Pentax K-3 Mark III Review

Drive Modes and Flash

Drive modes

The various drive modes are accessed by pressing the up direction on the four-way controller.

There are two options offered.

Drives modes are accessed by pressing either right or OK on the first icon. This brings up the various drive options (the display is the same in Live View and viewfinder shooting).

The different modes are described below:

• Single frame shooting: the default mode. Captures a single image when the shutter is depressed.
• Continuous shooting (High): captures a series of images at the highest repetition rate available relative to the exposure parameters and write speed of the memory card, up to 12 FPS (or 11 FPS in AF-C mode).
• Continuous shooting (Medium): captures a series of images at a medium repetition rate. Useful when refocusing between images is required, it gives more time to the AF system.
• Continuous shooting (Low): captures a series of images at a low rate.
• Exposure bracketing: takes a series of 2, 3 or 5 images, varying the exposure for each one. This helps in tricky conditions. The camera supports a number of combinations
• Mirror-lock-up Shooting. The first push of the shutter release button flips the mirror up, the next takes the shot. Helps to reduce vibrations.
  
• Multi-exposure: brings up several options for multi-exposures: average, additive, bright.
• Interval (not shown): pressing the INFO button brings up a sub-menu, where the user can set the interval between shots, the number of shots, the start time if a delay is desired, etc.
• Interval composite (not shown): similar to the previous, but the images are summed using one of the multi-exposure options.

Flash

The K-3 III does not come equipped with a built-in flash. Probably because of this, there isn't, by default, a button shortcut to control the flash modes. They are found within the Still Image settings, second page, on the menu. Selecting Flash Mode brings up a dedicated menu, which will control how an external flash will be driven.

There are four options, which will be familiar with anyone who has used a modern camera in the past.

• Flash on: default mode, the flash will fire according to its own settings. Using the rear e-dial will change the power output around the value calculated by TTL.
• Red-eyes reduction: a series of pre-flashes will fire to contract the subjects' pupils.
• Slow synch: the camera will act essentially as if the flash wasn't there, and expose accordingly, but will still fire the flash. Useful to balance lighting for the background and the subject.
• Slow synch with red-eyes reduction: a combination of the two other modes.

Verdict

The flash modes are pretty straightforward, and familiar.

The drive modes offer a mix of the usual (contrinuous, bracketing) and the more unique, such as interval and composite. The K-3 III is, in summary, a full-featured camera with all the drive modes that users could desire.