Why is there so many K3 for sale
I'm also torn between the K-3 and K70. I definitely want to upgrade from the K-50 soon, but what can those cameras do that my little K-50 cant? Just curious on your opinions.
This might help ....... https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentax-k-1/8 It is the image quality page of DPReview's lab test for the Pentax K1.

You can use the drop downs to change one of the cameras compared to the K50 and another to the K70, like this ........

Comparing those images on screen is not really fair, because they are all different sizes - so, you could download the RAWs. I did that for ISO 12800, because one of my main reasons for considering the K1 was high ISO performance. I then corrected white balance in Lightroom, set the correct lens profile for each image and then exported JPEGs that were 5400 pixels wide, which allows an 18" wide print at 300ppi, which is the biggest I ever print. I then took a 600 pixel square crop from each of the JPEGs.
You might find the results interesting ....

This is for a Pentax K50

This is for the full frame Pentax K1

This is for the Pentax K70
Please draw your own conclusions but mine, for what they are worth, are that:
* Both the K1 and K70 completely blow away the K50 at ISO12800
* The K70 is MUCH closer to the K1 than I had expected
* The K1 has a significant amount of moire in the crop - but the K70 doesn't. It is possible that the K70 was set to use moire reduction, but if that was the case, a version without that set could be sharper than this crop.
* Only default noise reduction was used in Lightroom, so optimising noise processing could produce better results
My bottom line here is that the K70 is startlingly better, at high ISO, than I had expected it to be. I think it just might have become my favourite to replace my now ageing K30.
Hope this helps
Andrew
However, whilst instructive from a theoretical point of view, the comparison is distinctly odd to my mind .... its limited to the sensor output of course, but really, could any one, individual photographer seriously be considering one or other between the K70 and K1 ?!? They are not intended for the same type of person at all .... they are miles apart in so many aspects .... cost, size / weight, customisations and options etc....so much so that I can't see how anybody could simultaneously be interested in them, unless for two distinctly independant photographic purposes (eg K1 for serious work, and K70 for casual / family use).
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
Andrew
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
But a camera is so much more than a sensor in a box. And it is often the physical aspects, controls and interfaces, accessory options and technical photographic aids included that will ensure the best capture. For me, I would still regard the K7 as a superior camera to the K70.
I can see your points in the first 2 sentances however, whilst I appreciate that you have a vested interest, I'm puzzled as to where the K7 excels over the K70 ?
Can you please put me out of my misery ?
Thanks
Peter
For me, a camera is only as good as the output I can produce from it. If I can get decent usable shots at ISO 25,600 from camera A but not from camera B then in my book A is better than B - no matter how many extra bells and whistles B happens to have.
Andrew
Specifically, I place great value on many traditional high end SLR features, such as build and construction quality, durability, a bigger size and weight (that means the grip), the extra controls and battery options of the grip, refinements like mirror up and remote control, the wireless flash control ability, dedicated switches and levers for metering, AF modes, focus point selection, etc. Also things like burst speed and info-mational aids in the interface .... These are all aspects of a cameras image capture abilities that I value highly, even more so than pure sensor output.
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
Probably my angle on it is well known around here, and of course I like to play a little of the devils advocate ... ... Bit I do truly believe what I'm saying. I see a camera as an image capture device and the sensor is only a part of that.
Specifically, I place great value on many traditional high end SLR features, such as build and construction quality, durability, a bigger size and weight (that means the grip), the extra controls and battery options of the grip, refinements like mirror up and remote control, the wireless flash control ability, dedicated switches and levers for metering, AF modes, focus point selection, etc. Also things like burst speed and info-mational aids in the interface .... These are all aspects of a cameras image capture abilities that I value highly, even more so than pure sensor output.
If a K3 III is launched any time soon, it might well become my favoured option. The price of the body isn't that important to me - but IQ is, which rules out all Pentax bodies apart from the K1 and K70.
Andrew
But at the end of the day I'm with Andrew - IQ is most important!
Have I seen somewhere that with the K70 they have improved noise reduction in the sensor?
The output quality improvement I would get from other options in the range, eg K50, K-S1, K-S2, K70 would be negated in my view by the loss of any number of those other important features I mentioned above.
Andrew
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