So I took all of your advice very seriously, talked to the wife, make sure that her dancing expenses are covered for the season and got sweet deals on Pentax KP and a 17-50 2.8 Tamron. So far only had a chance to shoot the Tamron with k30 but this Saturday will have a chance to shoot two dancing events and I'm hoping to get more of your tips.
First one is Worldwide ATS Flashmob (
ATS ® Flash Mob World Wide 2018!) in semi-day light (2pm in Warsaw) - most likely open air or under a skylight roof, and the second, couple hours later - ATS/ Tribal dance show in a smallish music club, no raised stage, disco lights, quite possibly a fog machine and audience sitting/standing inches away from the dancers.
In both of these I'll be a husband-with-a-camera type of photographer, so no chance to get posed shots, set up lights etc. I plan to go small with KP and Tamron, maybe an upgraded card or two (U3?) and two batteries (I already miss the AAs that worked in my k30). If I bring a bigger bag I could also take 18-135 Pentax, 35 or 50 "plastic" Pentax primes (don't feel like packing both, nor the old kits). Maybe my Metz 52 (but wouldn't want to use it while they dance).
Settings-wise I hope to go with high ISO for the club (3200+ as per Brooke's advice), go 2-3 stops down for groups and wide open for close-ups, and keep the shutter not slower then 1/320 - then modify as needed. Does that sound reasonable?
I'm still impressed (and confused) with the number of AF points and modes in KP. So far, I've set up the back button focus (who put the green button exactly where the back AF was on k30?!), the 4-way controller to default as focus point selector, and the third wheel as direct ISO control (shutter and aperture at their respective defaults with front and rear dial). Not sure what to do with Single/Continuous (or Auto-Select) focusing mode, new program lines, or even what the third (top) dial can be useful for in modes other than full manual. Other than that I plan on having tons of fun