Testbench CAMERA TEST Two years ago, Ricoh Imaging released the Pentax K-3 Mark III, a high-end APS-C DSLR aimed squarely at enthusiast photographers. It turned out to be a very capable camera indeed, combining fine handling, robust build, and impressive image quality. Now the firm has decided to produce a version that only shoots in black & white – the Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome.
This isn’t the first mono-only camera we’ve seen, but it’s the first not to originate from the hallowed halls of Leica, and the first DSLR, too. While it costs more than the stock K-3 Mark III, at £2,249 rather than £1,899 body-only, it’s dramatically cheaper than either of Leica’s current offerings, the Q2 Monochrom (£5,200) and the M11 Monochrom (£8,300). It’s still not quite a…