Pentax K-3 III PDF User Manual
Did you lose or misplace the instruction manual that came with your Pentax K-3 III? It happens all too easily, but fortunately Pentax makes a soft copy available that you can browse through online, print out, or download (see the pdf file below). It is certainly good practice to carefully familiarize oneself with the many different functionalities and options that the K-3 III offers, and the official user manual is without doubt an authoritative and comprehensive source of respective information.
That said, the instruction booklet can be a dry read, so that a dedicated camera guide book from a professional photographer that illustrates the camera's core functions in a real life photography context can be a very helpful complement. Yes, getting one of these camera guides (see here at amazon) would involve an additional expense, but if that book helps to exploit the camera's potential to the full, the (small) additional investment may well be worth it.
Also, you might want to check out the video tutorial on the Pentax K-3 III below.
In any case, the K-3 III is an advanced imaging tool, whose many features merit serious attention. This DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera was revealed to the public on March 30th, 2021, which means that, as of today, the camera is 1122 days old (young?). Given that the K-3 III is a relatively recent model, it forms part of the current Pentax product line-up.
Pentax's operating manual for the K-3 III
The camera's operating manual is 148 pages long. The pdf version is embedded below. As you browse through, you will hopefully find the information you are looking for. You can also print out a hard copy by right clicking on the manual and then choosing the respective menu option. For convenience, a summary of the key specs of the K-3 III is included towards the bottom of this webpage.
Don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference (Ctrl-Shift-D on a Windows PC; Cmd-Shift-D on a Mac). Happy browsing!
Click on the button below to download the pdf version of the Pentax K-3 III manual to your computer. The file will open in a new browser window.
If you prefer to read the user guide in another language, please check the respective availability on Pentax's support site. That site also provides complementary online resources, such as information on the compatibility of various camera accessories or the availability of firmware updates that are not necessarily comprehensively covered in the instruction manual.
Printed, hardcopy versions of the Pentax K-3 III manual can sometimes be found online. You can check the availability on amazon and ebay via the buttons below.
Video tutorial for the Pentax K-3 III
Perhaps instead of reading through a manual or operations guide, you might prefer to better familiarize yourself with your K-3 III by watching a video tutorial. It can notably help to quickly get to know the key functions and to set up your camera according to your particular preferences and needs.
Once again, the Pentax K-3 III is a sophisticated imaging tool and not exploiting its capabilities to the full would be a pity. Hence, taking the time to study online information material or to read through a well-written camera guide book is highly recommended to make the most of your purchase.
Pentax K-3 III FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the K-3 III.
What type of imaging sensor is used in the Pentax K-3 III?
The camera has a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor at its core.
Which image processing chip is used in the Pentax K-3 III to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Pentax equipped the K-3 III with the PRIME V image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Pentax K-3 III?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 160000.
What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Pentax K-3 III?
Pentax mentions a shutter rating of 200 000 actuations for the K-3 III. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the K-3 III over, say, three years, one would have to take about 200 pictures each and every day.
How do I find the shutter count on my Pentax K-3 III?
Pentax embeds the number of shutter actuations in image metadata. You can check the number of shots that your K-3 III has taken up to now by uploading a recent image to the free online shutter count finder app.
Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences with the Pentax K-3 III?
No, the Pentax K-3 III has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.
Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Pentax K-3 III?
The K-3 III offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.
Does the Pentax K-3 III feature an autofocus assist light?
Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Pentax K-3 III for flash photography?
The K-3 III's flash sync speed is 1/200 sec.
Does the Pentax K-3 III support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?
Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-II cards (data transfer speed of up to 312 MB/s) in its first slot, and UHS-I cards (up to 104 MB/s) in its second slot.
Which battery does the Pentax K-3 III use?
The camera gets its power from the Pentax D-LI90 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Is there a vertical grip available for the Pentax K-3 III?
Yes, Pentax offers the D-BG8 as an optional accessory to facilitate shooting in portrait orientation and to provide additional battery power.
Does the Pentax K-3 III support geotagging?
The K-3 III has a built-in GPS (Global Positioning System) module and can embed location information in the EXIF data of the captured image.
Where can I find the best deals for the Pentax K-3 III?
Grey imports from Asia, as found on ebay, are often very attractively priced. However, these cameras come without a warranty from Pentax.
Further reading
How does the K-3 III stack up against available alternatives? In case you are interested in seeing how this camera compares to another one, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.
- Canon 1D X Mark III vs Sony A9 II
- Canon 2000D vs Sony A9 II
- Fujifilm X-S10 vs Pentax K-3 III
- Fujifilm X-T4 vs Pentax K-3 III
- Nikon D300 vs Pentax K-3 III
- Nikon D5300 vs Sony A9 II
- Nikon D6 vs Sony A9 II
- Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-3 III
- Pentax K-3 III vs Sony A6300
- Pentax K-3 III vs Sony A99 II
- Pentax Q vs Sony A9 II
- Sony A6500 vs Sony A9 II
Core camera specifications
Here is a list of the main features and technical characteristics of the Pentax K-3 III.
Camera Model | Pentax K-3 III | |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Digital single lens reflex | |
Camera Lens | Pentax K mount lenses | |
Launch Date | March 2021 | |
Launch Price | USD 1 999 | |
Sensor Specs | ||
Sensor Technology | CMOS | |
Sensor Format | APS-C Sensor | |
Sensor Size | 23.3 x 15.5 mm | |
Sensor Area | 361 mm2 | |
Sensor Diagonal | 28 mm | |
Crop Factor | 1.5x | |
Sensor Resolution | 25.6 Megapixels | |
Image Resolution | 6 192 x 4 128 pixels | |
Pixel Pitch | 3.76 μm | |
Pixel Density | 7.08 MP/cm2 | |
Moiré control | no AA filter | |
Movie Capability | 4K/30p Video | |
ISO Setting | 100 - 160 000 ISO | |
Image Processor | PRIME V | |
Screen Specs | ||
Viewfinder Type | Optical viewfinder | |
Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.70x | |
Top-Level Screen | Control Panel | |
LCD Framing | Live View | |
LCD Size | 3.2 inch | |
LCD Resolution | 1620k dots | |
LCD Attachment | Fixed screen | |
Touch Input | Touchscreen | |
Shooting Specs | ||
Focus System | Phase-detect AF | |
Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | |
Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/8000s | |
Continuous Shooting | 12 shutter flaps/s | |
Shutter Life Expectancy | 200 000 actuations | |
Silent Shooting | no E-Shutter | |
Time Lapse Photography | Intervalometer Built-in | |
Image Stabilization | In-body stabilization | |
Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | |
Storage Medium | SDXC cards | |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Dual card slots | |
UHS card support | Single UHS-II | |
Connectivity Specs | ||
External Flash | Hotshoe | |
Studio Flash | PC Sync socket | |
USB Connector | USB 3.2 | |
HDMI Port | micro HDMI | |
Microphone Port | External MIC port | |
Headphone Socket | Headphone port | |
Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | |
Bluetooth Support | Bluetooth built-in | |
Geotagging | GPS built-in | |
Body Specs | ||
Environmental Sealing | Weathersealed body | |
Battery Type | Pentax D-LI90 power pack | |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 800 shots per charge | |
Body Dimensions |
135 x 104 x 74 mm (5.3 x 4.1 x 2.9 in) |
|
Camera Weight | 820 g (28.9 oz) |
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