For those that think the Pentax AF system is not geared for action, sports

[Arpe]

But a HD video camera is only about 1mp. Not really enough I think.

I didn't say that I "worry" about shots I may have got, I do wonder about them though, as I'm sure most of us do about any given situation, otherwise we'd just take one shot, say that's the best, and leave. But we work around the subject, wondering if there's a better angle etc. If we didn't wonder about these things we'd get pretty bored pretty fast.

[KrisK10D]

Originally Posted by Zewrak

If your system is your limit, you might aswell get a HD videocamera.

I always hear people whine about their gear, with some selfcriticism I swear that 90% of them would find the limits in their skills.

It doesn't matter what brand you have, people will whine. It's a human condition! "The grass is always greener" as they say, but it's "A poor workman who blames his tools"!

[saladin]

i think the only quantifiable development i want to see is the emergence of more long, fast glass with HSM focusing, and definitive evidence from users that the HSM improves focusing speeds.

at the moment, most people using the DA 300's etc seem to use them for general shooting, not team sports.

[danielchtong]

Originally Posted by Zewrak

If your system is your limit, you might aswell get a HD videocamera.
I always hear people whine about their gear, with some selfcriticism I swear that 90% of them would find the limits in their skills.

So well said. With determination and some info about Pentax system, I am doing ok after 10K shots of practice. And I mean it. A lot of action shots would not be faster thant this series and I have quite a few.
















Daniel

[Michaelina2]

Images captured with a K100D? Lens?

Without question, being a Canadian Goose has it's downsides. But landing on water has got to be fun.

Thx for sharing...

[danielchtong]

Originally Posted by Michaelina2

Images captured with a K100D? Lens?

K100D and A300mmF4.

I have been pushing Pentaxians to use MF to deal with situation where AF (focus, tracking & metering) is an issue.

For some extreme fast actions, the fastest system (translation Canon Mk 3 & Nikon D300) still have a lot of missed shots. Granted that Pentax is still behind in this critical area, MF people still have an edge.

Here is details of the MF method which is very different from the traditional focus trap method. The usual method is that you prefocus and wait for bird to come in the viewfinder. You do predict the press the shutter. When the bird is in focus the camera fires and you get an image. My method involves me set the focus to around 50 ft. When the bird is within the area, I fire in burst non-stop in MF. The first 1-2 seconds will be firing bland - focus completely off. But I have to manually adjust the focus ring while panning and it is critical for me to snap into focus the 2nd or the 3rd second.

BIF ok with manual focus lens: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review


It is fun and rewarding.

Originally Posted by pentkon52

Some good ones this month, and maybe this will help in some of the newbie and fence sitters mind making up. I'v always said, it may be slower than other makes, but in the right hands, will do wonders.

Dave

And what is important is that if I cannot make it, I will try , re-trace my steps and upgrade my skill in fast MF focusing and tracking. Otherwise, I will only be doomed/condemned to upgrade my hardware/gear and not my skill.

Daniel

[ajtour]

Believing that actions speak louder than words . . .


Handheld, k110d, tamron 70-300mm, shot squeezing between spectators at dusk under stadium lights from a tunnel on the opposite side of the stadium at 300mm




Handheld, k110d, tamron 70-300mm, cloudy with sprinkles off and on. Those little yellow bits around Federer's head/shoulders are pieces of felt flying as he knocked the *&^$ out of the ball because Nadal had just walked over to the neighboring court.

But, no, Pentax isn't good for sports. Not at all.

[nanok]

pentax is indeed rubish for sports. as one can clearly see from these examples, one cannot seriously consider pentax for sports shooting. i think most people don't understand what is really wrong: a pentax dslr is unsuitable as a speed camera. you can take some sports shots with it, sure, but that's just luck. for a speed camera on the highway, this is just unacceptable.

here are some more examples of how much rubish this is

web-imgp6995.jpg

all were shot with either a 75-150/4 smc-m or a yashica 135/2.8 (both manual focus, love them both so much that i couldn't bring myself to fit the 50-200 very capabale af lens instead ). lighting conditions: forest, cloudy day, high contrast nevertheless (typical for special stages in the forest). most are shot wide open.

i am no expert, but my humble oppinion: know your sport, and shoot with what you have. i doubt higher frame rate and smarter af will get anyone better pictures, significantly and consistently. if one shoots blind maybe that technology will get them sharper pictures, but not better overall. especially, i think there's no need to worry about it. if af is the limiting factor, you will know it right away (make sure, though, you don't mistake it for technique flaws like paning or such, it's easy to do so, i know i have). if you are "wondering" about it, than you have no issue. walk away and keep shooting

[cabstar]

Have to agree, Pentax AF is really poor for sports & low light photography, check these out

click here

Samsung GX20
Tamron 17-50mm 2.8
ISO800
No flash
aperture 2.8
shutter 160

Gary