Thanks very much Gary, I appreciate your comments.

Regards
David

Some images I took today in the Lake District, with two of Smeggy's favourite cameras, the K-5iis and the K-3

After using the K-3 on it's first really testing outing, I can confirm it performed brilliantly, every bit as forgiving in the field as the K-5iis and I can't notice any lack of dynamic range in real world use. I know these shots are at low ISO's (200), but then all my landscapes are, whether with the K-5iis or the K-3.

Side Light





God's Country?





Path To The Hills





Old Log





Sunbeams





CC Welcomed as always. I'm also happy for you to comment on FULL FRAME, K-3, K-5iis OR ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT (as long as it doesn't descend into insults).

Cheers
David

It's already been said above, the DA or DA L 55-300 is a magnificent lens for the money, it can't be beaten in its price range. I don't know anything about the WR version, but the originals are superb.

Regards
David

These are all pretty nice Tom, I think the last one is my favourite.

Regards
David

Welcome Stan, I hope you enjoy the site and the K-5!

Regards
David

I hope this doesn't give Pentax any ideas because I've got more 3rd party batteries than genuine ones! It is funny though.

None, I was referring to 'now', not when I bought it so I can base my observations on comparing my K-5iis and my K-3 over the past month or so. You already know this of course

Regards
David

Thanks John, this is the exact same point I have made in another thread a few minutes ago!

Cheers
David

It was a great sunset in Sheffield too, the sky was on fire! These shots certainly convey the spectacular sky but I think they are a bit too black in the black bits for me.

BTW, What is the large black blob in the tree to the left of your shots? Looks like some dirt on the sensor, but it's puzzling me as it is in an identical place on the tree although the two images have different perspective, so if it was dirt it would be in a different place?

Regards
David

Agreed Smeggy, but as always there's more to this than meets the eye (!).

A lot of the difference is colour noise which is quite easy to deal with. Also, as demonstrated in the images above, you are seeing a more magnified image due to the higher resolution of the K-3. When making prints at the same physical size the actual real world difference is very small and to my eyes is nothing to worry about. I do understand that a lot of users expected to see an improvement in this area over the K-5, but that's not what the K-3 is about and if you are expecting better high ISO performance than a K-5 you will not get it.

If you are expecting a better all round shooting experience, faster operation, better PTTL flash, faster and more accurate AF, more versatility (e.g. twin SD cards amongst a host of other things), quieter / smoother shutter, better viewfinder (marginally), easier and more accurate focussing with MF lenses, better video, better rear LCD, better SR, Configurable anti-moire, higher resolution and more detail, then you will not be disappointed.

Regards
David