[jersey]

I laughed, but I won't participate. My English is not good enough.

As for the next versions of the K-3 Mk III, there has been no news, no sign of anything new. Now they are rather focused on the film camera, maybe the release or completion of the K-1 Mk III and most likely some new or updated lens so I wouldn't hold my breath.

I suppose a monochrome camera with manual focus will be the easiest to make and sell. But somehow I doubt it, otherwise it would appear in parallel to normal mono. Maybe as a service to convert existing K-3/3 sometime in the distant future?

[robgski]

Another version altogether is proposed, finished in bamboo wood. Wooden body, wooden lens barrel, wooden grip, wooden sensor. A release date isn’t known yet because all the prototypes thus far wooden work…




I’ll get my coat.

I thought a wooden version would prove to be very poplar

[idontstairs]

I thought Pentax threw out some ideas and they were voted on and the blacked out version K-3iii and the monochrome K-3iii won the popular vote contest?

Astro was addressed in a firmware update. Manual focus is just a flip of a switch away already. All that is left to do is fancy colors.

[angerdan]

I thought Pentax threw out some ideas and they were voted on and the blacked out version K-3iii and the monochrome K-3iii won the popular vote contest?

Yes:
Two online events scheduled for Asahi Optical's 103rd anniversary - PentaxForums.com

They also presented the outcome of last year's post-meeting poll concerning possible K-3 Mark III variants:

1. Jet Black: 23%
2. Monochrome: 21%
3. Astro: 17%
4. Gunmetal: 16%
5. Manual Focus: 16%

More Infos about the development regarding the 103rd anniversary:
Pentax Meeting on Nov 27: K-3 III evolution (firmware and model variants) - PentaxForums.com

[devouges]

I thought a wooden version would prove to be very poplar

YaHHHHH !! With wood that float and the camera will not sink

[Serkevan]

Back on topic, I don't think the others were popular enough in the poll that they'll consider making them. They *might* offer a conversion service to manual focus with a new mirror/focusing screen assembly, I guess, but that's all I'd expect if a tall.
Like Jersey said, nowadays they are likely to be more preoccupied with the film camera(s) and the new K-1. Which is a good thing, if true :P

[kwb]

The online event where 6 different versions of K-3III were first discussed (which JPT as well as I attended) was covered in detail in JPT's Pentax Meeting on Nov 27: K-3 III evolution thread. Six models were as follows.

Released:
- Jet Black.
- Monochrome.

Not Released:
- Gunmetal (Same color as K-3 Prestige Edition, customizable logo on the prism cover).
- MF (100% reflective mirror = even brighter VF, AF only possible in LV).
- Shallower stroke shutter (for those who would rather take many single shots with short interval than to use burst mode).
- Astro (10 times more sensitive to some IR lines (H-alpha), some concern about perverts though they didn't use that wording, they said they'd consider only selling to those who sign a paper to explicitly state that they only use the camera for astro.)

There's also one variation that wasn't discussed back then but released later:
- K-3III Monochrome Matte Black Edition.

I'm not sure about the Astro version. Was it about removing/adding special filters on top of the sensor? Or a variant of the monochrome variant?

That's right, it's about replacing IR cut filter with something else (probably just a broadband AR that won't cut off H-alpha lines).

Astro was addressed in a firmware update. Manual focus is just a flip of a switch away already. All that is left to do is fancy colors.

Astrotracer Type 3 was discussed in the same meeting, not as a camera variation, but as an additional feature that WILL come to regular K-3III in the future (and it came).

I feel like the puns here are lost on many of our foreign members.

Puns? Where? Wood yew help?

[biz-engineer]

There's also one variation that wasn't discussed back then but released later:- K-3III Monochrome Matte Black Edition.

I thought that one was available in Japan, so two versions of the K3 III monochrome for Japan only.

[angerdan]

The online event where 6 different versions of K-3III were first discussed (which JPT as well as I attended) was covered in detail in JPT's Pentax Meeting on Nov 27: K-3 III evolution thread. Six models were as follows.

Thats's exactly the same link i posted here 3 days/4 posts earlier.
I even posted "the outcome of last year's post-meeting poll concerning possible K-3 Mark III variants".

Here's a photo of the K-3 Mark III Monochrome Matte Black Edition:
Pentax live event scheduled for April 13 - Page 2 - PentaxForums.com

[kwb]

I thought that one was available in Japan, so two versions of the K3 III monochrome for Japan only.

K-3III Monochrome Matte Black Edition came to USA at some point (and was sold out), not sure about other markets.
https://us.ricoh-imaging.com/product/pentax-k-3-mark-iii-monochrome-matte-black

[Pentax4me]

With the flurry of firmware updates to the K-3 III (up to 2.10 now!), it seems like the engineers are far from reaching the limits of what this amazing camera can do. I don't see a new top Pentax APS-C camera coming out anytime soon.

As for Version 2.10, how many of you think the new "while-pressed" options would be useful to you on a regular basis?

[angerdan]

I don't see a new top Pentax APS-C camera coming out anytime soon.

It might take more than year for a successor of the K-3 III.
Template:Pentax digital interchangeable lens cameras - Wikipedia