Ricoh announces Pentax K-3 24MP DSLR with selectable low pass filtering

Ricoh has announced the Pentax K-3 – a 24 megapixel enthusiast APS-C DSLR. In addition to the higher pixel count, the range-topping camera gains a 27-point autofocus system and a more advanced 86,000 pixel metering sensor, compared with the K-5 II. Rather than offering versions with an without an optical low-pass filter, the company has found a way to selectively use the image stabilization system to mimic its effect. It also offers twin SD card slots and USB 3.0 connection.

Click here to read our First Impressions Pentax K-3 Review

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• Pentax K-3 first impressions review
• Press Release
• Specifications
• Additional Images

Press Release:

Ricoh Imaging Sets New Standard of Performance

New PENTAX K-3 advanced enthusiast DSLR features 24 megapixel sensor, selectable anti-aliasing filter and fast 8.3 frames per second frame rate

DENVER, CO, October 7, 2013 – Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation (Ricoh Imaging) is pleased to establish a new standard of performance with the debut of the PENTAX K-3 advanced enthusiast DSLR. As the Premiere DSLR in Ricoh Imaging’s robust and full-featured APS-C lineup, the PENTAX K-3 brings unparalleled technology and advanced specifications presenting photographers with a solution that raises the bar while removing limitations.

Elevating standard performance, the PENTAX K-3 boasts a 24 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, incredibly fast 8.3 fps (frames per second) frame rate, innovative selectable anti-aliasing (AA) filter technology and outstanding HD video performance; all while giving demanding photographers dual card slots for quick and easy image recording and seamless wireless remote capture and image transfer capabilities.

“Ricoh Imaging has made an investment to ensure that our product lineup features the most complete and capable APS-C offering in our history,” said Jim Malcolm, Executive Vice President, Ricoh Imaging.  “This goal was realized with the introduction of the K-3. Its unmatched feature set and revolutionary technology set a benchmark of excellence that raises the bar for the entire APS-C category.”

Housed in the PENTAX K-3’s sleek and ergonomic body is a host of cutting-edge technology including the innovative and proprietary selectable AA filter which allows photographers to toggle anti-aliasing functionality on or off using the lauded PENTAX SR (Shake Reduction) mechanism. This breakthrough in imaging technology empowers photographers to retain greater control of image output while eliminating the need to commit to supreme resolution or superior moiré control by providing both options in a single camera body. Also new to the PENTAX K-3, and the APS-C category, is the PENTAX FLU SDHC memory card that delivers wireless connectivity with unprecedented functionality to a compatible PC or connected device via a web browser. Using this advanced technology, photographers are able to perform a variety of functions including inspect a live-view image, release the K-3’s shutter, shift the AF sensor point, and check images recorded on the card using any connected device with a web browser. And, thanks to its SD card-based, internal placement the PENTAX K-3 retains its weather-resistant, moisture-tight capabilities with no protruding devices preventing door closure.

The K-3 also features an enhanced video recording experience including the ability to change from still image to video recording with the flip of a dedicated switch to capture full HD movie recording in H.264 format. The K-3 comes equipped with a headphone terminal and stereo mic terminal for external microphone connection. The user can also adjust the audio recording level manually and monitor sound levels during recording. In addition to a variety of creative special-effect modes, the K-3 also provides an upgraded interval movie mode, which captures a series of 4K-resolution movie clips (3840 x 2160 pixels) at a fixed interval. 

Rounding out the new and advanced capabilities offered in the PENTAX K-3 is a newly designed autofocus module, SAFOX11, which boasts 27 AF sensors and high light-sensitivity, covering a wide AF working range of –3EV to +18EV.  Finally, the new Real-Time Scene Analysis System features an 86,000 pixel RGB light-metering sensor and improved algorithms that further enhance the accuracy of exposure, white balance and auto-focusing.

Pricing and Availability
The PENTAX K-3 will be available for purchase online at www.us.ricoh-imaging.com and retailers nationwide in November 2013 for a suggested retail price of $1,299.95 for body only and $1,699.95 for the kit including the DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 WR zoom lens.

The PENTAX K-3 Premium Silver Edition* will also be made available in a limited quantity with only 2,000 units being offered worldwide. This limited-edition model features a silver body with a silver BG-5 battery grip designed exclusively for the K-3, making it a perfect match for the silver HD PENTAX DA Limited lens series, which is designed for unrivaled image rendering. This special package also includes an exclusive leather strap and silver D-BG5 battery grip. The PENTAX K-3 Premium Silver Edition will be available for purchase online at www.us.ricoh-imaging.com and retailers nationwide in November 2013 for a suggested retail price of $ 1,599.95.

The PENTAX FLU SDHC 16GB memory card and D-BG5 battery grip will be available for purchase online at www.us.ricoh-imaging.com and retailers nationwide in November 2013 for a suggested retail price of $99.95 and $229.95, respectively.

To learn more about Ricoh Imaging’s unmatched lineup of APS-C DLSRs and lenses as well as other Ricoh Imaging products, please visit www.us.ricoh-imaging.com.
* The specifications of this limited-edition model are identical to those of the PENTAX K-3.

Pentax K-3 specifications

Additional images

A limited edition of 2,000 silver models will be made
The left of the camera features a headphone socket	The right-hand side reveals twin SD card slots
	Ricoh is keen to stress the camera’s video features

Pentax K-3

Comments

Looks like a nice camera but 10 bucks says it still has sub-par AF. Those thinking this would replace a D300 or 7D for AF -intensive shooting might want to reconsider.

This is Pentax’s chance to go after the fat cats pushing their wears at every consumer point. I know that marketing is expensive and breaking into markets is arduous. As good as this camera is it won’t make a dent in the market unless it’s sold well.

Yep!! This is exactly what I have been waiting for. I read the share holder minutes when Ricoh bought Pentax. This was the target from day one. I am on board 100% now. I shoot Canon 7D and it is a dog period IMO this day and time. The sensor is just not there. Neither is the AF on the 7D. If this AF system is better then good bye 7D.I Will keep the Mark IV and move back to Pentax with my Sigma super telephoto lenses. The hell with Canon and the 7D. They promised a 7D II and never delivered. I will wait and get the results from good quality tests. If good I am back.

The best selling accessory for this camera will be a Pentax logo to cover the Ricoh writing on the back.

A great tool on a friendly price. Good job, Ricoh/Pentax.

Glad to see Pentax is back on top. K-3 proves that Pentax is introducing great improvements every second generation (K-5 II was just a “facelift” of K-5 and it goes in the same way one category lower, see K-r – K-30 – K-50).
Now pls make a thorough comparison test of K-3 – D7100 and 70D. I believe the K-3 will score high. 😉

Nice camera, great ergonomics. Too bad it’s not a FF. aps-c dslr’s are so 2009.
🙂

You can still choose the “improvement” in the form of Nikon D610. 😉

Pentax K-3:
Max 8.3 fps
Up to 22 RAW shots = (Max 2.65s timespan covered)
Up to 60 JPEG Large (★★★) = (Max 7.23s timespan covered)

Canon EOS 7D:
Max 8.0 fps
Up to 23/25 RAW (Large/Fine) shots = (Max 2.88s to 3.13s timespan covered)
Up to 110/130 JPEG (Large/Fine) = (Max 13.75s to 16.25s timespan covered)
Up to 17/17 RAW+JPEG (Large/Fine) = (Max 2.12s timespan covered)

the longer the timespan covered with many more shots, the better…

e.g.

JPEG:

110/130 vs 60, means 7D has 83% to 117% more hi-fps shot coverage than K-3,

and

13.75s/16.25s vs 7.23s, 7D has 90% to 125% more timespan coverage, than the K-3.

~ double the coverage

Please tell us: what do you do that needs 100+ jpegs @ 8 fps and where 60 jpegs doesn’t cut it?

Until then, your post is complete nonsense. Even is the figures are correct.

Why do you mentinon that dinosaur, 7D, here?

Feeling Insecured by the new K-3?

Thats a fair point of difference.

Buy the camera with the 16.25secs of burst shooting if 13.75secs isn’t enough for you.

Wow! That’s really impressive!

When was the last time you kept firing at 8fps during more than a few seconds again?

But hey, don(t feel bad, the 7D is wayyyy better than the Pentax… until we’ll have a look at DR and general IQ. Then the sad truth will probably appear that 7D’s sensor is in need of a major overhaul…

You also forgot to post some of your gibberish about the advantages of ExpSim LV… in another post maybe?

PS: I shoot Canon.

you forgot to mention K-3 loaded with 24MP with much better IQ in all aspect (HI, LI, DR etc) vs 18 MP soso IQ – feeling insecure eh ?

K3 has a 24mp sensor – so it’s moving and processing 33% more data at 8.3 fps than the 7D

Likely that sensor is quite a bit better too.

Well if you’re an experienced photographer you don’t need huge timespan. You know when to pull the trigger and when to stop. You don’t empty your machinegun mag at once. It’s better to make sure to get a great shot 😉

If “the longer the timespan covered with many more shots, the better…” then why don’t you just knock the continuous shooting rate down to medium or slow to cover considerably longer time?

Good. Now Nikon, please release your D310 or D400 or whatever high-end APS-C DSLR, so some of us can have the 7D Mk II on the market quickly! Cheers! 🙂

This looks like an all around great camera. If I was going for a DSLR, this is it.

For anyone wanting a top-notch APS-C DSLR this looks like a really excellent choice.

i use a nikon, a canon and a pentax, but this will be my next camera!

This announcement makes the Nikon D610 announcement less exciting

Less exciting? There is nothing “exciting” at all in the D610 announcement.

the nikon d610 show simply thay the d600 were failed, nikon sold a failed camera to people and never addressed the problem…but nikonia fanboys won’t say nothing and just buy this ” new ” camera

Battery Life- 720, microphone – stereo.
I see 2 mistakes.

We quote CIPA battery life, which includes 50% flash usage. That number is correct. Also, the K-3 does not have a built-in stereo microphone, though it has a port for one.

Does “Continuous H” support tracking at that speed? 8.3 fps, right? Then it would finally beat 7D…

That remains to be seen in real-world tests. Canon certainly has more experience in that sort of things than Ricoh/Pentax but the new AF system looks good.

Wait and see.

Is the in body AF motor quieter than the k-5 series?

Screw drive motor has been reworked. Makes less noise now.

Thanks. Do you have any reference where this is confirmed?

In real life use. Often in quick reviews like this, many useful information won’t be clearly noted. Like the Multi-pattern Auto White Balance, which is already a big hit.

Oh. Where did you get to try it? I think we might be both located in Melbourne. If theres a show and tell do let me know where. Thanks

Dunno if it was reworked but the screw drive of my K5II is a tad quieter than my K-r

Personally happy to see the Sony 24Mp sensor made it in to a Pentax body. I’m sure the camera is top notch all around considering the performance of the K-5 family. Rain? No problem. Low light? No problem. High ISO without falling apart at 1600? No Problem. The in-camera control and effects set it apart from any other. It’s good to see this continuation in the line.

No one is actually certain which sensor is included in the K-3. Some say it’s Toshiba’s, some it’s the brand new Sony’s. Some insiders with reliable track record says it’s the latter (latest Sony’s). We’ll see …

Should have been called the K5IIs-2

please je-king around! release the FF cracken already!

Welcome, welcome upgrade and features to K-5 and a great competitor to Nikon D7100. But what is it with companies and naming. The next camera will be the K-1 and, then, there is no where to go. Others have boxed themselves in with naming everything the X Z and/or 1.

K-1 is saved for FF model. Pentax, I know you can do it.

There’s still room in FF for a K-6, K-4, K-2, and K-0!

K-2 is my vote for a FF, since it harkens back to the K2, a classic premium film camera.

A company can get a lot of mileage out of K1 II/III/IV etc.

Naming is not a problem. Going back to Pentax film cameras naming, there’s a lot to take from. They have the K, M, P, Pz, Z, and a lot more…
If Pentax will make a FF, they can name it to Z-1D or something else…

Even going the other way has its limits with numbers going in to the tens or hundreds. Time to change the lettering which is perhaps the intention.

800g with a battery. DLi90 is about 50g.
So without it, it’s some .. 750g ..?

K5 was light-er, yes. But this camera is light-years ahead of K5. I wouldn’t be surprised it hasn’t been made slightly bigger and heavier to sport an FF sensor in some future model, that will share same tech, including same battery grip too.

Guys at CR Kennedy have already seen a K-5-bodied camera sporting an FF sensor, a year ago.

Still the best controls of any DSLR. So easy to use, especially in manual mode. The green button is genius. The grip is very comfortable too (at least on K5).

Heavy though! A D600 is only 850g, even if it is mostly plastic.

Not going to swap back from Nikon/Fuji any time soon, but this has the best specs of any APSC DSLR out there as far as I can see. Good job Ricoh.

D300 users who want 8fps could do worse. Wonder how good the new AF is.

I almost click the “Buy” button for a K-5IIs but held off the upgrade from a K-5. Glad I did. I have little reservation not only from the specs but from experience. All of the dslrs from Ds to K-5II have been class leading. The price is even a few hundreds lower than the price I paid for my K-5 3 years ago.

Enthusiast APS-C cameras are a shrinking market, because those who are above average in enthusiasm will pay a few hundred dollars more and buy a FF. Those who are not very enthusiastic or not very well heeled will buy the entry level models. That leaves the market with the Goldilocks enthusiasts: not too enthusiastic but enthusiastic enough and well heeled enough

Is there a FF body that offers the same feature set for a few hundred bucks more?

I see the top end APS-C versus bottom end FF choice as a trade off between between a full suite of features OR a lager sensor.

There are valid reasons to choose either one but by the same token, there are trade off with both.

Also entry level FF are gimped in other departments, like AF points or FPS. This is the 7dMarkII that a lot of people want but canon has no desire to make.

There is hardly any difference between the 6 fps of a Nikon D610 and the 8.3 frames per second of the K-3. Personally, I would consider the tradeoff of a larger sensor well worth the 2 fewer frames per second.

However some of us do not want a camera as large as any of the current full frame cameras. The K7/K5 size cameras are perfect to my way of thinking, I’m sure many others think the same way.

@Anastigmat

Well the K-3 is specced more inline with what we’d expect from a future Nikon D400. Seems at least Nikon agrees with you and hence the reason there is no D400.

A FF sensor could easily fit into this body.

What brand microphone is that in their pic? Is it any good?

looks like another great little camera from pentax..always liked their cameras all the way back to the k1000 lx/MX and ME models.hope they sell a whole lot of k-3’s, would love to see them introduce a ff camera in the near future.i’m a nikon user

There is no question in my mind that this is going to be a stellar DSLR. One that could approach full-frame quality provided you put the right glass on it. But I just hope they (Ricoh) just have enough sense this time around to properly market this camera and increase the number of places where you can see the camera in the flesh and try it out. Maybe broker a deal with the one of the large outdoor retailers to sell K-3s in their stores. They are sitting on a potential gold mine with all of these affordable (and excellent) weather-sealed cameras and lenses and its like no one realizes it.

It uses in-body stabilization to blur the image? I thought Olympus already had that.

/runs & ducks/

🙂

Minolta and then Sony added in body vibration reduction. Pentax soon followed. Canon and Nikon have resisted going that route.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/pentax-k3/pentax-k3A.HTM fyi, what pentax implemented in K3 body

I thought it was funny 🙂

Ah, all right, let’s see how many comments will be around “Why K-3? It isn’t enough to save Pentax anyway.”, “Does Pentax have any lenses?”, “Too late!”, “FF is the only way to go …”.
Etc.

You think that is bad. It is worse if nobody cares about saving Pentax. The K-3 is not going to save Pentax. Only a full frame will save Pentax. The 645D is losing market appeal, and people are yawning when Pentax introduces yet another APS-C model. Pentax is now stuck with the worst of all possible worlds: low margin cameras that sell in low volume.

Only difference between Pentax (small sales) and Nikon (big sales) is that Pentax DSLR’s actually work properly.

glad, I didn’t buy D7100 or even K3 makes 70 D look like a toy… ups i’m sorry. Ok I am sold.

many times, lens is way more important than body. I used to use pentax for 2 years. then I switched to canon 7d. Canon just have so much more lens choice. Pentax lens selection is really limited. And their lens quality are behind canon lens. When I see k-3, it sure looking amazing, but then I think about those pentax lens I have used, I lost interest. I think pentax’s priority is to update their lens. They have not announce some high quality lens for many years.(except that 560mm) but look at canon they keep making new lens and update old lens with better optical.

Pentax lenses are as good as any others. Some Pentax lenses have operational issues, but so do lenses from other manufacturers. They don’t have to update them optically because they are already good.

Which lens that you really need that Pentax or a 3rd party lens maker don’t have?

As 6bender says, Pentax lenses are AT LEAST as good as Canon, in the prime sector they have been likened to Leica’s – only difference being the Pentax’s come out in the sub £1000 bracket. The only area they are weak (but compensated for with 3rd party) is the longer f2.8 lenses such as 70-200 (although they do do a 200 f2.8).

Not to mention the fact that they natively support every Lens made over the past 40 years!! (only Nikon can come close to claiming that) plus M42 lenses via official adapters.

Good reason, i was thinking the same, but since I only need 3-4 lenses (12-300mm) I dont see it as a problem. K3 is the winner in every aspect.

Canon has its own lens availability issues too. Many lenses that work perfectly on Canon film cameras and early DSLR bodies will not work on later models, because Canon has put computer code in their camera bodies to shut down operation when it detects some third party lenses, such as those made by Sigma. Current Sigma lenses have the new chips so the cameras won’t shut down, but the older Sigma lenses will cause a shutdown. Pentax DSLR cameras all lack aperture coupling rings, so it can be pretty inconvenient to use the old K/M mount lenses without electrical contacts.

The biggest complainers about the Pentax lens line up are people who would never buy/could not afford a 560mm. They are the same ones here who use the line, “I would buy that in a heartbeat if…” And they never do.

“Pentax lens selection is really limited.”

I see what you did there…

@kai liu

Yep, Pentax lenses is quite Limited but not behind Canon’s lenses, in fact they are ahead of it.

This camera sounds good , has a nice price and add to that USB 3 ….now that is exciting ! 🙂

I’m a Nikon shooter, but i’m very interested in Pentax, its one of the few brands that does not artificially limit their cameras and instead give you what they can in a certain price point. Their lenses are just confusing to me though for some reason.

This might be the D7100 equal, price point seems to be slightly higher though if im not wrong.

And that on sensor image stabilization is probably wonderful with old lenses.

Pentax understands a camera is primarily a tool and not a gadgetcontainer. I hope AF has improved considerably especially in tracking subjects.

by the way… is there a FPS number given somewhere?

Continuous H: 8.3 FPS (up to 60 JPG / 23 RAW)
Continuous M: 4.5 FPS (up to 100 JPG / 32 RAW)
Continuous L: 3 FPS (up to 200 JPG / 52 RAW)

nice camera… but will not help pentax a bit.

says who and why? because you won’t buy it? please, explain

well, the market has no room for pentax in the long run.

i really don´t care to explain it here or measure dicks.
it´s a prediction from my experience in the business and interpolation of the future.

i really don´t care if people believe it or not.
but i think the future will show im right.

since you got the very first thing wrong (it’s not Pentax, but Ricoh) your prediction has failed in its very beginning
doesn’t mean you cannot have an opinion, but that’s about all you can do about it

In 2006 with the K10D there where predictions just like yours. Hmmm that was 7 years ago. There will always be a “Henry” to predict near future doom. So just enjoy the moment now and don’t think that “predictions” have any value, history proved them wrong already.

Henry just hangs around to gripe.

Jealous Canikon people, that’s a good sign! 😉

Checking Amazon.co.jp the K-3 preorder price is exactly the current selling price of a Canon 6D and D600 (all 149xxx yen).

Yes, the K-3 price will fall. Still, the dynamic of the dSLR market is fundamentally changed from where it was when the K-5 was first released.

DANG. What a spec sheet. Viewfinder improved too amongst many other things. The price is also quite good!!!

Nice.

beautiful…

Go Pentax !
And this comes from a Nikon owner!

oh, mama mia