[kentster]

Any K3 folks wish they had a K3II?

Any K3 folks...who went to a k3II not seeing any benefits?

I'm trying to decide between the 2.


Also...what serial numbers should I avoid ?

[Bob from Aus]

I have both K3 and K3ii. The K3ii lives on my teles - sigma 500 or pentax 60-250. It might be my imagination but I think the shake reduction is better on the k3ii and maybe the focusing works better for me to, but not sure. I'm enraptured with the built in GPS. My opinion is if the camera isn't going to live on a tele and you don't lust after GPS the K3 is equally senational

[Adam]

Also...what serial numbers should I avoid ?

New stock shouldn't be affected by the service advisory, but the cutoff for that is 6206660.

Apart from the on-board GPS and pixel shifting, there isn't much of a practical difference between the two bodies, so I'd base my decision on price and whether or not you need the on-board flash.

[PKMike]

May I ask what service advisory? And is it for K-3 or K-3II? Thanks.

[mcgregni]

Think carefully about your flash needs. Pentax have released a new small unit, the AF201, which would seem to be ideal paired with a camera that has no built-in one .... But I have not seen evidence or reports that the AF201 will act as a P-TTL optical trigger for the wireless system, so it doesn't completely replace a built-in. I would be delighted to be proven wrong on this, as if so then the desirability of the AF 201 would increase greatly.

[Not a Number]

See this thread:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/6-pentax-dslr-discussion/301101-k3-vs-k3ii.html

---------- Post added 09-14-15 at 02:11 AM ----------

May I ask what service advisory? And is it for K-3 or K-3II? Thanks.

Pentax K-3 II Service Advisory - Pentax Announcements | PentaxForums.com

[UncleVanya]

Think carefully about your flash needs. Pentax have released a new small unit, the AF201, which would seem to be ideal paired with a camera that has no built-in one .... But I have not seen evidence or reports that the AF201 will act as a P-TTL optical trigger for the wireless system, so it doesn't completely replace a built-in. I would be delighted to be proven wrong on this, as if so then the desirability of the AF 201 would increase greatly.

I carefully looked into this. Sadly the af201 doesn't offer wireless master or controller functions.

I have a k3 consequently. Wireless triggers are pretty cheap these days so that route seems well within reason but when I added the costs and complexity I decided the k3 made more sense for me and my dad. My dad upgraded at the same time and that doubled our costs which made the calculation a bit less forgiving of the extra costs involved in going with the k3ii.

[Outis]

I have a K-3. Honestly, the on-board GPS of the K-3 II would be much more useful to me than the flash.

[UncleVanya]

I have a K-3. Honestly, the on-board GPS of the K-3 II would be much more useful to me than the flash.

We are the opposite in that but it makes sense that there are people who fit both use cases.

[DDoram]

I really like the K3II much better than the K3 as it has improved:


-AF
-SR
-Focus speed and accuracy


I also find the pixel shift works great for still subjects.

[kentster]

Is the ISO performance better than the K5II ?

[PKMike]

entax K-3 II Service Advisory - Pentax Announcements | PentaxForums.com

Thank you, Not a Number. I now remember having read this a while back.

[kentster]

for clarity....did the shutter debacle happen on the K3 or K3ii ?

[amoringello]

When I use my K3ii, it never fails I wish I had the pop-up flash.
When I have my K3, I end up being somewhere I wish I had the GPS.
Go figure! :-) :-)

[mcgregni]

I carefully looked into this. Sadly the af201 doesn't offer wireless master or controller functions.

I have a k3 consequently. Wireless triggers are pretty cheap these days so that route seems well within reason but when I added the costs and complexity I decided the k3 made more sense for me and my dad. My dad upgraded at the same time and that doubled our costs which made the calculation a bit less forgiving of the extra costs involved in going with the k3ii.

What a missed opportunity! Surely technology-wise it could have been possible to give the AF201 the same wireless control functionality as a built-in flash? It is clearly a logical accessory choice for purchasers of the K3II . There are plenty of people who draw the line at carrying a larger flashgun regularly, but the AF201 would stay in the bag and be ready.

If it's really a technology limitation then fair enough .... But it not then its a poor marketing decision surely.... ? I think they would be selling plenty more K3II cameras AND AF201s if this handy feature had been included.