When I was sent the Pentax K3 Mark III Monochrome for review, I have to admit I didn’t know what to expect. Releasing an APS-C DLSR in 2023 – one that only shoots monochrome images – is a pretty bold move, and the K3 Mark III Monochrome is really the only camera in existence that can claim those unique specs. However, after a few weeks of using the camera, I’ve discovered what I love about the K3 III Monochrome, and it doesn’t start or end with the monochrome sensor.
Build quality and handling
The first thing that struck me about the K3 III Monochrome was the robust build quality of the camera. Since the Monochrome is based on the K3 III, Pentax’s flagship DSLR, I expected it to be well made, and it certainly is. The camera is not small, but it is compact for a flagship, weighing 735 grams. The grip is deep and very comfortable, which added to the experience of shooting with the 16-50mm, which is quite a large lens.
Although there are quite a few knobs, dials and buttons on the outside of the camera, it took me very little time to familiarize myself with each one, and within a few hours of experimenting with the K3 III Monochrome, I felt completely at home with it. The layout of the controls is intuitive and offers many customization options as well as small details that users will appreciate. For example, the PASM wheel has a lock button in the middle, which needs to be pressed to change settings. This, of course, is nothing unique to DSLRs. But there is another lock switch located at the bottom of the PASM wheel, which allows the user to unlock the lock and rotate the wheel freely without having to press the center button. This was one of the many small but appreciated details I discovered using the camera.
Another appreciated detail is the unmarked rotary dial on the top panel of the camera. By default, this dial is set to adjust autofocus settings. I was easily able to map this dial to the ISO control, which made the entire operation of the camera very seamless for someone like me who prefers to shoot manually. With this change, the front command dial controls shutter speed, the rear command dial controls aperture, and the top dial controls ISO. Simple, yet so appreciated! Another smart design is the on/off switch that circles the shutter button. On many cameras, pulling past the “on” setting will light up the LCD screen, but on the Pentax it turns on depth of field preview.
I found the operation of the K3 III Monochrome, including the placement of buttons and dials, as well as the menu system, to be simple and very well laid out. This means that users considering this camera who have used other camera systems don’t have much to worry about learning a whole new system. The most unusual feature I found is the TAv mode, which combines aperture and shutter priority, meaning you can freely change both of these settings, while the camera chooses the ISO for you.
DSLR in 2023?
DSLRs are dead! Long live DSLR! We’ve heard those sentiments before, of course, and I’ve personally been using mirrorless cameras exclusively for almost two years now, so the thought of using a DLSR again didn’t excite me. Here again, the K3 III Monochrome surprised me, as I once again only enjoyed the experience of shooting with a DSLR. Much of this is due to the camera itself, not DSLRs in general. For example, the autofocus is fast and accurate, and the viewfinder is bright, with 100% coverage, making it easy to compose images in different lighting situations.
While the camera provides a great shooting experience, using a DSLR in 2023 is a compromise for those of us who have been using mirrorless systems for a long time. As I mentioned, the autofocus is good, but not nearly as accurate as the face and eye detection system in a mirrorless camera. Also, the autofocus sensors do not cover the entire viewfinder and are grouped in the middle. And, while I have no problem using the light meter and finding the right exposure, I missed the benefit of a live view EVF for composition, focus and exposure control.
Monochrome sensor only
Although there are many praises about the ergonomics and handling of the K3, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. The K3 III Monochrome’s 25-megapixel sensor is the main, and probably the only, reason many will consider this camera. In a typical color sensor, light must pass through a red, green, and blue filter before being captured by the sensor. Because the K3 III Monochrome does not have these color filters, the camera can capture more light and detail than a standard sensor, resulting in better sharpness and less noise at higher ISOs.
The camera also has three image styles: standard, hard and soft, as well as the ability to create custom profiles for your images. A great feature is the ability to take a photo and while viewing it on the screen, switch between the three image styles to see the difference in the results. Standard mode works well for a variety of subjects and produces even tones in the frame. The hard setting greatly increases contrast and produces much darker images, while the soft mode creates a flatter, high-key look. The images from the Pentax K3 III Monochrome are beautiful, and I found that I did a bit of work in terms of editing, which made the camera even more enjoyable to use. The experience is similar to using a Fujifilm camera with film simulation, with the obvious difference that there is no live view of the black and white scene.
I used the camera for a number of photo shoots, including family photos, a trip to a comic convention, and two portrait shoots. In each of these situations I was able to create images that were sharp, with beautiful tones, subtle transitions and excellent dynamic range. The images also look very clean with minimal noise and the files have a wide editing width. All images in this review were taken with the Pentax 16-50mm f/2.8 ED PLM AW lens.
Who is this camera for?
The K3 III Monochrome is the definition of “niche”. In fact, research into a monochrome camera began after Pentax surveyed its users and fans, who showed great interest in this idea. And, while some want to compare the Pentax to the Leica M11 Monochrom, the Leica body costs $9,195 and the Pentax costs $2,199, so I find the comparison unfounded. Therefore, the Pentax K3 III Monochrome is unique among the cameras available today, not only because of its specifications, but also because it can be equipped with any number of older Pentax K mount lenses. This fact alone will appeal to die-hard Pentax users who already own a collection of manual focus lenses.
As for my question, who is this camera for? It will primarily appeal most to current Pentax users, who already have brand loyalty and are invested in the system. Additionally, photographers who like to shoot in black and white and also appreciate handling a DSLR instead of a mirrorless camera will find a lot to love about this camera. For that niche market interested in the K3 III Monochrome’s unique features, they’re sure to find a lot to love about the camera and the images it can create.