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Capture a split second
of light

High-speed drive system

High-speed drive, with a maximum speed of approximately 12 images per second

Thanks to the combination of a newly developed mirror and shutter driving unit and the high-speed, high-performance PRIME V imaging engine, the PENTAX K-3 Mark III provides a high-speed drive system with a maximum speed of approximately
12 images per second in the AF.S mode, or approximately 11 images per second in the AF.C mode.
This system lets you capture a momentary expression of the subject, which couldn’t otherwise have been captured by previous models.

*The continuous shooting speed may decrease depending on the type of lens used and/or the aperture, shutter speed and sensitivity selected by the user.

*A certain amount of time is required for the playback of images captured in the continuous shooting mode. The time required may vary depending on the number of captured images and/or the recording format.

High-speed drive, with a maximum speed of approximately 12 images per second

High-speed, high-precision mirror and shutter driving unit

To improve driving speed during continuous shooting and upgrade the performance of AF and AE systems, the PENTAX K-3 Mark III features a new mirror and shutter driving unit to greatly reduce the time needed to drive the mirror and shutter mechanisms.
By minimizing the effect of mirror bounce, it also helps increase the camera’s driving speed, while securing sufficient time for distance and light measurements.
As the result, the operation time required to capture
a single image has been reduced to about two-thirds of the PENTAX K-3 II.

High-speed, high-precision mirror and shutter driving unit

Approach 1:

Highly dependable, responsive coreless motors are installed to drive the mirror and shutter mechanisms. Light sensors monitor the position of the cam gears driven by these motors with great precision, assuring more accurate control of the drive and stop points of these mechanisms during high-speed continuous shooting.

Approach 2:

The weight of the entire main mirror unit has been reduced to minimize collision energy, while a new damper mechanism instantly stops the mirror action to reduce mirror bounce.
The sub-mirror’s drive and stop mechanism also features a new design to optimize mirror action and reduce mirror bounce.

High-precision autofocus system

SAFOX 13 AF system with 101 focus points

The number of focus points in the PENTAX K-3 Mark III have been increased to 101, from 27 in the PENTAX K-3 II. The AF area also has been greatly expanded. Of 41 user-selectable points,* 25 are cross-type sensors. This high-density AF system enhances the flexibility of image composition, while optimizing focusing accuracy on the subject. Since its middle focus point is designed to detect an F2.8 luminance flux, the camera assures super-high-precision focusing when using a bright lens with an open aperture of F2.8 or larger.

*The number of selectable points may vary depending on the mounted lens.

SAFOX 13 AF system with 101 focus points
SAFOX 13 AF module
SAFOX 13 AF module

1Reflex mirror 2Optical path 3Condenser lens 4Chromatic aberration compensating lens 5Separator lens 6IR-cut filter 7AF sensor

AF area selection

The PENTAX K-3 Mark III provides a choice of the AF area from Auto Area, Zone Select, Select, Expanded Select Area (S, M or L), Select (S) and Spot. A newly installed AF point selector lever makes it easier to intuitively select the optimum focus point. Since the camera displays the selected AF coverage area and the selected AF focus point in the viewfinder window,
you can adjust the image composition and select the focus point simultaneously.

AF area selection

High-precision AF operation at -4EV illumination

Since the camera’s F2.8-sensitive light sensor operates even at -4EV illumination, it assures remarkable imaging power for dimly lit subjects when using a lens with an F2.8 luminance flux.

Outstanding image tracking performance

The camera features a new, high-capacity RGBIr image sensor with approximately 307,000 pixels, to provide more accurate tracking of subjects in motion or slight movement than previous models. It assures outstanding image tracking performance by correlating and assessing the data delivered by the tightly positioned AF focus points.

High-precision continuous shooting in AF.C mode

The camera’s continuous autofocus (AF.C) mode allows you to maintain sharp focus on a subject, regardless of direction of motion. An improved motion prediction algorism accurately detects the subject’s complex movement, which was rather difficult to predict with previous models. It also reduces the effect of the unstable motion speed and irregular stops and restarts, as well as the effect of obstacles.

SR II’s Panning mode

The camera’s in-body SR II mechanism provides an independent Panning mode. Thanks to the SR II's improved operation, you can move the camera in a slow panning motion to capture distant, slow-moving subjects, whose motion was difficult to detect with conventional cameras. Since the camera allows you to switch the SR II’s mode between OFF and AUTO with
a single push of the SR button, you can react quickly and effortlessly to a change of scene or subject.

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