Experience Report about PENTAX K-3 Mark III Monochrome by Samuel Lintaro Hopf

„Samuel Lintaro Hopf is well known in the Street Photography Community as „Samuel Streetlife“ on YouTube. Unlike typical photography channels that focus on the technical aspects of photography, Samuel is always seeking interesting experiences and unique approaches. This made him naturally excited to try out the PENTAX K-3 III Monochrome and he delivered an extensive impression video on YouTube as well as a user report on his website.  
We would like to share his first impression and summary of his experience with the PENTAX k-3 III Monochrome here alongside the work he created on the streets of Hamburg.“

PENTAX K-3 III Monochrome  //  HD PENTAX-DA16-50mmF2.8ED PLM AW  //  Focal length: 21mm (32mm 35 mm equiv.)  //  ISO400  // Exposure time: 1/500sec.  //  Aperture: F5  //  Exposure compensation: -0.3EV  

With the following short interview Samuel gave us some insights about the work with the new camera.

PENTAX: Samuel, what was your expectation and what is the special purpose to use such a camera?

SAMUEL LINTARO HOPF:  I have never used a Monochrome Sensor before the K-3 Mark III Monochrome, so I was very interested in seeing the effect it would have on my photographic approach and of course the Quality Differences in my Images.

Having a Camera dedicated to one Look is very appealing to me. The simplicity of leaving my house with one camera, one lens and one determined look is what I enjoy the most with Photography. So when I first heard about the new K-3 Mark III Monochrome I knew I wanted to approach it in this simple matter.

PENTAX K-3 III Monochrome  //  HD PENTAX-DA16-50mmF2.8ED PLM AW  //  Focal length: 16mm (24mm 35 mm equiv.)  //  ISO320  // Exposure time: 1/1.250sec.  //  Aperture: F8  //  Exposure compensation: -0.7EV  

PENTAX K-3 III Monochrome  //  HD PENTAX-DA16-50mmF2.8ED PLM AW  //  Focal length: 50mm (75mm 35 mm equiv.)  //  ISO200  // Exposure time: 1/800sec.  //  Aperture: F8  //  Exposure compensation: -0.7EV  

PENTAX K-3 III Monochrome  //   PENTAX SMC-K 135mm F2.5 //  Focal length: approx. 202mm 35 mm equiv.  //  ISO400  // Exposure time: 1/800sec.  //  Aperture: F8  //  Exposure compensation: -0.7EV  

PENTAX K-3 III Monochrome  //  PENTAX SMC-K 135mm F2.5 //  Focal length: approx. 202mm 35 mm equiv.  //  ISO400  // Exposure time: 1/640sec.  //  Aperture: F8  //  Exposure compensation: -0.7EV  

PENTAX K-3 III Monochrome  //  PENTAX SMC-K 135mm F2.5 //  Focal length: approx. 202mm 35 mm equiv.   //  ISO800  // Exposure time: 1/1000sec.  //  Aperture: F8  //  Exposure compensation: -0.7EV  

PENTAX: What experience did you make?

SAMUEL LINTARO HOPF: My first Test Shoot was done in my own Backyard where I took images of my Son in our Garden. The moment I saw the first Images on the back LCD I immediately felt this sense of excitement I often get when I scan Black and White Negative Film. Even though the K-3 Mark III Monochrome is a digital camera, the fact that I am working with a monochrome sensor made each photograph feel special to me. And the RAW files have indeed a much more film-like grain compared to noise coming from a color sensor.
The Limitation of Monochrome has never raised any doubt in my mind about the choice of the medium. Not once did I miss color in my Images. The same way I am never disappointed that I have HP5 in my film camera. It just felt right.

PENTAX K-3 III Monochrome  //  HD PENTAX-DA16-50mmF2.8ED PLM AW  //  Focal length: 36mm (55mm 35 mm equiv.)  //  ISO320  // Exposure time: 1/400sec.  //  Aperture: F8  

PENTAX K-3 III Monochrome  //  HD PENTAX-DA16-50mmF2.8ED PLM AW  //  Focal length: 35mm (54mm 35 mm equiv.)  //  ISO2000  // Exposure time: 1/320sec.  //  Aperture: F8  //  Exposure compensation: +0.3EV  

PENTAX K-3 III Monochrome  //  HD PENTAX-DA16-50mmF2.8ED PLM AW  //  Focal length: 45mm (69mm 35 mm equiv.)  //  ISO800  // Exposure time: 1/125sec.  //  Aperture: F5.6  //  Exposure compensation: -0.3EV  

PENTAX K-3 III Monochrome  //  HD PENTAX-DA16-50mmF2.8ED PLM AW  //  Focal length: 16mm (24mm 35 mm equiv.)  //  ISO500  // Exposure time: 1/125sec.  //  Aperture: F8  //  Exposure compensation: -0.7EV  

PENTAX K-3 III Monochrome  //  HD PENTAX-DA16-50mmF2.8ED PLM AW  //  Focal length: 29mm (44mm 35 mm equiv.)  //  ISO200  // Exposure time: 1/160sec.  //  Aperture: F2.8  //  Exposure compensation: -0.3EV  

PENTAX: What are your insights?

SAMUEL LINTARO HOPF: The biggest Insight I got from testing the K-3 Mark III Monochrome is that the Limitation to Monochrome is strangely liberating. I have used Electronic Viewfinders a lot in the past and I would often use a Monochrome Filter to see a Preview in Monochrome through the Viewfinder but what I found out was that it is actually very distracting to see through a camera in Monochrome.
A Monochrome Sensor is very sensitive to light so I have to be careful not to overexpose the highlights in the frame. The Highlighted-Weighted-Metering allows me to trust my Camera with the proper Exposure and I can concentrate on the framing and capturing the right moment. If I would expose for the highlights with an EVF, I would miss out on a lot of details in the shadows that I would otherwise see clearly through an optical viewfinder like the K-3 Mark III Monochrome. That was a great revelation to me and made me appreciate the clear Viewfinder of the K-3 Mark III Monochrome even more. This feature made my Street Photography Sessions in Hamburg very enjoyable and I strongly believe that is the best way of experiencing a monochrome sensor.

PENTAX K-3 III Monochrome  //  HD PENTAX-DA16-50mmF2.8ED PLM AW  //  Focal length: 26mm (40mm 35 mm equiv.)  //  ISO250  // Exposure time: 1/500sec.  //  Aperture: F8  //  Exposure compensation: -0.7EV  

PENTAX K-3 III Monochrome  //  HD PENTAX-DA16-50mmF2.8ED PLM AW  //  Focal length: 29mm (44mm 35 mm equiv.)  //  ISO200  // Exposure time: 1/250sec.  //  Aperture: F7.1  //  Exposure compensation: -0.7EV

PENTAX K-3 III Monochrome  //  HD PENTAX-DA16-50mmF2.8ED PLM AW  //  Focal length: 28mm (43mm 35 mm equiv.)  //  ISO1600  // Exposure time: 1/80sec.  //  Aperture: F2.8  //  Exposure compensation: -0.3EV

Samuel Lintaro Hopf launched a very interesting video about the new K.3 Mark III Monochrome. Watch it now...