Best Combo For Shooting Inside a Gym

reivax · 10-18-2012, 07:04 AM

I'm going to be taking some pictures inside a gym tomorrow (nothing professional, just for fun) and I'm not sure what combo would be best to use.

I won't be shooting any fast action sports or anything, it's actually more of a presentation I'm shooting. I won't be too close to the presenters, so I'll have to shoot with a telezoom. I'm trying to decide what my best route is going to be. Here are my choices:

K-01 with a DA 55-300
or
K-r with a Tamron 70-200.

The K-01 doesn't play well with the Tamron, so that's not a choice. The K-r will be too slow with the DA 55-300.

I'm wondering if the K-01 with the 55-300 will give me the same, or better, image quality than the K-r with the Tamron 70-200. The K-01 obviously handles high ISO's better than the K-r, but the K-r will probably give me better auto-focus. I'm hoping to get best iq for my buck. Flash is also not an option because of how far away I will be and I won't be able to set up a wireless flash either (I already asked).

The lighting not be great. It will probably be all lights off except for the spotlights on the presenters. Thanks.

Docrwm · 10-18-2012, 07:11 AM

You will NEED the f2.8 in the Gym. I've tried to shoot with the 55-300 in the gym and it just turns out poorly or is very grainy.

**blackcloudbrew** · 10-18-2012, 08:42 AM

Originally posted by reivax

...The K-01 doesn't play well with the Tamron, so that's not a choice. ...

Really? How do you know that? Not sure I've seen any remarks to that affect.

i83N · 10-18-2012, 08:51 AM

Originally posted by reivax

The K-01 doesn't play well with the Tamron, so that's not a choice.

Dose Tamron have an optical stabilization?

JinDesu · 10-18-2012, 09:02 AM

Originally posted by i83N

Dose Tamron have an optical stabilization?

It doesn't.

lytrytyr · 10-18-2012, 09:15 AM

Originally posted by reivax

The K-01 doesn't play well with the Tamron, so that's not a choice.

Have you installed the new firmware?

GlennG · 10-18-2012, 10:47 AM

Kr + Tammy. Though the K-01 is a little better in the iso performance, it would not make up for the difference of the Tammy aperture advantage over the 55-300. I've shot in a gym before with my 55-300 on my k100dS and, even with "good" gym lighting the photos were not good at all. Even though the modern bodies are much better than my k100dS in lower light performance, I still cannot image that they could be THAT much better that they could have made my poor results into good results. Gyms = "go for all the aperture that you can get", IMHO.

DSims · 10-18-2012, 11:48 AM

You actually have a combo that's nearly up to the task. You should use it. That would be the K-r + 70-200/2.8, of course.

Remember, even in presentations people move, so don't be afraid to use ISO up to at least 5000 if needed to stop/minimize the blur. You can easily reduce the noise - especially if shooting RAW - but blur reduction is between difficult and impossible.

reivax · 10-18-2012, 12:31 PM

Originally posted by blackcloudbrew

Really? How do you know that? Not sure I've seen any remarks to that affect.

I know because I own a K-01 and a Tamron 70-200. They don't play well together. The K-01 has a really tough time auto focusing with the Tamron 70-200 2.8. Colors and everything else work out fine, but if you want to use auto focus, it won't work well. There's a couple of reports about that in the K-01 sub forum as well so I know I'm not the only one. It improved slightly with the firmware update, but not enough to trust it. It does however focus pretty well with the 55-300.

reivax · 10-18-2012, 12:34 PM

Originally posted by lytrytyr

Have you installed the new firmware?

Yes, and it made a huge difference with most of my lenses. It even made a difference with the Tamron 70-200. Prior to the firmware update it would hunt non-stop and never focus. Now it will focus, but about 50 percent of the time.

The 70-200 works very well with the K-r so I know it's not the lens.

tromboads · 10-18-2012, 03:22 PM

They wont mind you taking photos in a gym... for fun?....

I worry you are going to end up with some bar bell shaped lumps on your head. :P

reivax · 10-18-2012, 03:34 PM

Originally posted by tromboads

They wont mind you taking photos in a gym... for fun?....

I worry you are going to end up with some bar bell shaped lumps on your head. :P

Hahaha. It took me a minute to figure out what you were talking about. I wouldn't think about taking pictures of weightlifters. Too many ways to get hurt I'm talking about a high school gymnasium.

reivax · 10-18-2012, 03:38 PM

Originally posted by GlennG

Kr + Tammy. Though the K-01 is a little better in the iso performance, it would not make up for the difference of the Tammy aperture advantage over the 55-300. I've shot in a gym before with my 55-300 on my k100dS and, even with "good" gym lighting the photos were not good at all. Even though the modern bodies are much better than my k100dS in lower light performance, I still cannot image that they could be THAT much better that they could have made my poor results into good results. Gyms = "go for all the aperture that you can get", IMHO.

I was thinking the same thing. I have been really impressed with how the K-01 handles high noise level and wasn't sure if it's capabilities were enough to outperform the K-r and Tamron combo.

Originally posted by DSims:

You actually have a combo that's nearly up to the task. You should use it. That would be the K-r + 70-200/2.8, of course.

Remember, even in presentations people move, so don't be afraid to use ISO up to at least 5000 if needed to stop/minimize the blur. You can easily reduce the noise - especially if shooting RAW - but blur reduction is between difficult and impossible.

I tried shooting inside a gym with my Kr and 55-300. The results were not very good. I have not yet had a chance to try out the Kr and Tamron. I'm hoping the results will be much better. I guess that's what I will be trying.

**crewl1** · 10-18-2012, 04:11 PM

Since the speakers/presnters wont be moving about, perhaps you can try the K-01 in manual focus with the Tammy and bring the K-r body in case things don't work out to your preference?

reeftool · 10-18-2012, 05:03 PM

Originally posted by blackcloudbrew

Really? How do you know that? Not sure I've seen any remarks to that affect.

I would guess that he's refering mostly about the difficulty of being stuck with live view with a big heavy lens mounted. I certainly couldn't had hold that combo steady enough. It should work on a tripod but that might be difficult in a gym.

10-18-2012, 07:04 AM	#1
reivax Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: California Posts: 826	Best Combo For Shooting Inside a Gym I'm going to be taking some pictures inside a gym tomorrow (nothing professional, just for fun) and I'm not sure what combo would be best to use. I won't be shooting any fast action sports or anything, it's actually more of a presentation I'm shooting. I won't be too close to the presenters, so I'll have to shoot with a telezoom. I'm trying to decide what my best route is going to be. Here are my choices: K-01 with a DA 55-300 or K-r with a Tamron 70-200. The K-01 doesn't play well with the Tamron, so that's not a choice. The K-r will be too slow with the DA 55-300. I'm wondering if the K-01 with the 55-300 will give me the same, or better, image quality than the K-r with the Tamron 70-200. The K-01 obviously handles high ISO's better than the K-r, but the K-r will probably give me better auto-focus. I'm hoping to get best iq for my buck. Flash is also not an option because of how far away I will be and I won't be able to set up a wireless flash either (I already asked). The lighting not be great. It will probably be all lights off except for the spotlights on the presenters. Thanks.

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10-18-2012, 07:11 AM	#2
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	You will NEED the f2.8 in the Gym. I've tried to shoot with the 55-300 in the gym and it just turns out poorly or is very grainy.

10-18-2012, 08:42 AM	#3
blackcloudbrew Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cotati, California USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,460	Originally posted by reivax ...The K-01 doesn't play well with the Tamron, so that's not a choice. ... Really? How do you know that? Not sure I've seen any remarks to that affect.

10-18-2012, 08:51 AM	#4
i83N Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lithuania Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,203	Originally posted by reivax The K-01 doesn't play well with the Tamron, so that's not a choice. Dose Tamron have an optical stabilization?

10-18-2012, 09:02 AM	#5
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	Originally posted by i83N Dose Tamron have an optical stabilization? It doesn't.

10-18-2012, 09:15 AM	#6
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by reivax The K-01 doesn't play well with the Tamron, so that's not a choice. Have you installed the new firmware?

10-18-2012, 10:47 AM	#7
GlennG Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 824	Kr + Tammy. Though the K-01 is a little better in the iso performance, it would not make up for the difference of the Tammy aperture advantage over the 55-300. I've shot in a gym before with my 55-300 on my k100dS and, even with "good" gym lighting the photos were not good at all. Even though the modern bodies are much better than my k100dS in lower light performance, I still cannot image that they could be THAT much better that they could have made my poor results into good results. Gyms = "go for all the aperture that you can get", IMHO.

10-18-2012, 11:48 AM	#8
DSims Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,236	You actually have a combo that's nearly up to the task. You should use it. That would be the K-r + 70-200/2.8, of course. Remember, even in presentations people move, so don't be afraid to use ISO up to at least 5000 if needed to stop/minimize the blur. You can easily reduce the noise - especially if shooting RAW - but blur reduction is between difficult and impossible.

10-18-2012, 12:31 PM	#9
reivax Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: California Posts: 826 Original Poster	Originally posted by blackcloudbrew Really? How do you know that? Not sure I've seen any remarks to that affect. I know because I own a K-01 and a Tamron 70-200. They don't play well together. The K-01 has a really tough time auto focusing with the Tamron 70-200 2.8. Colors and everything else work out fine, but if you want to use auto focus, it won't work well. There's a couple of reports about that in the K-01 sub forum as well so I know I'm not the only one. It improved slightly with the firmware update, but not enough to trust it. It does however focus pretty well with the 55-300.

10-18-2012, 12:34 PM	#10
reivax Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: California Posts: 826 Original Poster	Originally posted by lytrytyr Have you installed the new firmware? Yes, and it made a huge difference with most of my lenses. It even made a difference with the Tamron 70-200. Prior to the firmware update it would hunt non-stop and never focus. Now it will focus, but about 50 percent of the time. The 70-200 works very well with the K-r so I know it's not the lens.

10-18-2012, 03:22 PM	#11
tromboads Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Melbs Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,239	They wont mind you taking photos in a gym... for fun?.... I worry you are going to end up with some bar bell shaped lumps on your head. :P

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10-18-2012, 03:34 PM	#12
reivax Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: California Posts: 826 Original Poster	Originally posted by tromboads They wont mind you taking photos in a gym... for fun?.... I worry you are going to end up with some bar bell shaped lumps on your head. :P Hahaha. It took me a minute to figure out what you were talking about. I wouldn't think about taking pictures of weightlifters. Too many ways to get hurt I'm talking about a high school gymnasium.

10-18-2012, 03:38 PM	#13
reivax Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: California Posts: 826 Original Poster	Originally posted by GlennG Kr + Tammy. Though the K-01 is a little better in the iso performance, it would not make up for the difference of the Tammy aperture advantage over the 55-300. I've shot in a gym before with my 55-300 on my k100dS and, even with "good" gym lighting the photos were not good at all. Even though the modern bodies are much better than my k100dS in lower light performance, I still cannot image that they could be THAT much better that they could have made my poor results into good results. Gyms = "go for all the aperture that you can get", IMHO. I was thinking the same thing. I have been really impressed with how the K-01 handles high noise level and wasn't sure if it's capabilities were enough to outperform the K-r and Tamron combo. Originally posted by DSims: You actually have a combo that's nearly up to the task. You should use it. That would be the K-r + 70-200/2.8, of course. Remember, even in presentations people move, so don't be afraid to use ISO up to at least 5000 if needed to stop/minimize the blur. You can easily reduce the noise - especially if shooting RAW - but blur reduction is between difficult and impossible. I tried shooting inside a gym with my Kr and 55-300. The results were not very good. I have not yet had a chance to try out the Kr and Tamron. I'm hoping the results will be much better. I guess that's what I will be trying.

10-18-2012, 04:11 PM	#14
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	Since the speakers/presnters wont be moving about, perhaps you can try the K-01 in manual focus with the Tammy and bring the K-r body in case things don't work out to your preference?

10-18-2012, 05:03 PM	#15
reeftool Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Upstate New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,552	Originally posted by blackcloudbrew Really? How do you know that? Not sure I've seen any remarks to that affect. I would guess that he's refering mostly about the difficulty of being stuck with live view with a big heavy lens mounted. I certainly couldn't had hold that combo steady enough. It should work on a tripod but that might be difficult in a gym.