K-3 Durability

akshay869 · 01-22-2014, 02:43 AM - **3 Likes**

Found this link and I was quite impressed.

Pentax K-3 p?i 16 stupních pod nulou - ?ádný problém! | Diit

It says that the K-3 (with 18-135 WR) survived -16 Degree Celsius environment for 5 days but the Sony A7R, also with a weatherproof lens couldn't keep up. That is amazing! Just another reason to go with Pentax.

JimmyDranox · 01-22-2014, 06:29 AM

Thanks for sharing. And Welcome.

JinDesu · 01-22-2014, 06:53 AM

Very nice to see that, thanks for sharing. -16C for 5 days might be quite the abnormal environment for most of us, but I can imagine a few places being like that all winter.

**c.a.m** · 01-22-2014, 07:55 AM

Made for Canada ! (- 26 C in Ottawa this morning).

Thanks for the link.

- Craig

stevebrot · 01-22-2014, 09:24 AM

Originally posted by JinDesu

Very nice to see that, thanks for sharing. -16C for 5 days might be quite the abnormal environment for most of us, but I can imagine a few places being like that all winter.

For people who do climbing or expedition photography, those conditions might be relatively common. When you have several days of snow camping the equipment (batteries in particular) can really take a hit. It was problem with film cameras and doubly so with today's digital gear.

Steve

JinDesu · 01-22-2014, 09:30 AM

Originally posted by stevebrot

For people who do climbing or expedition photography, those conditions might be relatively common. When you have several days of snow camping the equipment (batteries in particular) can really take a hit. It was problem with film cameras and doubly so with today's digital gear.

Steve

I didn't think of climbing - that is true. Usually I avoid the cold so I am not as familiar with conditions of -16c for multiple days. Heck, I think I would break down at -16c for 5 days

Kunzite · 01-22-2014, 09:39 AM

-16C? How about -40C?

You Tube

JinDesu · 01-22-2014, 09:44 AM

Yeah but I think duration is a pretty big factor too. I remember seeing that video and it was funny that the stopwatch died while testing XD

RallyDriver96 · 01-22-2014, 09:50 AM - **2 Likes**

I took my K5II to Sunday River Ski Resort (in Newery, ME) to get some photos of the Red Bull Frozen Rush. It was 1 degree (-17c), the camera performed flawlessly for being outside over 5 hours. I shot 717 photos on one battery, even though the battery read empty for the majority of the day - they certainly don't like registering in the cold it seems. These cameras are amazing... I cannot wait to purchase the K3 (just have to wait until my wife forgets about the K5II from the pre-Christmas sale).

[IMG]

[/IMG]

stevebrot · 01-22-2014, 10:07 AM

Originally posted by JinDesu

I didn't think of climbing - that is true. Usually I avoid the cold so I am not as familiar with conditions of -16c for multiple days. Heck, I think I would break down at -16c for 5 days

Back in the old days (say 1960s), it was a big deal to have a particular camera chosen for a major expedition to the Himalayas or polar regions. Even then the gear was fully stripped and winterized before going into the field. When National Geographic photographer Barry Bishop was preparing for the U.S. Everest expedition in 1963, the refit on the two Nikon Fs was done at the Nikon factory in Japan. One of the cameras fell from Bishops pack and tumbled down the mountain into oblivion. The surviving camera performed well despite the extreme conditions. Mr. Bishop, however, lost all of his toes and the tips of his little fingers to frostbite.

Steve

**crewl1** · 01-22-2014, 10:43 AM

Translate link Google Translate

pete-tarmigan · 01-22-2014, 11:23 AM

Originally posted by JinDesu

Very nice to see that, thanks for sharing. -16C for 5 days might be quite the abnormal environment for most of us, but I can imagine a few places being like that all winter.

Yes, like one January in the 1980s I experienced while growing up in Regina, in southern part of the province of Saskatchewan, Canada, not far north of the 49th parallel. The temperature never rose above -30° Celsius for the entire month. Imagine no outdoor photography for weeks or months on end! Extended periods of those kinds of temperatures are commonplace north of the 55th parallel in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Such a climate is probably why American imperialism of the late 18th and 19th centuries (known as "Manifest Destiny") gave rise to the slogan "54-40 or Bust" (they wanted the U.S. to seize all the land in North America as far north as 54°40' North latitude).

sundr · 01-22-2014, 11:31 AM

We've been getting a lot of -16 C (3 F) and lower here lately. In fact that's the exact temp as I'm writing. I'm glad my camera can take it. My body handles it well enough. Unfortunately, my fingers have really started to complain. If any one has any suggestions for thin but warm gloves that make manipulating the camera easy, let me know.

**Rondec** · 01-22-2014, 11:50 AM

It really holds up well. It has been cold here and the K3 can hold up to whatever I can deal with...

Wired · 01-22-2014, 12:31 PM

I've used both my K3 and K5 in stupid cold temperatures. Have left either camera in the car (K5 once for 3 days in a row) during - 20 Celsius temperature then proceeded to take it out and shoot some photos with no ill effects. My K100D died on me doing that though....and I wouldn't dream of attempting that with my D800.

Love these things!

01-22-2014, 02:43 AM - 3 Likes	#1
akshay869 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Pune Posts: 49	K-3 Durability Found this link and I was quite impressed. Pentax K-3 p?i 16 stupních pod nulou - ?ádný problém! \| Diit It says that the K-3 (with 18-135 WR) survived -16 Degree Celsius environment for 5 days but the Sony A7R, also with a weatherproof lens couldn't keep up. That is amazing! Just another reason to go with Pentax.

01-22-2014, 09:50 AM - 2 Likes	#9
RallyDriver96 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 65	I took my K5II to Sunday River Ski Resort (in Newery, ME) to get some photos of the Red Bull Frozen Rush. It was 1 degree (-17c), the camera performed flawlessly for being outside over 5 hours. I shot 717 photos on one battery, even though the battery read empty for the majority of the day - they certainly don't like registering in the cold it seems. These cameras are amazing... I cannot wait to purchase the K3 (just have to wait until my wife forgets about the K5II from the pre-Christmas sale). [IMG][/IMG]

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01-22-2014, 06:29 AM	#2
JimmyDranox Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Ploiesti, Romania Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,632	Thanks for sharing. And Welcome.

01-22-2014, 06:53 AM	#3
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	Very nice to see that, thanks for sharing. -16C for 5 days might be quite the abnormal environment for most of us, but I can imagine a few places being like that all winter.

01-22-2014, 07:55 AM	#4
c.a.m Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,189	Made for Canada ! (- 26 C in Ottawa this morning). Thanks for the link. - Craig

01-22-2014, 09:24 AM	#5
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by JinDesu Very nice to see that, thanks for sharing. -16C for 5 days might be quite the abnormal environment for most of us, but I can imagine a few places being like that all winter. For people who do climbing or expedition photography, those conditions might be relatively common. When you have several days of snow camping the equipment (batteries in particular) can really take a hit. It was problem with film cameras and doubly so with today's digital gear. Steve

01-22-2014, 09:30 AM	#6
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	Originally posted by stevebrot For people who do climbing or expedition photography, those conditions might be relatively common. When you have several days of snow camping the equipment (batteries in particular) can really take a hit. It was problem with film cameras and doubly so with today's digital gear. Steve I didn't think of climbing - that is true. Usually I avoid the cold so I am not as familiar with conditions of -16c for multiple days. Heck, I think I would break down at -16c for 5 days

01-22-2014, 09:44 AM	#8
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	Yeah but I think duration is a pretty big factor too. I remember seeing that video and it was funny that the stopwatch died while testing XD

01-22-2014, 10:07 AM	#10
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by JinDesu I didn't think of climbing - that is true. Usually I avoid the cold so I am not as familiar with conditions of -16c for multiple days. Heck, I think I would break down at -16c for 5 days Back in the old days (say 1960s), it was a big deal to have a particular camera chosen for a major expedition to the Himalayas or polar regions. Even then the gear was fully stripped and winterized before going into the field. When National Geographic photographer Barry Bishop was preparing for the U.S. Everest expedition in 1963, the refit on the two Nikon Fs was done at the Nikon factory in Japan. One of the cameras fell from Bishops pack and tumbled down the mountain into oblivion. The surviving camera performed well despite the extreme conditions. Mr. Bishop, however, lost all of his toes and the tips of his little fingers to frostbite. Steve

01-22-2014, 10:43 AM	#11
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	Translate link Google Translate

01-22-2014, 11:23 AM	#12
pete-tarmigan Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Conception Bay South, New-fun-land Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,272	Originally posted by JinDesu Very nice to see that, thanks for sharing. -16C for 5 days might be quite the abnormal environment for most of us, but I can imagine a few places being like that all winter. Yes, like one January in the 1980s I experienced while growing up in Regina, in southern part of the province of Saskatchewan, Canada, not far north of the 49th parallel. The temperature never rose above -30° Celsius for the entire month. Imagine no outdoor photography for weeks or months on end! Extended periods of those kinds of temperatures are commonplace north of the 55th parallel in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Such a climate is probably why American imperialism of the late 18th and 19th centuries (known as "Manifest Destiny") gave rise to the slogan "54-40 or Bust" (they wanted the U.S. to seize all the land in North America as far north as 54°40' North latitude).

01-22-2014, 11:31 AM	#13
sundr Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: St. Paul, Minnesota Photos: Gallery Posts: 123	We've been getting a lot of -16 C (3 F) and lower here lately. In fact that's the exact temp as I'm writing. I'm glad my camera can take it. My body handles it well enough. Unfortunately, my fingers have really started to complain. If any one has any suggestions for thin but warm gloves that make manipulating the camera easy, let me know.

01-22-2014, 11:50 AM	#14
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,653	It really holds up well. It has been cold here and the K3 can hold up to whatever I can deal with...

01-22-2014, 12:31 PM	#15
Wired Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Edmonton, AB Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,519	I've used both my K3 and K5 in stupid cold temperatures. Have left either camera in the car (K5 once for 3 days in a row) during - 20 Celsius temperature then proceeded to take it out and shoot some photos with no ill effects. My K100D died on me doing that though....and I wouldn't dream of attempting that with my D800. Love these things!