Originally posted by tokyoscape This question is in my interest too since I'm predominantly doing night photo in the city using K3.
Most testing both camera and lens on the internet is doing during daytime. It is useful in some level, but it is not the same as do the testing at night. IMHO, Day and Night photography are using a bit of difference technic both during shooting and post-processing.
It would be nice if someone kind enough to upload the DNG night samples shots from K3III.
As for OP situation, it is super challenging. The subjects are on water, which mean shutter speed need to be relatively fast. ISO 6400 on K3 is not going to play nice. And force K3 to autofocus at night on a constantly moving subject is not going to be easy, too. I can feel your pain!
K3 is durable at night. We just need to find a good balance between fast enough shutter speed and ISO setting. What I found from doing night photo is; everything is going to be very dark anyway. What matter the most is the main subject. So I usually expose at the light closest to the main subject. I can see the person in the photo has light wrap around neck and body. I would definitely take full advance of those light around the neck. It is really close to the face. You might be able to get away with ISO lower than 400 - 1/200 (maybe?) and still have a relative good exposure for the face.
note that, my good exposure for the face at night in a tricky lighting situation like that is not the same as day time good lighting.
Yeah, it is a neat challenge. Normally I'm shooting static subjects at night on a tripod. You're really testing the limits of your gear with shots like this.
I actually don't mind 6400 on the K3, *if* I don't need to push up the exposure even more. I don't think I could go lower on the ISO for this shot. The exif says it's 6400, f/2.4 1/10s. I had to boost the exposure a tiny bit even at that! Not a lot of light all around.
---------- Post added 08-22-21 at 09:34 PM ----------
Originally posted by UncleVanya I upgraded from my K-50 to a K-3 and years later to a KP. The upgrade from the K-50 to K-3 was a large jump in both IQ (16 vs 24mp and 14bit raw, as well as much improved features.)
The KP upgrade was a bit more subtle other than low light performance where it improved by perhaps 2 full stops. The k-3iii is supposedly even better…
It's funny, I came to Pentax from a mico four thirds camera, and at the time it was a HUGE step up. I remember my first few low light shots being blown away. I still think it does good at night, just interested in eking out some modern gains. Definitely sounds like they have something good with the new sensor.