Recent FCC filings for the Ricoh Pentax K-3 Mark III have produced interesting images. Although FCC filings are rarely exciting, Ricoh Imaging’s filing shows the upcoming K-3 III DSLR without its outer shell.
This isn’t the first we’ve seen of the K-3 III. In late October, Ricoh published a video, seen below, sharing some information about the K-3 III. At this time, the company also published a ‘progress report‘ for the K-3 Mark III. In the report, Ricoh announced that it had been developing a new flagship APS-C digital SLR, the K-3 III and that the new camera embodies Pentax’s ‘Five Principles‘.
Pentax states that the K-3 III is expected to release around the scheduled time of the CP+ camera exhibition, which is in late February. The K-3 III will be compatible with KAF4, KAF3, KAF2, KAF, and KA mount lenses. The camera features a new 25.73MP APS-C CMOS image sensor. ISO will range from 100 all the way up to 1,600,000 and the camera will feature sensor-shift image stabilization. In addition to still image capabilities, the K-3 III will record 4K video at up to 30 frames per second and Full HD video at 60p.
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| The front of the upcoming K-3 III APS-C DSLR without its outer shell |
With its commitment to SLR camera technology, as outlined in its original K-3 III announcement video, Pentax is likewise committed to creating excellent optical viewfinders. The K-3 III’s viewfinder will have 100% frame coverage and have approximately 1.05x magnification. Additional specifications can be seen here.
Getting back to the recent FCC filings. We can see the exact dimensions of the camera’s internal components. The K-3 III will include a top information display, following in the footsteps of 2015’s K-3 II. We also see the shutter release mechanism, which Pentax recently explained in an ongoing series investigating the K-3 III.
The new shutter release uses a leaf switch with three leaf springs, whereas the K-3 II shutter mechanism used a tactile switch. Pentax says the new mechanism provides a ‘lighter, smoother action’ and reduces the ‘worry of unexpected, accidental shutter releases.’ Similarly, the K-3 III also incorporates ‘totally redesigned mirror- and shutter-driving mechanisms’, resulting in reduced mirror bounce and higher speed mirror action.
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| The top of the K-3 III shows the viewfinder pentaprism, top info display and the new shutter release |
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| The K-3 Mark III includes a new shutter release mechanism, as shown here compared to the mechanism in the K-1 Mark II. Compared to the K-3 Mark II, the new K-3 series camera’s shutter release will offer users ‘lighter’ and ‘smoother’ action. Image courtesy of Pentax. |
The FCC filing also shows the primary processing components in the K-3 III, which will be located behind the camera’s 3.2″ rear display. The display will include capacitive touchscreen capabilities and 1.62M dots.
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| Here we see the back of the K-3 Mark III. In front of the circuit board will be a 3.2″ display. This is the same size display as the K-3 II, but the Mark III’s display will offer touchscreen functionality and include a higher resolution. |
If you’d like to see all the images in the new FCC filing or read the user manual, which is also available, click here.
Pentax has been publishing great deep dives into the K-3 III on its website since this summer. To check those out, visit Ricoh Imaging. There are seven ‘Product Stories of K-3 Mark III’ volumes, all detailing different aspects of the camera’s design and its new features. It’s not often you can read about the process of designing a new camera, especially not months before the camera releases.
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| If you were curious what the shell of the K-3 III looks like, as it’s not featured in the FCC filing, here you go. Of the magnesium alloy body, Pentax says, ‘Magnesium alloy is a light, rigid metallic material that is highly resistant to deformation. It lets us design a high-strength, high-rigidity body while keeping the product mass to a minimum. That’s why we chose this material for the PENTAX K-3 Mark III’s top, bottom, front and back panels, as we created the compact, sturdy, high-grade body of this new flagship model. I hope that our users will appreciate how the use of a metallic material provides both a sense of security by protecting the high-precision inner mechanisms, and an impression of quality characteristic of metal.’ Image courtesy of Pentax. |
The Pentax K-3 III is on pace to release early next year with a yet to be finalized price. Ricoh has stated the price will be in the ‘upper 200,000 Yen range,’ which could mean upwards of around $2,900 USD. The final price in the US could end up being quite a bit less than this figure, but only time will tell.
