PARSIPPANY, NJ, April 12, 2023 — Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation today announced the PENTAX K-3 Mark III Monochrome camera, exclusively designed to capture black-and-white images. The only monochrome-specific digital SLR camera currently on the market, it captures high-resolution images rich in gradation, enabling users to express a distinct view of the color-rich world in high-quality black-and-white images.
“The concept of a monochrome-specific digital SLR camera attracted a great deal of attention and interest from photographers who participated in an online fan event held in November 2021,” said Ken Curry, president, Ricoh Imaging Americas. “PENTAX has since conducted extensive research on the development of a commercial product based on this concept and we’re excited to announce it today.”
The new model’s design is based on the PENTAX K-3 Mark III — the flagship model of PENTAX’s APS-C-format series that integrates remarkable imaging performance and a host of advanced features in a compact, durable body — while totally redesigning and optimizing the imaging characteristics by adding a new, monochrome-specific image sensor with approximately 25.73 effective megapixels. A typical color image sensor composes a black-and-white image by converting the color data to monochrome. This new custom sensor does not have to convert the any data because it can reflect the brightness obtained by each pixel in the image, thus producing extra-fine sharpness in images that only the monochrome-specific sensor can deliver.
The PENTAX K-3 Mark III Monochrome features three Custom Image modes exclusively designed for black-and-white photography to provide distinctive finishing touches. In addition to Standard mode, it offers Hard mode to produce high-contrast images and Soft mode to create high-key, low- contrast images. Each mode allows minute adjustment of parameters such as tone, key, contrast and sharpness so that users can personalize their images with the desired finishing touch.
The exterior design of the camera has also been customized to reflect its monochrome capabilities. Design features include white backlight illumination on the LCD data panel, “Monochrome” lettering printed on the upper-left shoulder of the back panel, a menu screen featuring a black-and-white visual scheme as default, and icons printed on buttons and switches across the camera’s exterior finished in three shades of gray.
1The PENTAX K-3 Mark III Monochrome camera body will be available late April at www.us.ricoh-imaging.com as well as at Ricoh Imaging-authorized retail outlets for the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $2,199.95.
| Main features of the PENTAX K-3 Mark III Monochrome |
- Monochrome-specific CMOS image sensor
To optimize the quality of monochromatic images, the camera incorporates a monochrome- specific, APS-C-format CMOS image sensor free of an AA (anti-aliasing) filter with approximately 25.73 effective megapixels. Typical color image sensors are designed to receive light passing through red (R), green (G) and blue (B) color filters, so each pixel detects only one color-data component. To compose a monochrome image, color sensors must convert color data into monochromatic data by interpolating the color data they collect. The new monochrome-specific image sensor, however, can faithfully reflect the brightness data obtained by each pixel in the image — without the interpolation process — to produce extra-fine monochromatic expression, in images high in resolution and rich in gradation.
- Image quality exclusively designed for monochrome photography
The image quality produced by the original PENTAX K-3 Mark III was thoroughly re- evaluated and totally redesigned to optimize the imaging characteristics of the new monochrome-specific image sensor. The result is highly sensitive expression with a natural bokeh (defocus) effect, rich gradation and extra-fine sharpness — an image only the monochrome-specific image sensor can deliver.
- A selection of monochrome-specific finishing touches
The PENTAX K-3 Mark III Monochrome provides three Custom Image modes exclusively designed for monochrome photography to provide distinctive finishing touches. In addition to Standard mode, it also provides Hard mode to produce high-contrast images, and Soft mode to create high-key, low-contrast images. Each mode provides minute adjustment of parameters such as tone, key, contrast and sharpness. This allows the photographer to personalize their images with the desired finishing touch.
- Exterior design reflecting the monochrome photography concept
The PENTAX K-3 Mark III Monochrome provides white backlight illumination on the LCD data panel positioned on its upper panel, while featuring “Monochrome” lettering printed on the upper-left shoulder of the back panel. Its menu screen features a black-and-white visual scheme as default, while the SR (Shake Reduction) badge is finished in silver. The icons printed on buttons and switches across the camera’s exterior are finished in three shades of gray to assist the users with their camera operation. All in all, the concept of monochrome photography is evident throughout the camera body.
If you look at an unprocessed scan of a good B&W negative it records very differently in the shadows and highlights to a digital camera (much flatter), and from this starting point allows great and gentle latitude in controlling the contrast of the image. I think a monochrome digital sensor will still record with digital characteristics, and therefor apart from the extra sharpness I’m not convinced there will be much advantage, apart from being able to play with colour filters on a digital camera.
When I shoot mono, I just convert from colour in LR, but if I was a pure mono shooter, I'd consider a pure mono camera. Partly because of the apparently better tonality and DR, but also because psychologically it probably makes you "think in mono", in a way that you tend not to, when using a normal colour camera.
I actually admire Pentax in a way for sticking with DSLRs, just as I admire Leica for their rangefinder cameras, or Fujifilm for their retro-styled cameras (I also love old motorcycles, as much as modern superbikes). I think it's great that these old "formats" are kept alive, with their image quality and usability improved to modern standards.
So I say good luck to Pentax, and I think they have a good future, but they need to learn that if they are going to be a niche product, they also need to move more upmarket in terms of cosmetic finish (they look a bit to plasticky to me).