Ricoh Unveils the Pentax K-3, a Beast of an APS-C Shooter with a Selectable AA Filter
The K-3 webpage leaked yesterday (and along with it much of the information we now have) but now we’re done with leaks and rumors: Ricoh Imaging’s Pentax K-3 is official. A beastly APS-C shooter with a stacked spec sheet, the camera is sure to please serious photographers.
As we said yesterday, Ricoh is hailing the K-3 as “the most advanced enthusiast DSLR available,” boasting that it features “unparalleled technology and specifications.”
Inside the camera’s durable magnesium alloy and stainless steel chassis you’ll find a 24MP CMOS APS-C sensor, 8.3fps continuous shooting (up to 22 RAW or 60 JPEG frames), a SAFOX11 autofocus module with 27 AF points (25 of which are cross-type) that claims to work all the way down -3 EV and a groundbreaking selectable anti-aliasing filter that lets you turn the function on or off.
Other notable features include in-body stabilization, a Real Time Scene Analysis System that uses an 86,000 pixel AF sensor to drive metering, a Pentaprism Optical Viewfinder that offers a 100% field of view at 0.95 magnification, dual card slots, full weather sealing, built-in HDMI and USB 3.0 ports, in-camera HDR image capture, built-in electronic level and the ability to shoot Full HD H.264 at 60, 50, 30 and 24p.
The K-3 is also compatible with Pentax’ optional 16GB FLU SDHC memory card (available in November for $100), which allows you to remotely release the camera shutter, shift the AF focus point, see a Live View, change settings like aperture, shutter speed and ISO, and browse and download images to mobile devices and PC through a web browser.
Since people will no-doubt wonder how Ricoh pulled off a selectable AA filter, a little bit of explanation is in order. The camera is actually filter-less when it comes to a physical AA filter, instead it uses a simulator that “applies microscopic vibrations to the image sensor unit at the subpixel level during image exposure.”
This supposedly produces “the same level of moiré-reduction effect as an optical anti-aliasing filter,” while allowing users to both turn the function on and of, as well as adjust the level of the effect depending on your needs. The only catch is that it works best at or below 1/1000 shutter speed and won’t work during HDR shooting.
“Ricoh Imaging has made an investment to ensure that our product lineup features the most complete and capable APS-C offering in our history,” explained Ricoh Imaging’s Executive Vice President Jim Malcolm in the press release. “This goal was realized with the introduction of the K-3. Its unmatched feature set and revolutionary technology set a benchmark of excellence that raises the bar for the entire APS-C category.”
Nope, they’re not bashful about this one. If you want to learn more, head over to Ricoh’s K-3 webpage (not officially live) by clicking here.
The camera will be available in both standard and limited Silver Edition starting in November, with the normal camera going for $1,300 for the body only and $1,700 in a kit with a DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 WR zoom lens.
The Silver Edition, on the other hand, will be a bit pricier as only 2,000 of those will be made. It’ll come with the D-BG5 battery grip included at a body-only price of $1,600.
