Pentax K-3 Mark III Camera Body (Black) with 16-50mm f/2.8ED PLM AW Lens and O-GPS2 GPS Unit

Pentax K-3 Mark III Camera Body (Black)

The K-3 Mark III is built on the Pentax legacy, utilizing a back-illuminated CMOS image sensor delivering approximately 25.73 effective megapixels. This sensor coupled with an AA (anti-aliasing)-filter-free optical design helps produce super-high-resolution images. The camera comes with a newly-developed, high-performance PRIME V imaging engine and accelerator unit that delivers outstanding images with minimal noise while retaining high-resolution reproduction at all sensitivities — even when shooting in super-low or super-high range. By greatly improving the noise-reduction performance at high-sensitivity ranges, it boasts a top sensitivity of ISO 1600000 to extend the range of scenes that can be photographed. A super-bright optical viewfinder offers nearly 100% field of view and up to 1.05x magnification. Plus, a high-definition 3.2-inch touch-screen LCD monitor helps improve the camera’s efficiency and operability. The Pentax K-3 Mark III features a high-performance, five-axis shake-reduction (SR) system that compensates for shakes providing blur-free images.

4K Movie Recording

The Pentax K-3 Mark III captures 4K-resolution movie clips at 30p/24p frame rate or Full HD movie clips at 60p/30p/24p frame rate in the H-264 recording format. It has a stereo microphone input terminal and headset terminal that lets you manually set the audio recording level and monitor the sound pressure level for microphone input.

SAFOX 13 Autofocus System with 101 Focus Sensors

The Pentax K-3 Mark III features a SAFOX 13 phase-matching AF sensor module for high-precision autofocus operations. This module uses 101 focus sensors, 25 of which are cross-type sensors positioned in the middle. These sensors ensure pinpoint focus on the subject at minimum brightness levels as low as -4 EV. An AF point selector lever lets you select the desired focus point more intuitively (up to 41 points). The camera also features a high-capacity RGBIr image sensor with approximately 307,000 pixels and an image-tracking algorithm that helps accurately track moving subjects that are at varying speed or in an irregular motion.

Real-Time Scene Analysis System

Supported by the combination of a high-density RGBIr image sensor and the high-performance PRIME V imaging engine, the Pentax Real-time Scene Analysis System quickly detects the subject’s face and eyes using advanced image recognition technology and later makes real-time analysis of their movement. This feature helps the camera in optimizing exposure settings and improving autofocusing accuracy. The Pentax K-3 Mark III adopts Deep Learning that ensures more accurate subject detection and more reliable scene judgment.

Built-In Shake-Reduction Mechanism

The built-in SR II shake-reduction mechanism reduces camera shake to deliver sharp, blur-free images. This five-axis mechanism compensates for camera shake caused by pitch and yaw, horizontal and vertical shift, and roll. It offers effective compensation of approximately 5.5 shutter steps. Plus, the SR II shake-reduction mechanism also provides a new Panning mode for capturing sharp, clear images of slow-moving subjects.

High-Speed Continuous Shooting at 12 ips

Combination of a mirror-driving mechanism that ensures high-speed, high-accuracy control of the mirror and shutter mechanisms, and a high-performance PRIME V imaging engine that allows for high-speed data transmission results in high-speed drive continuous shooting. The Pentax K-3 Mark III supports high-speed continuous shooting at approximately 12 images per second in the AF.S mode or approximately 11 images per second in the AF.C mode.

Optical Viewfinder with Nearly 100% Field of View

The camera features an optical viewfinder that offers a nearly 100-percent field of view and up to 1.05x magnification. The viewfinder has a high refraction glass prism that ensures comfortable viewing with a wide field of view equivalent to that of a full-frame SLR. Using a distortion-correcting optical element and optimizing the lens coatings delivers a clear, true-to-life viewfinder image free of distortion. 

LCD Monitor with Intuitive Touch-Screen Control

The Pentax K-3 Mark III comes with a high-definition, 3.2-inch LCD monitor with approximately 1,620,000 pixels. Touch-screen control allows for the intuitive operation of functions, including menu selection and image zooming during playback. Plus, its air-gapless construction effectively reduces reflections and the dispersion of light for improved visibility when shooting outdoors. The viewfinder eyepiece is designed to protrude away from the LCD screen so that your nose does not contact the camera body. Just below the eyepiece is an eye sensor that turns off the monitor the moment you look into the viewfinder.

Dustproof, Weather-Resistant Construction

The Pentax K-3 Mark III camera’s top, bottom, front and rear panels are all made of lightweight, high-rigidity magnesium alloy. It is backed by a dustproof, weather-resistant construction featuring special seals on the camera body. The camera is designed to be extremely durable and dependable even in harsh environmental conditions and can stably operate at -10-degree-C. It also features a durable, dependable shutter unit to perfectly match the camera’s rugged body for worry-free shooting at any location.

Ricoh HD Pentax-DA 16-50mm f/2.8ED PLM AW Lens

Designed to provide the best possible image quality and accommodate the super-high-performance cameras of the future, this large-aperture standard zoom lens is the newest model of the new-generation Star series. It has been redesigned with improved contrast and sharpness as compared to previous models. The lens delivers sharp, clear images not only in the middle of the image field but at the edges as well. By incorporating one ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass optical element, one anomalous dispersion glass optical element and two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) aspherical glass optical elements, it effectively minimizes chromatic aberration over the entire zoom range.

Advanced Features

The new redesign of this lightweight and compact lens features an advanced PLM (Pulse Motor), which assures smooth, high-speed autofocus operation with minimized noise. The improved focus mechanism provides a minimum focusing distance of just 0.3 meters and a maximum magnification of 0.24 times. Users get the benefits of capturing all types of subjects from everyday snapshots to close-ups and landscapes.

Performance

The high-performance PLM (Pulse Motor) provides improved autofocus performance in both speed and precision. This standard zoom lens assures excellent maneuverability and portability. It delivers high-contrast, high-resolution images across the image field, even at open aperture, while producing a smooth, natural bokeh (defocus) effect to assure true-to-life image renditions. Designed for use with APS-C-format digital cameras, it can accommodate all types of applications, from scenic and nature photography to snap-shooting and portraiture.

Exceptional Resolving Power

By incorporating one ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass optical element, one anomalous dispersion glass optical element, and two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) aspherical glass optical elements, it decreases chromatic aberration to a minimum over the entire zoom range. The 10-group, 16-element optical system ensures superb resolving power and delivers super-clear, high-contrast images from the center of the image field to the edges. The multi-layer HD Coating reduces the average reflectance in the visible ray spectrum. It also effectively minimizes flare and ghost images even in demanding lighting conditions such as backlighting.

PLM (Pulse Motor)

Driven by a PLM (Pulse Motor), this lens provides improved focusing speed (approx. 2.2 times faster in the wide-angle range, or approx. 1.5 times faster in the telephoto range, compared to the smc PENTAX-DA 16-50mm f/2.8ED AL[IF] SDM), while effectively minimizing noise for quieter operation. The upgraded Manual-focus operation of the power-assisted focus mechanism optimizes the precision and response of detecting the focus ring. This leads to smooth functionality as the focus-lens elements can shift more efficiently and flawlessly in synchronization with the focus-ring operation.

Electromagnetic Diaphragm Mechanism

The lens is compatible with the KAF4-mount camera body. It ensures high-precision exposure control, not only in still-image shooting but also in video recording. The electromagnetic diaphragm control mechanism allows users to capture video clips using automatic exposure control even when there are significant differences in brightness during video shooting. When combined with some compatible cameras, the PLM (Pulse Motor) ensures smooth focus tracking operation and flawless exposure control, while considerably reducing annoying noise generated by focus and diaphragm control operations during video recording.

Dustproof, Weather-resistant Construction

The All-Weather (AW) construction makes this lens rugged and durable. The unique design prevents the intrusion of dust and water into the lens interior. Users can easily pair it with a PENTAX dustproof, weather-resistant digital SLR camera body for creative shooting in rain or mist, or other environmental locations prone to water splashes.

Pentax GPS Unit O-GPS2

The PENTAX O-GPS2 provides reliable and high-precision positioning data gathered from GPS in the U.S., QZSS in Japan, GLONASS, and Galileo. When the PENTAX O-GPS2 is mounted on a compatible PENTAX digital SLR camera*, the user can record the latitude, longitude, altitude, universal time coordinated (UTC), and aspect of shooting locations onto captured images. Image files carrying the location data can be used to track shooting locations and review location data on a PC. The location data stored on such files also makes it much easier to sort and file recorded images.

By coupling the location data with the camera’s SR (Shake Reduction) system, the unit offers a range of unique, advanced applications, including ASTROTRACER function, which makes it easy to capture stellar images of the night sky, Simple Navigation function, which calculates the direction and distance to a given destination from a current position, and Electronic Compass function which displays the camera’s direction on its LCD monitor with great precision

GPS function for an effortless recording of shooting location data

The O-GPS2 mounts on the hot shoe of a compatible camera and records the latitude, longitude, altitude, universal time coordinated (UTC), and direction of the shooting location onto captured images. In addition to GPS in the US and QZSS in Japan, GLONASS and Galileo can be newly received.

ASTROTRACER simplifies astrophotography

When mounted on the corresponding PENTAX digital SLR camera body, the O-GPS2 also offers the advanced ASTROTRACER function,** which couples the unit with the camera’s SR (Shake Reduction) system for the effortless tracing and photography of celestial bodies. The unit calculates the movement of stars, planets, and other bodies using the latitude obtained from the location data and the camera’s alignment data (horizontal and vertical inclinations and aspects) obtained from its magnetic and acceleration sensors, then shifts the camera’s image sensor in synchronization with the movement of the objects.*** In the resulting image, stars and other bodies are captured as solid points rather than blurry streaks, even during extended exposures. It also makes astrophotography much simpler, as it requires only a tripod and eliminates the need for an additional accessory such as an equatorial telescope.

In addition to the normal ASTROTRACER: Type 1, ASTROTRACER: Type 2, available only when the O-GPS2 is used with the PENTAX K-3 Mark III, makes the image sensor follow the movement of the celestial body at half the speed of the Type 1. The photographer can suppress the flow of the landscape on the ground and shoot both the stars and the landscape in a well-balanced manner.

** This function is available only when the O-GPS2 is mounted on a PENTAX digital SLR camera body equipped with a SR system.

Simple Navigation calculates location data for destinations

The O-GPS2 offers a Simple Navigation function, which calculates the direction and distance to a given destination from the current position. The user can either locate destinations using location data stored on recorded images or register and/or assign them by uploading location data created on a PC.

Electronic Compass function indicates and records direction

The O-GPS2 has an Electronic Compass function which displays the camera’s direction on its LCD monitor with great precision. Using its magnetic sensor and the location data, the unit indicates the aspect in relation to the true north. The user can also record directional data on captured images.