Latest Japanese Rumour on K-1 Mark III

See the translated page here.  

New features include 61MP Sony BSI sensor, SAFOX 14, 4k/60fps video, CF Express card, USB 3.2 and etc. Said to be announced in October and to ship in November, priced at 500k Japanese Yens.

More K-3 III Monochrome Samples at the "Pentax Official" Site

https://pentaxofficial.com/18527/

https://pentaxofficial.com/18482/

https://pentaxofficial.com/18512/

All in Japanese, but the pictures speak for themselves. Various Pentax original lenses were used for the tests.

K-3 III Monochrome First Review (with Sample Photos and Video)

https://www.yaotomi.co.jp/blog/walk/2023/04/pentaxk3iii,monochrome-kyoto,sakura.html

(in Japanese)

My impression is that while the B&W photos do have more contrasts and better tonal representation than normal digital cameras' ones, they are yet not as solid as those images produced with better B&W films, even after they are digitalised via professional-grade film scanners.

Besides, there is a side-by-side comparison against the original K-3 III, look this:

(Credit: Yaotomi Camera at Twitter)

The difference is obvious. However, it is just that the B&W IQ of the K-3 III photo is just too low, IMHO.

Lastly, DC Watch reports that the Ricoh has stopped to receive pre-orders of the K-3 III Mono as the tailor-made sensors have already been out-of-stock owing to the overwhelming demand. Besides, Ricoh also said that their production capacity on the Mono units was indeed rather limited.

The K-3 III Image Corner Blur Issue Strikes Again

Camera-gear YouTuber Kobie M-C tested the K-3 and K-3 III side by side and here is his report:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH2eQD6fpA0

And, his quick textual comment follows, quoted:

"Some interesting things occurred during the shooting for this test. It seems the K-3 Mark III sensor out resolves some lenses including the DA 50 1.8 which surprised me. It's a good lens, nice and sharp, but just not on the K-3 Mark III. I tried live view, electronic shutter, Focus fine adjustments from -10 to +10 and it was still soft. F/1.8, 2.8, 4 (when the lens is sharpest) and still the same result. This might be what some professional reviewers are experiencing when they mention soft images."

The below quick snapshot refers for easy reference:

(Click to Enlarge)

In fact, Kobie's finding is exactly the same as what I found last time with my new K-3 III when it was tested against my KP side by side.

As the increase in the total number of pixels of the K-3 III against the K-3 and KP is really marginal, I think there exists another factor to cause the decrease in resolution in image corners for images produced by the K-3 III, even for the same old lenses, which used to be optically good. 

I suspect the (different) design of the micro-lenses and (different) assumed incident angle of light should come into play. Indeed, the new 26MP Sony sensor was first used in the Fujifilm X-T4 which has a much short back focal distance. Later on, Ricoh got this sensor and put it into the K-3 III. However, the new sensor is not that highly compatible with many of the old glass in optical sense, especially at the image corners and edges, and that wide angle lenses suffer more than standard and tele ones.

I have verified this with the latest glass marketed by Pentax, in particular, like the D-FA* 16-50 PLM, which shows a much lesser problem for the aforesaid issue and phenomenon. 

Related Article:

When the Sensor Outresolves the Lens

When the X-T4 and GFX 100 Produced Images Look the Same

Via FStoppers

I am afraid that same case applies for the Pentax K-New Vs the 645Z, which they have exactly the same APS-C and 44x33mm sensors respectively and that the final conclusion drawn would possibly be the same. :-P

"There Will be No K-3II Sucessor, but a K-New Body of a New Line"

See what the Japanese Pentax insider Tanaka says:

http://thisistanaka.blog66.fc2.com/entry/1202/
(Google translated to English)

What we shall get is a K-3II based body with new sensor, new image processor, camera menu and much improved image quality as a result. No new feature of any is mentioned, though, e.g. the guessed new-type hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder.

The New Sony APS-C Sensor

IMX571：https://www.sony-semicon.co.jp/products/common/pdf/IMX571BQR_Flyer.pdf

26.11MP BSI CMOS @ 6.84 fps for still pictures, 12-bit 4K movie, rumoured to be used in the new next generation K-3.

New K-mount APS-C DSLR Flagship is to be Announced

http://news.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/rim_info/2019/20190920_027962.html

(English Google Translation Here)



Exhibit is to be put on show starting Sept 21, i.e. tomorrow. Nice. :-) But the real product is to be marketed in 2020 - not ideal but still better than none!

Highlight on (possible) new features:

- new proximity sensor under finder, hinting at least automatic switching of the rear LCD or even an optical/electronic hybrid finder?

- new joystick for AF navigation, hinting a new and improved AF system with more AF points?

- an updated and better APS-C sensor?

- re-designed new GUI

Well, I have thought that Pentax has been dead these months but today it's good to see there is yet something new and meaningful, although it is actually rather late already.

K-1 Firmware 1.30

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/support/digital/k1.html

Changes to V1.30

[Enhanced features]
The Electronic Shutter can be selected at the Menu to reduce camera shake from the mechanical shutter when shooting with Live View mode.
Added and selectable [Square format (1:1)] size at the Crop mode.
Addition to the current [3 frames bracketing (OFF, TYPE1, TYPE2)], the [2 frames bracketing (OFF, TYPE2)] is added and selectable for the [AA Filter Simulator bracketing]
At the [BKT] setting, the bracketing range [±0 (=single frame)] can be selected.

[Others]
Improved stability for general performance.

Full operation instructions for the new features can be found here.

K-1 DxOMark is Out

Pentax K-1 sensor review: Full-frame marvel

K-1 White Dot Issue (on Longer Exposures)

http://photosofarkansas.com/2016/08/19/pentax-k1-white-dot-issue-on-longer-exposures-same-as-the-other-cameras-using-the-sony-36mp-chip/

Official Announcement about the Effect of the Earthquakes

http://news.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/rim_info2/2016/20160527_011247.html

Sony Stopped Shipping Sensors to 3rd Parties?

http://qooah.com/2016/05/26/sony-will-stop-support-cmos/

The above news report is in Traditional Chinese. It writes about the Sony sensor factory at Kumamoto was seriously damaged by the earthquake and affected much the production and hence the supply.

My Pixel Shift Resolution Test

Below is the 200% centre crops without PSR and with. In-camera JPEG pics with firmware V1.10. Lens used is FA43 Limited at f/11, exposure 30s, ISO 100, shot with 2 sec self-timer enabled plus cable shutter release. Mirror lock up was disabled despite user manual said that it could be engaged. :-(

(Click to Enlarge)

For the resolution difference but the artifacts, I blog, you decide. :-)

FA31 F1.8 Limited on 36M a7R - Test Samples with 100% Crops

Tested at f/8 and ISO100, manual peaking focusing:

Last Tested: DA*55 F1.4 on 36M a7R: Part 1 and Part 2

Official K-1 Promotional Video (11 Clips)

How a DA* Prime would Perform on the Sony 36M FF Sensor? (Cont'd)

~ f/11, 1/250s @ ISO 100, a7R + DA*55 F1.4

How a DA* Prime would Perform on the Sony 36M FF Sensor?

Here we go, my test picture and crops tell it all:



Picture shot at around f/8, 1/320s and ISO 100 with my A7R and my DA*55 F1.4 lens put on it. MF focusing was done with focus peaking at 10X on the image centre.

100% crop of the picture centre:



100% crop of the picture corner:



More test samples would follow! :-P

Promotional Information Leaked of the Pentax FF

http://photorumors.com/2015/10/15/new-slide-leaked-with-pentax-full-frame-dslr-camera-details/

Rumour: Features and Performance of the New FF

http://forum.xitek.com/thread-1508304-1-1-1.html
(in Chinese)

Someone at the Chinese Xitek forum hinted that he had tested the beta unit of the FF and told the following:

1. The new machine is not 42MP.

2. The AF speed is very high.

3. There are many AF points than ever.

4. SR Super-resolution mode now works handheld.

5. The result of the handheld super-resolution mode is good and it works!

6. Overall better experience than the D810.