[Rusky40]

im into track day motor sport photography as well as others but heres the Q best budget lens to fit my pentax km im adventurously going to get a k30 but for now my little km will do ideas and suggestions please also best auto focus settings

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Last edited by Rusky40; 07-25-2013 at 12:37 PM.

[mike.hiran]

im into track day motor sport photography as well as others but heres the Q best budget lens to fit my pentax km im adventurously going to get a k30 but for now my little km will do ideas and suggestions please

I'd probably get the Pentax DA55-300 - I've used a Tamron 70-300 at a track a couple times with good results and I've found the Pentax to be a better lens. So on a budget, I'd get the 55-300 or the DAL55-300 (but this doesn't have quick shift or a lens hood).

[jatrax]

I would agree with the 55-300, the DA version preferably but the DAL version is fine if that fits you budget better.

And you might consider not using 'lens Q' as I assumed you had a question about a Pentax Q lens..............

[Docrwm]

DAL55-300 is optically identical to the DA version but lacks metal mount, DoF info, and quick shirt. For fast action in AF mode none of those matter in my experience. The DAL is considerably cheaper too.

I would also consider, a more expensive, 70-200/2.8 - it's shorter but considerably faster. I like the older Tamron model that goes for $600ish used.

[Rusky40]

iv read about the 70 -200 and another i cant remember but a bit to pricy for me at the mo iv a 75-300 sigma and a 18-200 tamron i think my next invetment might be a camera upgrade but if a sensible lens would come up that works well on my km then all is good

[Na Horuk]

and quick shirt.

And also Quick Shift. Although, shirts are awesome, too.
But yea, the DA 55-300 or even the 50-200 (not as long, not as popular) offer plenty of bang for buck and are relatively cheap on the used market, and even as new. But if you already have a tele lens, use that one.
AF settings, I am not sure how accurate AF-C is on that camera. Best advice I can give you is to try the different AF modes. You can also just use a narrow aperture (f8-f16) for a wide DoF and then manually focus ahead of time, if you know where the subjects will drive.
Panning is also a great skill for this type of photos. The trick is to keep the camera steady and follow the subject before you press the shutter and well after the shutter closes. And burst mode is your friend (take plenty of photos, then just delete blurry and OoF ones)

[Rusky40]

And also Quick Shift. Although, shirts are awesome, too.
But yea, the DA 55-300 or even the 50-200 (not as long, not as popular) offer plenty of bang for buck and are relatively cheap on the used market, and even as new. But if you already have a tele lens, use that one.
AF settings, I am not sure how accurate AF-C is on that camera. Best advice I can give you is to try the different AF modes. You can also just use a narrow aperture (f8-f16) for a wide DoF and then manually focus ahead of time, if you know where the subjects will drive.
Panning is also a great skill for this type of photos. The trick is to keep the camera steady and follow the subject before you press the shutter and well after the shutter closes. And burst mode is your friend (take plenty of photos, then just delete blurry and OoF ones)

im trying to master my panning at the moment is manual focus better at times do you think

[Rusky40]

are the DA pentax lenses better than the sigma or tamron i.e the DA 55-300 or even the 50-200 or is my tamron 18-200 or sigma 70-300 or quantaray 70-300 and before you ask y have i 2 70-300 its because i had the quantaray and then bought the sigma thinking better make but now compareing them against each other and selling one of them

[Docrwm]

are the DA pentax lenses better than the sigma or tamron i.e the DA 55-300 or even the 50-200 or is my tamron 18-200 or sigma 70-300 or quantaray 70-300 and before you ask y have i 2 70-300 its because i had the quantaray and then bought the sigma thinking better make but now compareing them against each other and selling one of them

The DA55-300 is definitely better thsn the 50-200. In the consumer zoom sector the 55-300 is regularly rated as the best longer zoom.

[Na Horuk]

Feel free to sift through the lens reviews:
Pentax lenses
Third party lenses
For panning you can use AF, but MF might be a better choice, if you can master it. You can use AF to focus on a part of the road, and then switch to MF, to keep the focus at that spot. Then do panning and take photos near the spot you focused on. The problem is that AF might start hunting during panning and then you lose all shots. But again, this depends on camera and lens, so its best if you try it.

[Rusky40]

iv got a baby Km iv found it dose try and refocous on af whilst panning is that what you mean by hunting

[jwc77]

The F 70-210 is wortha look as well. I like it a lot more than the DA 50-200 I used to have.

[Rusky40]

i need something with good distance and speed

[Na Horuk]

Yes, trying to lock focus and not getting it in time is what I meant.
Whelp, the problem with tele lenses is that if you want it bright, it will cost a lot.
Like the DA* 200mm f2.8: SMC Pentax-DA* 200mm F2.8 ED [IF] SDM Reviews - DA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database
You can try getting a used manual focus tele lens, like the M 200mm f4: SMC Pentax-M 200mm F4 Reviews - M Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database
These are cheaper, but of course you don't get any automation (you have to use M mode and dial in the settings yourself or use the green button to meter, there are threads with detailed instructions on how to use manual lenses)

[Rusky40]

im on a low budget hence the lenses and camera i have