They certainly accommodate and welcome contributions from members who used to be very active on this forum but switched to Nikon. And it's good to see their work as they number some of the finest contributors here, photographically speaking.

One gets the impression that Pentax themselves value the forum. If it were Nikon biased then I don't think that the clearly privileged relationship on information and equipment would have lasted.

This is by far the best review of the K3 I have seen and probably will ever see. Not solely because it is clearly a very thorough examination but moreover because it positively oozes credibility through its objective tone. I would buy a K3 without hesitation on that evidence as I feel it really tries to weigh up the capabilities of what is clearly an excellent tool for many but not all rather than adopting the too oft seen advertorial style mistrusted by the well-informed, which potential users of high end gear tend to be. Test methodology will always have some moot points and some detractors. However, the important tenet is credibility. I want an expert to help me find the product that best suits my needs and the best salesman is the one that at least appears to be doing that. I can believe a camera merits 88%, I very much doubt one merits 100%.

I'm often referred to as the good Doc. I'm not good.

I don't see why moire is such a high priority. The moire issue has been debated to death on filterless cameras and the general conclusion is that it is a non-issue for most real world shooting. Plus the K3 has a filter to deal with it anyway.

Given that AF and in particular tracking is a traditional weakness of Pentax then from my perspective it is a key potential improvement to actually test. Given the clear level of interest amongst other users of this and other forums on that very question it seems an odd capability to overlook.

I'm impressed with the extra detail vs the K5IIs on those above crops and also how it handles reds better.

On the other hand I am surprised that a hands on review should rely on mere supposition:

"The new focus point array should make focus tracking more effective."

I can't see a reason in an objective examination not to test it.

The more I think about this lens the more I like it and the cleverer I think the design team. On its own it might seem a little odd but the real strength of this lens is that it partners so well to form a really useful kit in many situations.

This with the DA15 and a short telephoto would make an excellent travelogue kit. I mean just about perfect to get those NG quality shots.

For landscape it is a great partner to a wide zoom as it extends the range very usefully. It doesn't take up too much extra space in the bag and it gives a WR option if the wide zoom isn't (Sig10-20, DA12-24). It is a very good range for landscape in it's own right. I really like 28mm-35mm on APSC for landscape - it feels the most natural perspective to me

For street/urban walkaround then it gives the WR option as well as the bonus of silent operation. You could pop a fast prime in your pocket where visual discretion or wide aperture is required.

I'm sure a constant f2.8 or wider range would have meant a significant compromise to the size. It's not super compact but as long as IQ is top notch, and I see no reason why it shouldn't be with the Ltd pedigree, I reckon it is the perfect compromise for many situations.

Nice one Ricoh.

Did they have spaghetti hoops for lunch?

At last! Some K3 images to make you sit up and pay attention. Very nice shots indeed. I look forward to some landscapes too, especially if you could do a few side by side comparisons with the K5.

Your photos section:

Just a few pointers about posting and commenting on images.

When posting please give some details about the image - how it was taken, why it was taken and anything else that you think will be of interest. Please be prepared for people to comment and also be aware that some will like and some will not like your picture.

When commenting please be constructive and respectful. Someone has invested time and effort in making an image that they want to share, so say what you find positive as well as what you think could be improved.

In all cases the discussion should be about the images and not about personalities. Most of the time this is absolutely fine, but if occasionally a thread descends into arguments then it will be locked and if necessary removed. This is very rarely necessary and in fact almost unheard of as this is a very friendly forum!

Enjoy the discussion!


I thought this section was all about critique and discussion of images. I accept my initial comment was not well enough considered but I thought Cabstar provided a thoughtful and constructive assessment. If you are not seeking comments or would prefer just praise then probably better to state that up front.

They do indeed. I like the look of these shots more so than the K3. There is fine detail without being harsh and the colours are not overdone. The first and in particular the last would have been very good had the other players not been awkwardly cut off by the tight framing.