Pentax K-3 III Monochrome Review: Why Does THIS Exist!?

The announcement of the Pentax K-3 III Monochrome was one of the most unexpected camera releases of 2023 and we finally got our hands on one. Find out what advantages the monochrome version offers over the standard color version if you capture your images in black and white.

Rental equipment provided by The Camera Store

0:00 - Intro
1:24 - Sample Images
1:49 - Camera body
3:20 - Color Filters
4:06 - Image quality
7:20 - Who is it for?

[kokliangchew]

I cut my photograph teeth on black and white photo film in the 1970s, when it was still cheaper here in Malaysia than colour film stock. I still remember that you really had be careful of lighting, more so than colour film. Ironically, my black and white photos still look pristine whereas my colour photos of the same age have faded drastically.

[mrpatrickkay]

Taken the best photos of my life with this camera, I love it

[sethwoodworth]

Thank you for continuing to cover Pentax!

[robert_may]

The only disappointment with this is that it doesn't have a retro body to go with it. Pentax would have a total winner on their hands with a classic MX-style camera, especially as it'd still be a DSLR and have decades of nice Pentax lenses to chuck on it. I feel like the majority of people buying a monochrome camera are likely to be street shooters, and they tend to want something fairly stylish 😅

[Russellhawker]

What this video does highlight is how epic the G9 II is. What stunning quality video.

[drthompson]

I really want this camera. Do I need it? No but want it yes. I shoot a lot of street at night and concert to monochrome in post. This system would be nice for the Dynamic Range it offers. Bravo to Pentax for listening to the user base and taking the chance on this camera. You are right, a K1 monochrome would be killer!

[piyastudios]

Thank you for the review. I bought mine back in June and never looked back. No regrets; I love my K3iiiMono.

[stephensmith]

Might be fun to use this camera for astro! No need for colour in that context, and that extra shadow boost and sharpness would be clutch

[kyleparks]

I always like it when you're nice to pentax

[notScissors]

Just took it on a landscape photo trip--the camera performed well, and it was such a fun experience to be committed to black and white.

[tomw]

For me the benefit of a monochrom camera is the experience of the end-to-end black/white workflow. You have to think in bw, use filters like with fillm and you are never spoilt with a colour image on the way.

[LeeIveson]

Love the idea of using those colour filters! I was a little thrown off at first looking through the viewfinder & expecting to see black & white (brain fade moment I know) but I quickly got my head around that & started to look purely for how the light & shadows fell in a scene. Overall I was very surprised by the K3iii Monochrome in a good way, I defiantly think it's a great camera for refining your photography but also just to enjoy the process again.

[ronaldjohnston]

Yup, there's a real reason to purchase a monochrome camera. Excellent review and insight...as always. Thank you!

[fallyn]

Pentax. The company that doesn't wonder why, but only why not. Parented by Ricoh, another company that happily supports the weird. I'm just an utter fan. BW SLR? Love it. I wish i had the money.

[danculberson]

A Ricoh GR with this sensor would be a dream.

[southendsites]

Pentax is one of the great camera companies... Glad Pentax keeps going and You cover Them.

[photologic]

Long time Pentax shooter, the only reason I don't own one of these yet is that I have my fingers crossed for a mono version of the imminent K1 III! That would be an amazing mono camera.

[ronbokje]

I’m glad that you where making the comparison with the K1, have that one and now I don’t have to upgrade. Love that full frame with all my old lenses.

[stevesharkey]

I often set the picture style in my canon to monochrome. The view finder and back screen display b&w but if you shoot raw you still get the full colour pictures if you want them. Some of my favourite photos have come this was probably because I’m not distracted by colour and am more “focussed” on contrast, texture, composition.

[pelham]

Pentax is a great camera "company" that has made some great products. It would be good if people bought it enough to allow further R&D.