ephotozine K-3 review out

aguest · 11-14-2013, 02:44 AM

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Pentax K-3 Digital SLR Review

**Belnan** · 11-14-2013, 03:07 AM

Nice Review, credit where credit is due.

fb_penpho · 11-14-2013, 04:14 AM

The review I think any company would be proud of. I do question the price, if my aim was market share, then $1199 would be my goal. This would make new entrants look carefully at Nikon and try and dismiss Sony. I have not made an in depth comparison of the models but only as gut feel for when you have to make the price decision.

wahid_satu · 11-14-2013, 06:51 AM

Most interesting thing from ePhotozine, as has been pointed out buy the other forum users, is that at 0.2 seconds focus time at wide angle and another 0.2 seconds focus time at full zoom, it is on par or slightly faster than the any DSLRs up to the D610. Only the 5DIII (0.15) or more expensive cameras (most at 0.1) beat the K-3. I don't know how they tested focus time, but if they are at least consistent, this is good news.

konraDarnok · 11-14-2013, 07:53 AM

stomped the competition by a half star to grab the editor's choice.

Rupert · 11-14-2013, 08:08 AM

Originally posted by fb_penpho

The review I think any company would be proud of. I do question the price, if my aim was market share, then $1199 would be my goal. This would make new entrants look carefully at Nikon and try and dismiss Sony. I have not made an in depth comparison of the models but only as gut feel for when you have to make the price decision.

Just a note on my lifetime experience with price......when you buy a product that pleases, makes you smile, makes you happy, it's only a short time until you forget all about the price. I have lots of things I love that I know were more expensive than the alternatives, but I can't recall by how much....and don't care! My bet is the K3 fits in this mold.

Regards!

Namajam · 11-14-2013, 08:16 AM

It seems the Pentax Forum crowd is more critical than the outsidecrowd. That’s two outstanding external reviews of the K-3 that I’ve read,hopefully more are on the way. It’s niceto read unbiased reviews. I wouldimagine not every review will be so glowing.

So far so good…way to go Pentax/Ricoh!

RonHendriks1966 · 11-14-2013, 08:36 AM

5 stars, so we have to get it.

normhead · 11-14-2013, 08:39 AM

Originally posted by fb_penpho

The review I think any company would be proud of. I do question the price, if my aim was market share, then $1199 would be my goal. This would make new entrants look carefully at Nikon and try and dismiss Sony. I have not made an in depth comparison of the models but only as gut feel for when you have to make the price decision.

It's already down to $1199 in some places
items in Prodigital2000 store on eBay!

**Rondec** · 11-14-2013, 08:42 AM

Looks good to me. I would just say, with regard to price, that the K3 has just been released, while the D7100 has been out for awhile. I would expect the price on the K3 to stabilize around 1000 dollars in a few months, but there always does seem to be a little bit of an "early adopter" price in place for a little while after a new release.

Quicksand · 11-14-2013, 10:50 AM

Nice writeup, but two technical issues leapt out at me:

(1) In the "lens test images" section, why are they using f/22? Good grief!

(2) The AA Simulator sample photos are taken at 1/6400 and 1/5000 shutter speeds, where (per Pentax) it isn't expected to function very well. Also, I don't think taking photos of a monitor screen is a good test of moire false color effects - the "white" on a screen is actually made up of red, green, and blue subpixels - so what resembles moire might actually be a sharp, accurate rendering of very small details that actually do exist.

mark lj · 11-14-2013, 11:58 AM

Originally posted by Quicksand

Nice writeup, but two technical issues leapt out at me:

(1) In the "lens test images" section, why are they using f/22? Good grief!

(2) The AA Simulator sample photos are taken at 1/6400 and 1/5000 shutter speeds, where (per Pentax) it isn't expected to function very well. Also, I don't think taking photos of a monitor screen is a good test of moire false color effects - the "white" on a screen is actually made up of red, green, and blue subpixels - so what resembles moire might actually be a sharp, accurate rendering of very small details that actually do exist.

Agreed - I can't recall going past f11. I'll wait for a more impartial review, although I like the look of it thus far.

formercanuck · 11-14-2013, 01:22 PM

They took a nice sampling of photos - and a first - a photo with a non-kit lens. The 18-135mm is pretty soft in the corners which is known - but doesn't impress on 'test' images.

43mm Limited | 1/6 sec | f/11.0 | 43.0 mm | ISO 200
High-Res

and

100mm Macro Angel | 1/50 sec | f/16.0 | 100.0 mm | ISO 200
High-Res

11-14-2013, 02:44 AM	#1
aguest New Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 10	ephotozine K-3 review out Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. Pentax K-3 Digital SLR Review

11-14-2013, 04:14 AM	#3
fb_penpho Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: London Photos: Gallery Posts: 212	An eye catching review The review I think any company would be proud of. I do question the price, if my aim was market share, then $1199 would be my goal. This would make new entrants look carefully at Nikon and try and dismiss Sony. I have not made an in depth comparison of the models but only as gut feel for when you have to make the price decision.

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11-14-2013, 03:07 AM	#2
Belnan Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Nova Scotia Photos: Albums Posts: 1,090	Nice Review, credit where credit is due.

11-14-2013, 06:51 AM	#4
wahid_satu Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Jakarta Photos: Gallery Posts: 96	Most interesting thing from ePhotozine, as has been pointed out buy the other forum users, is that at 0.2 seconds focus time at wide angle and another 0.2 seconds focus time at full zoom, it is on par or slightly faster than the any DSLRs up to the D610. Only the 5DIII (0.15) or more expensive cameras (most at 0.1) beat the K-3. I don't know how they tested focus time, but if they are at least consistent, this is good news.

11-14-2013, 07:53 AM	#5
konraDarnok Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Photos: Albums Posts: 969	stomped the competition by a half star to grab the editor's choice.

11-14-2013, 08:08 AM	#6
Rupert Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25,123	Originally posted by fb_penpho The review I think any company would be proud of. I do question the price, if my aim was market share, then $1199 would be my goal. This would make new entrants look carefully at Nikon and try and dismiss Sony. I have not made an in depth comparison of the models but only as gut feel for when you have to make the price decision. Just a note on my lifetime experience with price......when you buy a product that pleases, makes you smile, makes you happy, it's only a short time until you forget all about the price. I have lots of things I love that I know were more expensive than the alternatives, but I can't recall by how much....and don't care! My bet is the K3 fits in this mold. Regards!

11-14-2013, 08:16 AM	#7
Namajam Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Puget Sound Photos: Gallery Posts: 76	It seems the Pentax Forum crowd is more critical than the outsidecrowd. That’s two outstanding external reviews of the K-3 that I’ve read,hopefully more are on the way. It’s niceto read unbiased reviews. I wouldimagine not every review will be so glowing. So far so good…way to go Pentax/Ricoh!

11-14-2013, 08:36 AM	#8
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	5 stars, so we have to get it.

11-14-2013, 08:39 AM	#9
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by fb_penpho The review I think any company would be proud of. I do question the price, if my aim was market share, then $1199 would be my goal. This would make new entrants look carefully at Nikon and try and dismiss Sony. I have not made an in depth comparison of the models but only as gut feel for when you have to make the price decision. It's already down to $1199 in some places items in Prodigital2000 store on eBay!

11-14-2013, 08:42 AM	#10
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,650	Looks good to me. I would just say, with regard to price, that the K3 has just been released, while the D7100 has been out for awhile. I would expect the price on the K3 to stabilize around 1000 dollars in a few months, but there always does seem to be a little bit of an "early adopter" price in place for a little while after a new release.

11-14-2013, 10:50 AM	#11
Quicksand Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Ohio (formerly SF Bay Area) Posts: 1,519	Nice writeup, but two technical issues leapt out at me: (1) In the "lens test images" section, why are they using f/22? Good grief! (2) The AA Simulator sample photos are taken at 1/6400 and 1/5000 shutter speeds, where (per Pentax) it isn't expected to function very well. Also, I don't think taking photos of a monitor screen is a good test of moire false color effects - the "white" on a screen is actually made up of red, green, and blue subpixels - so what resembles moire might actually be a sharp, accurate rendering of very small details that actually do exist.

11-14-2013, 11:58 AM	#12
mark lj Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 983	Originally posted by Quicksand Nice writeup, but two technical issues leapt out at me: (1) In the "lens test images" section, why are they using f/22? Good grief! (2) The AA Simulator sample photos are taken at 1/6400 and 1/5000 shutter speeds, where (per Pentax) it isn't expected to function very well. Also, I don't think taking photos of a monitor screen is a good test of moire false color effects - the "white" on a screen is actually made up of red, green, and blue subpixels - so what resembles moire might actually be a sharp, accurate rendering of very small details that actually do exist. Agreed - I can't recall going past f11. I'll wait for a more impartial review, although I like the look of it thus far.

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11-14-2013, 01:22 PM	#13
formercanuck Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: SoCal Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 518	They took a nice sampling of photos - and a first - a photo with a non-kit lens. The 18-135mm is pretty soft in the corners which is known - but doesn't impress on 'test' images. 43mm Limited \| 1/6 sec \| f/11.0 \| 43.0 mm \| ISO 200 High-Res and 100mm Macro Angel \| 1/50 sec \| f/16.0 \| 100.0 mm \| ISO 200 High-Res