Ned's Pentax K-3 III Mono Samples

I know I said we weren't going to get back to this until the camera ships, but...

Ned Bunnell writes: "Mike, Ricoh Pentax US kindly loaned me a Pentax K-3 III Monochrome. I’ve only had it for a few days, but I’m quite pleased with what I’m seeing so far. I’m primarily using my SMC FA 31mm (and FA 43mm Limited). The DNG files which I’m processing with ACR look great. Wonderful tones and detail. And what amazes me is I really can’t tell the difference between ISO 400 and 6400. I’ll probably have to start adding a little 'grain.' Because Tri-X never looked this clean.  :-)  I’ve started a Flickr album and will be adding more photos over the next few weeks. I thought a few folks here might enjoy seeing them.

"And I should add, at this point I’m not doing any heavy editing. I’m just trying to understand how the raw files render images."

Cheers, Ned

[Ed. note: Ned is a former President of Pentax USA.]

I get where he's coming from—I'm actually still learning how to process mono files too!

Enjoy the samples.

Mike

Original contents copyright 2023 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. (To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below or on the title of this post.)

Featured Comments from:

Gaspar Heurtley: "There are two things Pentax got right (borderline perfect) from the very beginning: grip shape and ISO noise. I love the way their high ISO files have a film-ish look. I couldn’t find that in any of the other brands I’ve used over the years. And don’t get me started about ergonomics. Pentax is the only brand that fits all their cameras with a comfortable grip. Other camera makers seem to think that small budget equals small hands, so their grips get bigger and more comfortable as you go up in the lineup."

Comments

[Richard Alan Fox]

Sorry Ned but my favorite is the color photo of the camera, lens and strap.

[Dave Millier]

Nice looking images, very clean. I'm happy Pentax have done this. I wish them every success, hopefully to be followed by a tidal wave of copycats from other vendors.

In the meantime, I reckon my G9 can match the K3 M images while retaining colour data when using the in-camera pixel shift HR mechanism.

This composites 8 images giving 2 stops of noise reduction/dynamic range enhancement, extra detail, and little to no aliasing. The "mode 2" option deals with subject motion during the burst.

The in-camera compositing and output as a raw file makes this convenient enough to use. And it writes out a single shot version, making testing and comparison a piece of cake!

I've discovered a handheld creative misuse purpose for pixel shift: ICM photography using pixel shift multiple exposures combined with panning. It works great.

Other manufacturers of IBIS equipped bodies need to up their game and get pixel shift compositing built in as an in-camera feature.

The downside for b&w is being limited to tripod only shooting. Which is, admittedly, a rather serious limitation, and a very good incentive to go for a dedicated mono camera. Even so, bird in the hand...

[Kodachromeguy]

Nice! I really like Ned's pictures of the rakes against a textured wall and the view of VW bus. I will rent one when Lensrentals gets these bodies in stock.

Awaiting the "experts" who claim they could do the same with a full-color camera....

[Dave Stewart]

Thank you Ned, Mike, and Pentax!

[Dennis]

People with experience will have to weigh in, but Looks like a winner to me. Florida, I'm guessing.

[John Camp]

I would buy one if a body were offered by Pentax, but from what I read online, I suspect the whole production batch is already gone, and I suspect that most of it has gone to people who saw an opportunity to score a few hundred dollars with a resale on eBay. As I said, I would buy one, but I won't pay a scalper's price for one.

I also believe that this Pentax is a pure photographer's device, and that if Pentax manages a large sale of the Monochrome, it will also have a substantial sale of lenses, since this is not something targeted only at current Pentax owners. And those people, owning a Monochrome and a bunch of lenses, might also then go on to buy a color Pentax. This could be a big deal for a camera maker who has been pushed to the margins.

[Dennis Ng]

To justify it one has to cf with colour sensor converted.

[Bob Johnston]

Raw files do not render images. The rendering is entirely down to the raw converter and how you set it up. Kudos to Pentax and Ned though. This will be a very niche product and Pentax deserve praise for making it.

[Ned Bunnell]

Richard Allen Fox,

Glad you liked the color photo. Taken with my Ricoh GRIIIx. I’ve been shooting almost exclusively with my GR’s for the past 10 years. I carry one with me every day on my morning and evening walks around Sarasota.

Ned