In April 2023 Ricoh Imaging Company surprised the camera market by the launch of a brand new SLR camera that only captures monochrome images. The camera was named Pentax K-3 Mark iii Monochrome, after its color sibling K-3 Mark iii. Like its predecessor that captures colors, the new Monochrome camera is an APS-C camera aimed at professional photographers and discerning amateurs.

Croatia in black & white with the Pentax K-3 iii Monochrome. ©Bjørn Joachimsen.

I had the pleasure to try a preproduction camera on my workshop in Croatia in May 2023. During the week i used the camera both for street photography, landscapes, portraits and night photography. I also tried infrared photography with this amazing camera.

*Plitvice Lakes Nationa Park, Croatia. (Pentax K-3 iii Monochrome with HD Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW.)* ©Bjørn Joachimsen.

Why monochrome?

As the Pentax Monochrome camera was introduced to the market, many photographers asked: Why a monochrome camera? Isn't it good enough – or even better – to convert RAW files from a color sensor into BW in a RAW processing software? I can understand this objection against a color blind camera, but the Pentax Monochrome camera has some qualities that can not be achieved with an ordinary camera.

*Krka National Park, Croatia. (Pentax K-3 iii Monochrome with HD Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW.) Left: Red filter. Right: Infrared 720nm filter. ©Bjørn Joachimsen.*

Filters and infrared photography

In fact, shooting with the Pentax Monochrome is like shooting with black & white film. – with a digital camera. To control contrast and tonal rendition, you can simply use color filters in front of your lenses like analog photographers have been doing for more than a century. A red or orange filter will render the blue sky darker. A yellow-green filter will render foliage lighter and so on. What is even more interesting for my use, is that you can place an infrared filter in the filter attachment on your lens and achieve amazing effects that resemble infrared black & white film.

*Split, Croatia. (Pentax K-3 iii Monochrome with HD Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW.). ISO 6400 and no noise reduction in post processing. ©Bjørn Joachimsen.*

Amazingly low noise levels

Another unique feature of the Pentax Monochrome camera is that you can shoot at ISO 6400 without noise. Even at ISO 12.800 the noise is hardly visible. This opens interesting opportunities for street photography at night, shooting at venues and documentary photography.

*Krka National Park, Croatia. (Pentax K-3 iii Monochrome with HD Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW.) © Bjørn Joachimsen.*

Sharper than color

Because there is no interpolation involved in the processing of the Pentax monochrome camera RAW files, the images turn out cleaner and sharper with more distinct detail than you can get from a color sensor. The signal from the sensor is clean and the final images look like medium format captures even if the camera has a much smaller APS-C sensor. You should definitely use the Pentax HD lens series with this camera.

*Split, Croatia. (Pentax K-3 iii Monochrome with HD Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW). ©Bjørn Joachimsen.*

Pentax Monochrome is an outstanding camera that opens new opportunities for photographers that are devoted to black and white imagery.

Equipment being used

Pentax K-3 iii preproduction model
HD Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW

Pentax K-3 iii Monochrome camera. (Courtesy: Ricoh Imaging Corporation.)

Basic specifications

Body type: Mid-size SLR

Sensor: Max resolution 6192 x 4128

Image ratio w:h 3:2

Effective pixels: 26 megapixels

Sensor size: APS-C (23 x 15.5 mm)

Sensor type: CMOS

Processor: PRIME V

ISO: Auto (200-1600100)

Image stabilization: Sensor-shift

CIPA image stabilization rating: 5.5 stop(s)

Uncompressed format: RAW

JPEG quality levels: Best, better, good

Autofocus

Contrast Detect (sensor)
Phase Detect
Multi-area
Center
Selective single-point
Tracking
Single
Continuous
Touch
Face Detection
Live View

Manual focus: Yes

Number of focus points: 101

Number of cross-type focus points: 25

Lens mount: Pentax KAF2

Focal length multiplier: 1.5×

Screen / viewfinder: Articulated LCD

Screen size: 3.2″

Screen dots: 1,620,000

Touch screen: Yes

Screen type: TFT LCD

Live view: Yes

Viewfinder type: Optical (pentaprism)

Viewfinder coverage: 100%

Viewfinder magnification: 1.05× (0.7× 35mm equiv.)

Minimum shutter speed: 30 sec

Maximum shutter speed: 1/8000 sec

Maximum shutter speed (electronic): 1/16000 sec

Aperture priority: Yes

Shutter priority: Yes

Manual exposure mode: Yes

Built-in flash: No

External flash: Yes (via hot shoe or flash sync port)

Continuous drive:12.0 fps

Self-timer: Yes

Metering modes

Multi
Center-weighted
Highlight-weighted
Spot

Exposure compensation: ±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)

AE Bracketing: ±5 (2, 3, 5 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)

Videography format: MPEG-4, H.264

Modes

3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
3840 x 2160 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
1920 x 1080 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM

Microphone: Stereo

Storage types: Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II supported in slot 1)

Connectivity: USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)

USB charging: Yes

HDMI: Yes (micro HDMI)

Microphone port: Yes

Headphone port: Yes

Wireless: Built-In

Wireless notes: 802.11b/g/n + Bluetooth

Remote control: Yes (via wireless)

Environmentally sealed: Yes

Battery: D-LI90

Battery Life (CIPA): 800

Weight (inc. batteries): 820 g (1.81 lb / 28.92 oz)

Dimensions: 135 x 104 x 74 mm (5.31 x 4.09 x 2.91″)

Orientation sensor: Yes

Timelapse recording: Yes

GPS: None