Originally posted by c.a.m I know what you mean -- comparison data or tests are scarce.
I don't know precisely how the performance of the K-3 Mark III and the Nikon D500 compare, so I can't say which one is superior or inferior.
There is some data on the D500's throughput, for example, as posted in this thread:
Pentax to hold "SLR Meeting" on March 13 - Page 18 - PentaxForums.com
As for autofocus, the only comparison I've seen is the one shown in the early DPReview video (the one with 'running, weaving Jordan') , but I wouldn't say that was a thorough test.
- Craig
I wouldn’t take my comment of it being 7 year old tech to harshly. That D-500 still has a top of the line AF system that from all that I’ve seen on the K-3 iii, it nearly match’s it, which is great. That AF system is still keeping up pretty well with the latest high end mirrorless stuff, minus the fancy eye af and bird/car whatever tracking. Meaning it still works great. Which means the K-3iii AF is working great, even if it’s now catching up.
The biggest oops for Pentax is that buffer size, they dropped the ball there. And the non lit lcd af points would be really annoying in low light.
The buffer you can mitigate with good discipline in timing for most shots, but it would still be a problem when you really need to catch a longer than 3 second sequence or you get stuck waiting on a buffer clear and miss moments.
As for the DPreview thing, I’ve seen it. I actually don’t think they were harsh at all to the Pentax. I know this forum hates them and thinks they intentionally are trying to slander Pentax. I’ve actually seen way harsher reviews elsewhere.
My take on the K-3iii is finally Pentax has good AF-C, which is all that really matters. If you have Pentax gear you have a good action camera option that will do well.
I bought a bunch of Nikon gear to have good AF-C that I wouldn’t have had the K-3iii existed in 2017. But now that I’ve done that and addressed my AF-C and telephoto needs I may never buy the K-3iii even though I have a K-3 and a bunch of Pentax glass. They basically waited too long and I bought elsewhere. I’m also glad I did because that gear captured a lot of action moments for me that would have resulted in less keepers with the K-3.
I’ll never say never because I collect camera’s at this point. I’ve got Nikon/Olympus and a Pentax system and tons of glass. It’s just hard having both to pick a D-500 or a K33, or wait for trickle down of the Z9 into a Z6iii. That’s not an easy choice!
If 150-600’s existed for the K33 That would probably seal the deal, but they’re hamstrung by telephoto options especially compared to Nikon F glass. And for an action centric camera that’s not great.
Normhead does bring a great point with shorter range telephoto and a tele converter. And that’s probably a really good solution pared to a K33 that really makes the other options no factor. I can’t remember off the top of my head the lens/tele converter combo or if it’s still available. Norm? I don’t know if some combo of that exists for Nikon but anything with a small aperture and telephoto with them typically costs as much as a car and probably needs a trunk of a car to carry it around.
---------- Post added 03-06-2022 at 12:50 PM ----------
Originally posted by surfar Since its release the D500 has set the standard.Huge buffer due to faster cards.
Its old tech and consequently discontinued.
Id expect Nikon will release a Z version reasonably soon, seeing they've got the basic Z50 and the "cute" Zfc.A flow on from the Z9 AF ability,I think a "baby" Z9 will be the label.
I’m betting we see “baby Z9” performance very soon in a Z6iii or Z500. Nikon tends not to wait long for the trickle into other body’s. Like the D5 to D500/850 or the D4 to the D750 etc.
The Z50/ZFC actually match the K33 for 11fps but for less than half the price. They also still have good AF-C which is also similar in performance. We’ve been talking all FF camera’s but those small Z’s do offer a lot for the price. They also work with that huge array of F glass or with a megadap across every brand of lens should someone want AF on older manual glass or any brand.
Is the D500 discontinued? I still see if for sale, just out of stock like most things these days sporadically.
Pentax missed on that buffer and using faster cards.