel than the K-5's. And yes indeed, the K-3 looks to be a more rigid, tougher body.

Oh my, that is sexy. Now I wonder how the "pros" camera are built. Are the 1Dx and the D4 built like that? I know the DFs aren't built that way.

**geomez** · 11-09-2013, 10:45 AM

Originally posted by rawr

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.

One minor quibble...
The chassis (internal structure) of all current Pentax DSLRs, including my old *ist DS are metal. The body (external structure) I believe is what you meant.

rawr · 11-09-2013, 03:49 PM

Originally posted by geomez

The chassis (internal structure) of all current Pentax DSLRs, including my old *ist DS are metal. The body (external structure) I believe is what you meant.

Right again. I should have been more precise in my nomenclature.

rawr · 11-09-2013, 04:32 PM

Originally posted by wahid_satu

Now I wonder how the "pros" camera are built. Are the 1Dx and the D4 built like that?

Google has a few images that show them both to be built like tanks, with full metal bodies.

In terms of the K-3's APS-C peers, the D7100 has lots of metal in it's body - the back and the top plate are metal, but the front isn't. The Canon 7D, however, has a full metal body, just like the K-3. Not sure about the 70D.

joelovotti · 11-09-2013, 05:44 PM

Originally posted by rawr

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.

I'm sorry but the photo in your post clearly shows NO metal at the back of the K5 body.

rawr · 11-09-2013, 05:53 PM

Originally posted by joelovotti

I'm sorry but the photo in your post clearly shows NO metal at the back of the K5 body.

See my post at the top of the page:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/172-pentax-k-3/242003-k-3-build-quality-2.html#post2572051

DogLover · 11-09-2013, 05:53 PM

Originally posted by joelovotti

I'm sorry but the photo in your post clearly shows NO metal at the back of the K5 body.

He said chassis, not body. K-3 clearly has more metal than K-5, but it's inaccurate to say "NO metal" on the K-5.

11-09-2013, 01:30 AM	#17
Vylen Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,262	Originally posted by rawr I bet the chassis of the K-3 closely resembles the K-5's. No, actually... [EDIT] Beaten by two-minutes.. haha Attached Images

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Build Quality: DA vs FA Limiteds?	Docrwm	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	35	05-29-2013 08:55 PM
Build quality	JEREMYHN100	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	13	01-03-2013 02:24 PM
Build vs optical quality	slip	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	15	08-26-2012 02:52 AM
K-5 Build Quality Control issues?	secateurs	Pentax K-5 & K-5 II	24	01-05-2012 11:29 AM
Pentax K-x Build quality	msharma	Pentax DSLR Discussion	4	10-26-2010 03:52 PM

11-09-2013, 01:28 AM	#16
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Actually, geomez was right, I was wrong. There is indeed more metal in the K-3's back panel than the K-5's. And yes indeed, the K-3 looks to be a more rigid, tougher body. Attached Images

11-09-2013, 01:46 AM	#18
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,267	Originally posted by bossa Feeling yourself again Sandy or is that a Popeye impersonation? My forearms aren't quite that big Steve

11-09-2013, 01:49 AM	#19
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,267	Originally posted by bossa The D800 shutter sounds like someone slamming a gate shut. The D800 is like a machine gun. The K-3 is like a pretty girl batting her eyelids.

11-09-2013, 01:54 AM	#20
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by Vylen Beaten by two-minutes.. Slowpoke. The K-5 is generally a tough beast, but the K-3's totally metal external body frame certainly seems to take that toughness to the next level.

11-09-2013, 03:57 AM	#21
VisualDarkness Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,439	Originally posted by Zafar Iqbal 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 :/ I have to fight my pads on the K-5's to get them off for cleaning, never had one of them loose.

11-09-2013, 08:21 AM	#22
Ahab Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Arnold, Md. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 762	Originally posted by BlakeShellman 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 I'm surprised you have to ask that.

11-09-2013, 08:46 AM	#23
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,448	Tess, keeps asking me if I'm going to return the K-3, in some ways it's not much different in IQ from the K-5 for everyday use. I'm completely addicted to the feel (and burst mode, the shutter is incredible). Some things confuse me on it. More buttons get pressed by accident, all the time. But it's still better. It just feels more solid, and the sounds it makes reflect that. Less vibration, more solid feel.

11-09-2013, 09:28 AM	#24
wahid_satu Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Jakarta Photos: Gallery Posts: 96	Originally posted by rawr Actually, geomez was right, I was wrong. There is indeed more metal in the K-3's back panel than the K-5's. And yes indeed, the K-3 looks to be a more rigid, tougher body. Oh my, that is sexy. Now I wonder how the "pros" camera are built. Are the 1Dx and the D4 built like that? I know the DFs aren't built that way.

11-09-2013, 10:45 AM	#25
geomez Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Roanoke, Virginia, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,760	Originally posted by rawr 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. One minor quibble... The chassis (internal structure) of all current Pentax DSLRs, including my old *ist DS are metal. The body (external structure) I believe is what you meant.

11-09-2013, 03:49 PM	#26
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by geomez The chassis (internal structure) of all current Pentax DSLRs, including my old *ist DS are metal. The body (external structure) I believe is what you meant. Right again. I should have been more precise in my nomenclature.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

11-09-2013, 04:32 PM	#27
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by wahid_satu Now I wonder how the "pros" camera are built. Are the 1Dx and the D4 built like that? Google has a few images that show them both to be built like tanks, with full metal bodies. In terms of the K-3's APS-C peers, the D7100 has lots of metal in it's body - the back and the top plate are metal, but the front isn't. The Canon 7D, however, has a full metal body, just like the K-3. Not sure about the 70D.

11-09-2013, 05:44 PM	#28
joelovotti Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: US Photos: Albums Posts: 393	Originally posted by rawr 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. I'm sorry but the photo in your post clearly shows NO metal at the back of the K5 body.

11-09-2013, 05:53 PM	#29
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by joelovotti I'm sorry but the photo in your post clearly shows NO metal at the back of the K5 body. See my post at the top of the page: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/172-pentax-k-3/242003-k-3-build-quality-2.html#post2572051

11-09-2013, 05:53 PM	#30
DogLover Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 2,054	Originally posted by joelovotti I'm sorry but the photo in your post clearly shows NO metal at the back of the K5 body. He said chassis, not body. K-3 clearly has more metal than K-5, but it's inaccurate to say "NO metal" on the K-5.