Pentax Unveils Okay-3 III Monochrome DSLR for Black and White Images

Ricoh has introduced a brand new Pentax Okay-3 Mark III digital SLR digital camera designed completely for black and white images. The brand new Pentax Okay-3 III Monochrome is the one monochrome-specific DSLR in the marketplace.

Whereas the one DSLR designed for monochrome images, the Okay-3 III Monochrome shouldn’t be the primary black and white digital digital camera, becoming a member of Leica cameras just like the M Monochrom (Typ 246) and M10 Monochrom. Part One additionally makes an “achromatic” medium-format digital again. Monochromatic cameras are undoubtedly a distinct segment product, however as photographer, Marc Koegel writes for PetaPixel, “When you outline a photographic mission, or not less than determine on a normal course in your work, you choose the software that’s proper that will help you obtain your targets. It definitely doesn’t need to be a monochrome-only digital camera, however it might be a viable alternative.”

Black and white cameras may be a superb software for sure photographers, though the draw back that these specialised cameras can’t be turned again into shade cameras with a fast settings change is a limiting issue for a lot of.

“The idea of a monochrome-specific digital SLR digital camera attracted quite a lot of consideration and curiosity from photographers who participated in a web-based fan occasion held in November 2021,” says Ken Curry, president of Ricoh Imaging Americas. “Pentax has since performed intensive analysis on the event of a business product primarily based on this idea and we’re excited to announce it as we speak.”

The Okay-3 Mark III Monochrome is, unsurprisingly, primarily based on the prevailing Okay-3 Mark III, Pentax’s flagship APS-C format DSLR. Whereas the digital camera physique is considerably unchanged, Pentax has made just a few changes to mirror the digital camera’s monochromatic capabilities. The LCD information panel now options white backlight illumination, and the menu display includes a black-and-white visible scheme as default. The icons printed on the digital camera’s buttons and switches are completed in three shades of grey somewhat than the standard shade paint.

Finally, it’s what’s inside that counts. The digital camera incorporates a brand new, monochrome-specific 25.7-megapixel picture sensor.

Pentax explains the picture high quality advantages of its new digital camera for black and white images: “A typical shade picture sensor composes a black-and-white picture by changing the colour information to monochrome. This new customized sensor doesn’t need to convert any information as a result of it may well mirror the brightness obtained by every pixel within the picture, thus producing extra-fine sharpness in photographs that solely the monochrome-specific sensor can ship.”

The brand new digital camera additionally consists of three unique Customized Picture modes for black-and-white images. Along with “Commonplace” mode, the digital camera consists of “Onerous” mode for high-contrast images and “Mushy” mode to seize high-key, low-contrast photographs. Every mode may be custom-made throughout parameters similar to tone, key, distinction, and sharpness.

The Pentax Okay-3 Mark III Monochrome will probably be obtainable later this month as a body-only configuration by way of Ricoh and licensed retailers with a urged retail worth of $2,199.95.

Picture credit: Product photographs courtesy of Ricoh / Pattern photographs by Ricoh Imaging Ambassador Kerrick James