Progress report on the upcoming Pentax APS-C DSLR flagship camera (officially named Pentax K-3 Mark III)

Ricoh released the official name and full specifications of the upcoming Pentax K-3 Mark III flagship APS-C DSLR camera. The official release will be by the end of 2020. The price was not announced. (see this post for updates) Here are the details:

Currently in development, the new camera now has its official name: the PENTAX K-3 Mark III. Designed to be a camera embodying The Five Principles of PENTAX (described in the PENTAX STATEMENT* featured on the RICOH IMAGING official website), it will incorporate an array of functions and features to showcase the significance of SLR photography, and also to optimize the joy of picture-taking for those photographers who regard photography as their lifetime passion.

The product prototype was exhibited last year at the PENTAX Meeting 100th Anniversary Special fan event. At the event, we announced that it would be launched by the end of 2020 — and it is now in the final stage of development. Once development is complete, we will then begin streamlining the camera’s production system. It will take a bit more time for all this to happen, so we appreciate your patience as we give you an overview of the product, as below. We’ll provide you with more specific product information, such as the timing of the official product announcement and the scheduled market launch date, as soon as they are finalized.

Also, we would like you to visit our RICOH IMAGING website for videos giving more information on the new PENTAX APS-C-format digital SLR flagship, and to get ready for the arrival of the camera that we expect to set new standards for the future of SLR photography.

Overview of the new product in development:

  • Product name: PENTAX K-3 Mark III
  • Launch date: The launch target is around the period of the CP+ camera exhibition, which will be held from February 25 to 28 in 2021.
  • Price: Not decided

THE FIVE PRINCIPLES OF PENTAX

  • We design new cameras through sheer devotion.
  • Our goal is to produce cameras with the power to capture images that allow for direct communication with the subject.
  • We design cameras that allow our users to enjoy all the processes involved in taking a picture.
  • We pursue a level of quality and performance that can’t be measured by numbers alone.
  • We respect and value the photographic experiences of our users and view this as an invaluable asset.

Main Features

Type TTL autofocus, auto-exposure SLR digital-still camera
Lens Mount PENTAX KAF2 bayonet mount (AF coupler, lens information contacts, K-mount with power contacts)
Compatible Lens KAF4, KAF3, KAF2 (power zoom compatible), KAF, KA mount lens
Image Sensor Primary color filter, CMOS. Size: 23.3 x 15.5 (mm)
Effective Pixels Approx. 25.73 megapixels
Total Pixels Approx. 26.78 megapixels
Dust Removal Image sensor cleaning using ultrasonic vibrations “DR II”
Sensitivity
(Standard output)
ISO AUTO/100 to 1600000 (EV steps can be set to 1EV, 1/2EV or 1/3EV)
Image Stabilizer Sensor-shift shake reduction “SR II”(5-axis) Auto/Panning/Off
Compensation effect of 5.5 steps
*Measured in conformity to CIPA standards
AA Filter Simulator Moiré reduction using SR unit. OFF/Low/High/Bracketing (2 images)/Bracketing (3 images)

File formats

File format RAW (PEF/DNG), JPEG (Exif 2.3), DCF2.0 compliant
Recorded Pixels JPEG:L(26M:6192×4128)、M(15M:4752×3168)、S(9M:3648×2432)、XS(2M:1920×1280)
RAW:(26M:6192×4128)
Quality Level RAW (14bit): PEF, DNG
JPEG: ★★★ (Best), ★★ (Better), ★ (Good), RAW + JPEG simultaneous capturing available
Color Space sRGB, AdobeRGB
Storage Medium SD, SDHC and SDXC Memory Card (Conforms to USH-I, UHS-II standards) * UHS-II supports slot 1 only
Dual SD slot Sequential Use, Save to Both, Separate RAW/JPG, Image copy between slots possible
Storage Folder Folder Name: Date (100_1018,101_1019…) or User assigned folder name (Default “PENTX”)
Recording File File Name: “IMGP****” or User assigned file name
File name numbering: Sequential, Reset

Viewfinder

Type Pentaprism Finder
Coverage (FOV) Approx. 100%
Magnification Approx. 1.05x (FA 50mmF1.4 at infinity)
Eye-Relief Length Approx. 20.5mm (from the view window), Approx. 22.0mm (from the center of lens)
Diopter adjustment Approx. -4.0m to + 1.0m-1
Focusing Screen Natural-Bright-Matte III focusing screen
Viewfinder Overlay AF Points, Grid Display, Electronic Level, AF Frame, Spot Metering Frame, Crop, Smart Function, Operation Control Lock

Live view

Type TTL method using image sensor
Focusing
Mechanism
Contrast detection (Auto Area, Zone Select, Tracking, Select(L/M/S), Spot)
Functions Focus Peaking, Face detection, Touch AF
Display Field of View approx. 100%, Magnified view (up to 16x),
Grid Display (4×4 Grid, Golden Section, Scale, Square(L), Square(S), Grid Color: Black/Gray/White ), Histogram, Bright area warning, Composition Adjustment

LCD monitor

Type Wide viewing angle TFT color LCD, Air-gapless glass
Size 3.2 inch (aspect ratio 3:2)
Dots Approx. 1620K dots
Touch Screen Capacitive sensing method
Adjustment Brightness, Saturation and Colors adjustable
Outdoor View Setting Adjustable ±2 step
Night Vision LCD Display ON/OFF

White Balance

Type Method using a combination of the image sensor and the RGBIr sensor
White Balance AUTO WB, Multi Auto WB, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent Light (D:Daylight Color, N:Daylight White, W:Cool White, L:Warm White), Tungsten Light, CTE, Manual WB (up to 3 settings), Color Temperature Configuration (up to 3 settings), Copying the white balance setting of a captured image
Fine Adjustment Adjustable ±14 steps on A-B axis or G-M axis

Autofocus System

Type TTL: Phase-matching autofocus
Focus Sensor SAFOX 13, 101 point (25 cross type focus points)
Brightness Range EV-4 to 18 (ISO 100 / at normal temperature)
*EV-4 with luminance flux based on F2.8 levels
AF mode Single AF (AF.S), Continuous AF (AF.C)
AF Point Selection Auto Area, Zone Select, Select, Expanded Area(S, M, L), Select(S), Spot
AF Assist Light Dedicated LED AF assist light

Metering

Type TTL open aperture metering using 307K pixel RGBIr sensor, Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot and Highlight-weighted
Metering Range EV-3 to 20 (ISO100 at 50mm F1.4)
Exposure Mode Scene Analyze Auto, Program, Sensitivity Priority, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Shutter & Aperture Priority, Manual, Bulb, Flash X-sync Speed, USER1, USER2, USER3, USER4, USER5
EV Compensation ±5EV (1/2EV steps or 1/3EV steps can be selected)
AE Lock Button type (timer type: two times the meter operating time set in Custom Setting);
Continuous as long as the shutter button is halfway pressed

Shutter

Type Electronically controlled vertical-run focal plane shutter
* Electronic shutter when using Pixel Shift Resolution
Shutter Speed Auto:1/8000 to 30 sec., Manual:1/8000 to 30 sec. (1/3EV steps or 1/2EV steps), Bulb (Timed exposure setting possible from 1 sec. to 20min.)

Drive modes

Mode Selection Single Frame, Continuous (H, M, L), Bracketing (2, 3 or 5 frames), Depth of Field Bracketing, Motion Bracketing, Mirror-up, Multi-Exposure (Average/Additive/Bright), Interval Shooting, Interval Composite
Self-timer 12s, 2s
Remote Control 0s, 3s
Continuous Shooting Max. approx. 12 fps, JPEG ( L: ★★★ at Continuous H): up to approx. 37 frames, RAW: up to approx. 32 frames, RAW: up to approx. 30 frames
Max. approx. 7.0 fps, JPEG L: ★★★ at Continuous M): up to approx. 60 frames, RAW: up to approx. 37 frames, RAW: up to approx. 33 frames
Max. approx. 2.5 fps, JPEG ( L: ★★★ at Continuous L): up to approx. 90 frames, RAW: up to approx. 39 frames, RAW: up to approx. 37 frames
*Depending on shooting conditions
*Continuous shooting speed slows down with High sensitivity

External Flash

Flash Modes Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
* Contrast-control-sync and High-speed sync requires 2 or more dedicated external flash
Sync Speed 1/200sec.
Flash Exposure Compensation -2.0~+1.0EV

Capture Settings

Custom Image Auto Select, Bright, Natural, Portrait, Landscape, Vibrant, Radiant, Muted, Flat, Bleach Bypass, Reversal Film, Monochrome, Cross Processing
Cross Process Random, Preset 1-3, Favorite 1-3
Digital Filter Extract Color, Replace Color, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Color, Unicolor Bold, Tone Expansion, Bold Monochrome, Grainy Monochrome
Clarity Adjustable ±4 step
Skin Tone Type1/Type2
HDR Auto, HDR1, HDR2, HDR3, Advanced HDR, Exposure bracket value adjustable, Automatic composition correction function
Pixel Shift Resolution Available, Motion Correction On/Off
Lens Correction Distortion Correction, Peripheral Illumin. Correction, Lateral Chromatic Aberration Correction, Diffraction Correction
D-Range Correction Highlight Correction, Shadow Correction
Noise Reduction Slow Shutter Speed NR, High-ISO Noise Reduction
Horizon Correction SR On: correction up to 1 degrees, SR Off: correction up to 2 degrees
Composition Adjustment Adjustment range of ±1.5mm up, down, left or right (1mm when rotated); Rotating range of 1 degree
Electronic Level Displayed in viewfinder (Horizontal and vertical); Displayed on LCD monitor (Horizontal and vertical)
Program Line AUTO, Normal, Hi-speed Priority, DOF Priority (Deep), DOF Priority (Shallow), MTF Priority

Movie

File Format MPEG-4 AVC/H.264(MOV)
Recorded Pixels 4K(3840×2160, 30p/24p)
Full HD(1920×1080, 60p/30p/24p)
Sound Built-in stereo microphone, external microphone (Stereo recording compatible)
Recording Sound Level adjustable, Wind Noise Reduction
Recording Time Up to 25 minutes or 4GB ; automatically stops recording if the internal temperature of the camera becomes high.
White Balance AUTO WB, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent Light (D:Daylight Color, N:Daylight White, W:Cool White, L:Warm White), Tungsten Light, CTE, Manual WB (up to 3 settings), Color Temperature Configuration (up to 3 settings), Copying the white balance setting of a captured image
Custom Images Auto Select, Bright, Natural, Portrait, Landscape, Vibrant, Radiant, Muted, Flat, Bleach Bypass, Reversal Film, Monochrome, Cross Processing
Cross Processing Random, Preset 1-3, Favorite 1-3.
Digital Filter Extract Color, Replace Color, Retro, High Contrast, Invert Color, Unicolor Bold, Bold Monochrome

Playback

Playback View Single frame, Multi-image display (20, 48, 70 segmentation), Display magnification (up to 16, 100% display, quick zoom and Focus Magnification available), Grid display (4×4 Grid, Golden Section, Scale, Square(L), Square(S), Grid Color: Black/Gray/White), Rotating, Histogram (Y histogram, RGB histogram), Bright area warning, Auto Image Rotation, Detailed information, Copyright Information (Photographer, Copyright holder), GPS information (latitude, longitude, altitude, Coordinated Universal Time) , Orientation, Folder Display, Calendar Filmstrip Display
Delete Delete single image, Delete all, Select & delete, Folder delete, Calendar delete, Delete instant review image
Digital Filter Base Parameter Adj, Extract Color, Replace Color, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Color, Unicolor Bold, Tone Expansion, Bold Monochrome, Grainy Monochrome, Miniature, Soft, Fish-eye, Slim, Monochrome, Frame Composite
RAW Development RAW file select: Select Single Image, Select Multiple Images, Select a folder, Select a shooting date
RAW Development Parameter: White Balance, Custom Image, Sensitivity, Digital filter, Clarity, Skin Tone, HDR, Pixel Shift Resolution, Distortion Correction, Peripheral Illumin. Corr., Lateral Chromatic Aberration Correction, Diffraction Correction, Color Fringe Correction, High-ISO Noise Reduction, Shadow Correction, File Format (JPEG/TIFF), JPEG Recorded Pixels, JPEG Quality, Aspect Ratio, Color Space
Edit Protect, Image Rotation, Image Copy, File Transfer, Save RAW Data in buffer memory, Resize, Cropping (Aspect ratio and Slant adjustment available), Levels Adjustment, WB Adjustment, Color Moiré Correction, Movie Edit (Divide or delete selected frames), Capturing a JPEG still picture from a movie

Customization

Settings USER Mode, Fx Button, AF/AE Lock Settings, Preview Dial, E-Dial Programming, Smart Function, Monitor Touch Opperation, Eye Sensor, Viewfinder Display, LCD Panel, Monitor Display, Instant Review, Zoom Review, Warning Display, Control Panel, Memory, EV Steps, ISO Sensitivity Steps, Color Temperature Steps, Input MF Lens Focal Length, Save Rotation Information, Aperture Information Record, AF Fine Adjustment, Copyright Information
Language English, French, Germany, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek, Russian, Thai, Korean, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese

Power supply

Battery Type Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery D-LI90
AC Adapter AC Adapter Kit K-AC166(Optional)
Battery Life Number of recordable images: Approx.: 800 images
Playback time: Approx. 250 minutes
* With a fully-recharged Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery. Tested in compliance with CIPA standard.
Actual results may vary depending on the shooting condition.

Interfaces

Connection Port USB Terminal(USB Type-C), External cable switch terminal(2.5mm diameter), X-sync socket, HDMI output terminal (Type D) , Stereo microphone input terminal, Headphone terminal
USB Connection USB 3.2 Gen1, Data Transfer: MTP/CD-ROM, Battery Recharge/Power Supply (Optional AC Adapter required)

Wireless LAN

Standards IEEE 802.11b/g/n
Frequency (Center Frequency) 2412MHz~2462MHz (1ch~11ch)
Security Authentication: WPA2, Encryption: AES

Bluetooth

Standards Bluetooth® v4.2 (Bluetooth Low Energy)
Frequency (Center Frequency) 2402MHz~2480MHz (CH0~CH39)

Dimensions and Weight

Dimensions Approx. 134.5mm (W) x103.5mm (H) x 73.5mm (D) (excluding protrusions)
Weight Approx. 820g (Including dedicated battery and SD Memory Card),
Approx. 735g (body only)

* The designs and specifications are identical to those first announced publicly about the camera’s development, and are subject to change without notice.

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