K-3 In-Depth Review: November 12th

saladin · 11-14-2013, 02:44 AM

just reading the review again, the increase in grunt given to the screw drive may well be the sleeping giant improvement of this camera. There are an awful lot of optically fantastic Pentax lenses with screw drive around the place. If these all get a big increase in AF speed, then thats a huge factor imo.

on that note, do any current K3 owners have a DA 16-45 F/4 that they can try? I've long been tempted to pick one up as a bit of an unsung cheap ($200) gem for general work, and if the AF is substantially improved by the K3 i might snaffle one before they disappear.

falconeye · 11-14-2013, 03:56 AM

Originally posted by DeadJohn

If AF tests used software to measure sharpness, that would encourage manufacturers to apply ridiculous levels of sharpening within camera firmware.

That shouldn't be an issue.

Any serious test would calibrate sharpness using a static test target and an appropriate sharpness setting. AF results are then normalized wrt a reference value. This must be done anyway because cameras have differing resolutions / AA filters. One possible reference value could be 2300 LW/PH (8MP). RAW is to be avoided to use the full buffer size. E.g., the FNAC labo test for the D4 is a failure because obviously they filled the buffer way before the target got close.

**Pål Jensen** · 11-14-2013, 04:16 AM

Originally posted by falconeye

Any serious test would calibrate sharpness using a static test target and an appropriate sharpness setting. AF results are then normalized wrt a reference value. This must be done anyway because cameras have differing resolutions / AA filters. One possible reference value could be 2300 LW/PH (8MP). RAW is to be avoided to use the full buffer size.

That will only tell you how the camera performs while shooting test targets....

**Belnan** · 05-10-2015, 06:14 PM

Originally posted by Belnan

I have to disagree, this isn't a lens/camera combined test this is a test of the new autofocus module. This should have been tested against it peers the 70D and the d7100 a well as the k-5 II all using the same lens. Pentax may come out with a new lens in the future which equals the nikkor 70-200/2.8G but by then the conclusion will have already been made. The K-3 still lags the competition in autofocus which may not be the case. In addition more tests should have been done with regards to the low light focus speed and tracking ability of the K-3 where it may possibly lead the competition.

Pentax Forums should re-due the autofocus tests.

Otherwise well done.

Like I said

.

Time to redo the test!

11-14-2013, 03:56 AM	#92
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871	K-3 In-Depth Review: November 12th Originally posted by DeadJohn If AF tests used software to measure sharpness, that would encourage manufacturers to apply ridiculous levels of sharpening within camera firmware. That shouldn't be an issue. Any serious test would calibrate sharpness using a static test target and an appropriate sharpness setting. AF results are then normalized wrt a reference value. This must be done anyway because cameras have differing resolutions / AA filters. One possible reference value could be 2300 LW/PH (8MP). RAW is to be avoided to use the full buffer size. E.g., the FNAC labo test for the D4 is a failure because obviously they filled the buffer way before the target got close. Last edited by falconeye; 11-14-2013 at 06:30 AM.

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11-14-2013, 02:44 AM	#91
saladin Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: outer eastern melbourne, australia Posts: 427	just reading the review again, the increase in grunt given to the screw drive may well be the sleeping giant improvement of this camera. There are an awful lot of optically fantastic Pentax lenses with screw drive around the place. If these all get a big increase in AF speed, then thats a huge factor imo. on that note, do any current K3 owners have a DA 16-45 F/4 that they can try? I've long been tempted to pick one up as a bit of an unsung cheap ($200) gem for general work, and if the AF is substantially improved by the K3 i might snaffle one before they disappear.

11-14-2013, 04:16 AM	#93
Pål Jensen Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Norway Photos: Albums Posts: 4,371	Originally posted by falconeye Any serious test would calibrate sharpness using a static test target and an appropriate sharpness setting. AF results are then normalized wrt a reference value. This must be done anyway because cameras have differing resolutions / AA filters. One possible reference value could be 2300 LW/PH (8MP). RAW is to be avoided to use the full buffer size. That will only tell you how the camera performs while shooting test targets....

05-10-2015, 06:14 PM	#94
Belnan Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Nova Scotia Photos: Albums Posts: 1,090	Originally posted by Belnan I have to disagree, this isn't a lens/camera combined test this is a test of the new autofocus module. This should have been tested against it peers the 70D and the d7100 a well as the k-5 II all using the same lens. Pentax may come out with a new lens in the future which equals the nikkor 70-200/2.8G but by then the conclusion will have already been made. The K-3 still lags the competition in autofocus which may not be the case. In addition more tests should have been done with regards to the low light focus speed and tracking ability of the K-3 where it may possibly lead the competition. Pentax Forums should re-due the autofocus tests. Otherwise well done. Like I said . Time to redo the test!

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