Pentax
Pentax 01051 K-3 Mark III APS-C Camera Body Black
★★★★★
HDR
The Pentax K-3 Mark III delivers 12fps burst, 5.5-stop 5-axis IBIS, and a class-leading 1.05x optical viewfinder in a 95-seal weather-resistant magnesium body built for the harshest field conditions.
$1,728.00*$1,999.95Save 13%
Check availability
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jun 04, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.
Affiliate Disclosure: Studio Supplies may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you. This helps support our editorial team.
Notice a mistake? Let Us Know
Overview
Key Features
Based on core principles of passion for photography, The All New Flagship APS-C model K-3 III continues a heritage of craftsmanship combined with todays new technologies.
The newly designed optical veiwfinder provides a 100% field of view and 1.05x image magnification. The veiwfinder offers a wide viewing angle comparable to full frame cameras with increased image brightness due to the improved reflectance of the pentaprism.
Top ISO sensitivity of 1.6 million provides image capture in low light situations and achieves excellent descriptive power in the entire sensitivity range. Multi-dimensional image space filtering reduces noise while leaving fine contours. It maximizes the resolution performance and reproduces the texture and details of the subject.
PENTAX SHAKE REDUCTION MECHANISM - Equipped with the PENTAX SR II, the K-3 Mark III provides up-to 5.5-Shutter-Step image stabilization on 5-Axis' for blur-free images when using telephoto lenses or challenging low-light. The Pentax Shake Ruduction Mechanism is comptible with every Pentax lens ever manufactured and is also used for other photo applications such as [ Pixel Shift Resolution, AstroTracer, HDR, Image Composistion, AA-Filter Simulator ]
PENTAX RENOWED CONSTRUCTION - To start the entire chassis of the K-3 Mark III is built with High-Strengh, Lightweight Magnesium Alloy. 95 Seals are then applied to the body to prevent the intrusion of dust and watter. The End Result: A rugged, durrable, dependable camera which can be used in the harshest environments.
The newly developed mirror, shutter drive mechanisim and images procesing engine produces 12 FPS image capture, perfect for fast action and movment.
Newly enhanced SAFOX13 Af sytem expands the AF points to 101, aloowing for an increased AF area, faster response and highly accureate subject capture.
Dual SD card slots allow for similtaneous capture as well as customized image placement. Slot 1 is compatible with UHS-II cards for high speed read/write and image copying.
The High reolution touch scren LCD allows for allows for faster engagment to the cameras menu system for image and operational customization. The touch LCD also provides imroved image review capbilites as well as swipe and pinch between and withing images.
[What's in the box] Strap O-ST162, ME finder cap, battery D-LI90P, USB power adapter, power plug, USB cable I-USB166, (the following are shipped attached to the camera) Eye cup FU, hot shoe cover FK, Synchro Socket 2P Cap, Body Mount Cap KII, Battery Grip Contact Cover; Mounting type: Bayonet
Specifications
Model Number
K-3 Mark III
Sensor Type
APS-C CMOS
Optical Viewfinder Field of View
100%
Optical Viewfinder Magnification
1.05x
Maximum ISO Sensitivity
1.6 million
Image Stabilization
PENTAX SR II (5-Axis, 5.5-Shutter-Step)
Body Construction
Magnesium Alloy
Weather Sealing
95 Seals (Dust and Water Resistant)
Continuous Shooting Speed
12 FPS
Autofocus System
SAFOX13 (101 AF points)
SD Card Slots
Dual (Slot 1 UHS-II compatible)
LCD Screen
High resolution touch screen
Pros & Cons
👍 Pros
- The 1.05x optical viewfinder with 100% FOV and improved pentaprism reflectance delivers a viewing experience that rivals full-frame DSLRs — critical for precise manual focus with telephoto glass
- The SR II 5-axis IBIS providing up to 5.5 stops of correction works with every K-mount lens ever made — giving photographers with legacy glass a modern stabilization platform without requiring stabilized lenses.
- The 1.05x magnification optical viewfinder with 100% FOV provides a wider, brighter view than any competing APS-C DSLR viewfinder, enabling more precise manual focus confirmation and framing accuracy in the field.
- SAFOX 13's 101 AF points cover a meaningfully wider frame area than predecessor systems, reducing the need to recompose after focus lock in off-center subject shooting
- 95-point magnesium alloy weather sealing allows genuine outdoor and adverse-condition shooting that cheaper APS-C bodies can only approximate
- 95-seal magnesium alloy chassis provides weather resistance that matches professional full-frame bodies, enabling confident shooting in rain, dust, and temperature extremes that would compromise lesser-sealed cameras.
- 12fps continuous shooting with the newly designed mirror-shutter drive mechanism is competitive with leading APS-C DSLRs, providing a sufficient capture window for sports, wildlife burst sequences, and action peaks.
- SR II compatibility with every K-mount lens ever manufactured means the entire Pentax glass ecosystem — including decades of legacy FA primes — benefits from up to 5.5 stops of stabilization
- Dual SD card slots with UHS-II in slot 1 enable simultaneous RAW + JPEG capture to separate cards or sustained 12fps burst without buffer bottleneck
- Dual SD card slots with UHS-II support in Slot 1 enable high-speed burst buffer clearing and simultaneous RAW+JPEG or backup capture workflows without session interruption.
👎 Cons
- As a DSLR, live view and video autofocus rely on contrast-detect AF, which is significantly slower than the mirror-up phase-detect performance — a structural limitation for video-first shooters
- The K-3 III is a DSLR in an era where mirrorless APS-C systems have surpassed it in continuous AF tracking performance — the SAFOX 13 phase detection system relies on dedicated AF sensor points rather than on-sensor PDAF, which limits subject recognition and eye-detection capabilities.
- The K-mount lens ecosystem, while deep in legacy glass, has significantly fewer modern autofocus lens options compared to Sony E-mount, Fujifilm X-mount, or Canon RF-S — photographers who need a broad selection of current native AF lenses will find the K-mount catalog constrained.
- The K-3 Mark III uses the Pentax K-mount ecosystem, which has a narrower third-party lens ecosystem than Canon EF or Nikon F, limiting fast-aperture options from Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina
- The new image processing engine is not named or benchmarked against Sony's BIONZ X or Canon's DIGIC X in available documentation, making noise performance at extreme ISO (up to 1.6M) difficult to verify independently
- At body-only pricing in the flagship APS-C tier, the K-3 III competes against mirrorless alternatives from Fujifilm and Sony that offer on-sensor phase detection, better video specifications, and more active lens roadmaps.
- The camera lacks in-body subject tracking that uses the imaging sensor for AF — its live view AF relies on contrast detection, which is significantly slower than the phase detection AF available through the optical viewfinder.
- Body-only pricing places the K-3 Mark III in direct competition with mirrorless APS-C bodies that offer on-sensor PDAF for video, eye-tracking AF, and electronic shutter — features absent here
- Touch LCD, while responsive, does not articulate or tilt — limiting low-angle and overhead framing flexibility that articulating screens on competing bodies provide
- Video specifications are modest relative to competing APS-C bodies at this price point — the K-3 III is designed as a stills camera first, and video shooters will find its feature set underwhelming compared to mirrorless alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the PENTAX SR II stabilization work with third-party lenses, or only native Pentax K-mount glass?
The SR II operates on the sensor plane, not in the lens, so it functions with any lens mounted via the K-bayonet — including vintage K-mount, M42 (with adapter), and FA-series glass. The degree of correction varies by lens and focal length, but the fundamental 5-axis stabilization is always active.
Is the 5-axis Shake Reduction system in the K-3 Mark III compatible with older Pentax lenses, including legacy manual-focus glass?
Yes — this is one of the K-3 III's most significant technical advantages. The SR II mechanism is compatible with every Pentax K-mount lens ever manufactured, including legacy manual-focus and third-party K-mount lenses. The camera reads focal length either from electronic communication with the lens or via manual input in the menu, then applies the appropriate correction on all 5 axes.
What does the SAFOX 13 AF system's 101-point array mean for tracking moving subjects?
The 101 AF points cover a wider area of the viewfinder frame than the 27-point SAFOX 11 in the previous K-3 II, which means the system can maintain lock on subjects that move toward the frame edges — a measurable improvement for sports, wildlife, and fast-moving subject tracking. The cross-type arrangement of central points improves acquisition speed in low-contrast conditions.
What AF system does the K-3 Mark III use, and how does it perform in low light?
The SAFOX 13 AF system uses 101 phase-detection points with an expanded coverage area versus prior SAFOX generations. Low-light AF performance is rated to -3EV, which handles dimly lit interior scenes. It is a phase-detect PDAF system using the mirror box — it does not offer on-sensor PDAF for live view or video AF, which is a structural limitation of the DSLR design.
Can the K-3 Mark III shoot at 12fps with a standard SD card, or does slot 1's UHS-II speed matter?
Slot 1's UHS-II compatibility (theoretical ceiling of ~312MB/s write) is what enables sustained 12fps burst without buffer stall when shooting RAW. A standard UHS-I card in slot 1 will work but will hit the write buffer faster, reducing effective sustained burst depth — especially relevant when shooting 25.7MP RAW files.
How does the K-3 III's 25.7MP APS-C sensor's maximum ISO of 1.6 million actually perform — is it usable at extreme sensitivities?
Extended ISO values above approximately ISO 51200 are available primarily as a last resort for capturing subject presence in near-dark conditions — image quality at ISO 1.6M is heavily processed and not suitable for commercial delivery. Pentax's multi-dimensional noise filtering maintains usable detail up to approximately ISO 25600, with ISO 51200 being the practical ceiling for most applications before luminance noise becomes structurally disruptive.
Does the dual SD card slot configuration support UHS-II speeds in both slots?
No — only Slot 1 supports UHS-II cards (up to approximately 300MB/s read/250MB/s write). Slot 2 is UHS-I limited. For 12fps burst RAW shooting, placing a fast UHS-II card in Slot 1 is essential to avoid buffer bottlenecks; Slot 2 is best used for overflow JPEG or simultaneous backup capture.
Does the K-3 Mark III support Pixel Shift Resolution, and what does it require?
Yes. Pixel Shift Resolution uses the SR II mechanism to shift the sensor by sub-pixel increments, capturing full RGB data at every pixel location. It requires a stationary subject and tripod-mounted shooting; the output is a composite file with significantly higher effective resolution and color accuracy than a single exposure.
What video specifications does the K-3 Mark III support?
Video specifications are not detailed in available product data. The K-3 Mark III is primarily positioned as a stills-focused body — Pentax's engineering emphasis is on the optical viewfinder, IBIS, and continuous shooting performance rather than video feature parity.
What does the Pixel Shift Resolution mode do, and in which shooting contexts does it actually apply?
Pixel Shift Resolution uses the SR II mechanism to shift the sensor by one pixel across four sequential exposures, then composites them to produce an image with full color information at every pixel site — eliminating Bayer interpolation artifacts and maximizing resolving power. It requires a completely stationary subject and tripod, making it applicable to product photography, landscape, and studio still life work, not action or handheld photography.
Related Products
